When is domestic violence acceptable? Never. Since Rihanna has become the face of domestic violence much like the late Nicole Brown Simpson became that face in 1994 after she was murdered. Talk shows like "The Oprah Winfrey Show," "Ellen" and "Tyra" have gone on the offensive and had episodes which featured victims and survivors of domestic violence to show young girls and boys how it’s a bad choice to make, and one that only ends up in heartbreak and at the worst, death. Dr. Phil McGraw has also been featuring this subject. He is married to Robin McGraw a strong woman in Hollywood who tries to lead by example and tell young girls never put up with abuse.

Being stunned by the young girls on the shows telling horrific stories that you’d expect to hear in a horror movie or a movie of the week starring Jacqueline Smith on Lifetime. Maybe I’m too old, but I don’t remember young boys in school beating up their girlfriends. Surely it existed on much smaller scale. But the girls I grew up with would never have tolerated such violent behavior from a boyfriend or any date at all.

With Rihanna going back to her alleged batterer it has left me feeling shock and utter sadness for the young girls who seem to feel it’s either fine for their boyfriends to attack them physically when angry or that they cannot get out of these relationships. Where are the parents in this type of situation? What makes a parent see a bruise on their child and instead of inquiring about it, waiting to have the child come to them and explain on their own. My father like Judge Judy would often tell us that we didn’t have any privacy at home. If he had a question to ask, we’d better answer it quickly with no hesitation.

Parents are going to have to take back their control. As well as start telling their young daughters never to accept abuse and never to confuse it with love. To tell their young sons that they have no right to put their hands on anyone else and that they are never to threaten or bully a girlfriend. Ever. Having been a person who has been stalked for years, I can honestly say that the sign of physical violence remains clear in my mind. Reporting things to the authorities and maintaining a consistent stance against being threatened both physically and verbally is the best answer for young people who seem to blur the lines of, “He stalks, therefore he loves. He hits, therefore he loves.” There is absolutely no excuse for violent behavior. And when you see the signs of this destructive behavior approaching, call for help. Talk to your parents and get out of the relationship. Then stay out. Oprah said it best, “Love doesn’t hurt.”

-