The Tribune Star
Last Shelter Closes its Doors
Crestview, NH. (AP)
According to community and national leaders, this day would never come. But to the cheers of local residents, and with international media coverage, The Safe House, the nation’s last battered women’s shelter has finally gone out of business.
Betty Smith, the shelter’s director, reminisced at length about the history of the movement to end men’s violence against women and the recent cessation of domestic and sexual violence. "Many years ago, most of us in the movement worried about too few resources to handle the devastation caused by men’s violence.
"Also, we used to allow abusers to draw us into endless debates about whether men or women were more violent until a group of nonabusive men finally had the courage to confront the abusers.
'Enough is enough,' they said. 'It is time that we men work with women to bring all abuse to an end. No more distractions; no more excuses; no more violence.'
"Little did any of us imagine that that day would ever come; that our shelters would become obsolete and be converted into family fun centers. This is truly a day to celebrate. . . . . ."
March 23, Someday
{Until then we will be working at Ending The Violence}
Crestview, NH. (AP)
According to community and national leaders, this day would never come. But to the cheers of local residents, and with international media coverage, The Safe House, the nation’s last battered women’s shelter has finally gone out of business.
Betty Smith, the shelter’s director, reminisced at length about the history of the movement to end men’s violence against women and the recent cessation of domestic and sexual violence. "Many years ago, most of us in the movement worried about too few resources to handle the devastation caused by men’s violence.
"Also, we used to allow abusers to draw us into endless debates about whether men or women were more violent until a group of nonabusive men finally had the courage to confront the abusers.
'Enough is enough,' they said. 'It is time that we men work with women to bring all abuse to an end. No more distractions; no more excuses; no more violence.'
"Little did any of us imagine that that day would ever come; that our shelters would become obsolete and be converted into family fun centers. This is truly a day to celebrate. . . . . ."
March 23, Someday
{Until then we will be working at Ending The Violence}