I was 1/2 listening to MSNBC Live on TV early this morning, and I noticed that when going into a commercial break they played part of "Independence Day", by Martina McBride. This is one of my favorite country songs so it caught my attention, and I have to admit that it kind of pissed me off - and let me tell you why...
"Independence Day" - the song - is the story of a battered woman who puts an end to her abuse by setting the house (and her husband/abuser) on fire...and is from the perspective of the little girl (daughter). But it's about more than that - it's about people who knew what was going on but did nothing. This song is about that dirty little secret called DOMESTIC ABUSE and the extreme a woman went to in order to escape it because everyone looked the other way... ("Now, I ain't saying it's right or it's wrong, but maybe it's the only way; Talk about your revolution – it’s Independence Day.").
I wonder if anyone at MSNBC knew this song was about escaping abuse and society's blind eye, and not about celebrating America’s freedom from Britain? I wonder if they have any idea how offensive it is that they would use this song without so much as mentioning domestic violence??? Have they ANY idea how many women and children (and yes, men, too) will be beaten today? Not only did they not mention it, they made sure they cut it out. They played:
"Let freedom ring, let the white dove sing; Let the whole world know that today is a day of reckoning."
This is what they cut off...
"Let the weak be strong,let the right be wrong Roll the stone away, let the guilty pay It's Independence Day."
As a survivor of domestic abuse for whom this song holds much meaning, HELL YES, I AM PISSED! And I think they owe it to victims of abuse – past, present, and future – to back the truck up and talk about it LOUDLY! They could have (at least) put something like this up as they played the song:
Here is the fact sheet on domestic violence, put out by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. If you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship and don't know what to do to put an end to it, here are a few numbers where help is waiting:
The National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-7233
The National Sexual Assault Hotline 1-800-656-4673
The National Teen Dating Abuse Hotline 1-866-331-9474
HELP IS AVAILABLE!
That wasn't so hard...shame on MSNBC!
My wish today is for every man, woman, and child have a safe Independence Day!
Now, for those who are curious - or who love the song as I do...Independence Day, by Martina McBride.