Patrick Stewart’s heartfelt response to domestic violence
By Beha Prakash From Mashable
Patrick Stewart has been a longtime advocate for victims of domestic violence. But at Comicpalooza 2013, audience member Heather Skye got a personal message from the actor about the topic.
During a Q&A, Skye told Stewart she was inspired and healed by a speech about violence towards women that he made to Amnesty International. She then asked him about his proudest life accomplishment outside of acting.
Stewart replied, saying that the work he does for organizations like Refuge — which provides safe houses for women and children in the UK — is an important part of his life because of his personal connection to the cause. Stewart went on to explain that he often witnessed his mother enduring violence at the hands of his father and how he was helpless as a child to stop it.
“I do what I do in my mother’s name because I couldn’t help her then. Now I can,” he said.
Stewart also works with Combat Stress, an organization that helps war veterans deal with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, because he learned his father’s rage toward his mother was caused by PTSD. In 1940, Stewart said, there weren’t outlets like Combat Stress for men to receive help, and they were often told to simply “pull themselves together, get out there and be a man.”
When Stewart was done answering the question, he asked Skye if she was OK, knowing that she had been a victim of domestic abuse. He then gave Skye a hug and whispered to her, “You never have to go through that again, you’re safe now.”
Skye documented the entire experience in a Tumblr post*, calling Stewart “a role model for all men.”
“His embrace was so warm and genuine. It was two people, two strangers, supporting and giving love. And when we pulled away he looked straight in my eyes, like he was promising that. He told me to take care. And I will,” Skye wrote.
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*Tumbir http://lemonsweetie.tumblr.com/post/51652237280/let-me-tell-you-a-thing-about-an-amazing-man
Let me tell you a thing, about an amazing man named Patrick Stewart
I went to Comicpalooza this weekend and I was full of nervous energy as I was standing in line to ask Sir Patrick Stewart a question at his panel. I first had to thank him for a speech he had given at amnesty international about domestic violence towards women . I had only seen it a few months ago but I was still dealing with my own personal experience with a similar issue, and I didn’t know what to call it. After seeing Patrick talk so personally about it I finally was able to correctly call it abuse, in my case sexual abuse that was going to quickly turn into physical abuse as well. I didn’t feel guilty or disgusting anymore. I finally didn’t feel responsible for the abuse that was put upon me. I was finally able to start my healing process and to put that part of my life behind me.
After thanking him I asked him “Besides acting, what are you most proud of that you have done in you life (that you are willing to share with us)?”. Sir Patrick told us about how he couldn’t protect his mother from abuse in his household growing up and so in her name works with an organization called Refuge for safe houses for women and children to escape from abusive house holds. Sir Patrick Stewart learned only last year that his father had actually been suffering from PTSD after he returned from the military and was never properly treated. In his father’s name he works with an organization called Combat Stress to help those soldiers who are suffering from PTSD.
They were about to move onto the next question when Sir Patrick looked at me and asked me “My Dear, are you okay?” I said yes, and that I was finally able to move on from that part of my life. He then passionately said that his mother had done nothing to provoke his father and that even if she had, violence was never, ever a choice a man should make. That it is in the power of men to stop violence towards women. The moderator then asked “Do you want a hug?”
Sir Patrick didn’t even hesitate, he smiled, hopped off the stage and came over to embrace me in a hug. Which he held me there for a long while. He told me “You never have to go through that again, you’re safe now.” I couldn’t stop thanking him. His embrace was so warm and genuine. It was two people, two strangers, supporting and giving love. And when we pulled away he looked strait in my eyes, like he was promising that. He told me to take care. And I will.
Sir Patrick Stewart is an absolute roll model for men. He is an amazing man and was so kind and full of heart. I want to let everyone know to please find help if you are in a violent or abusive house hold or relationship. There are organizations and people ready to help. I had countless people after the panel thanking me for sharing the story and asking him those questions. Many said they went through similar things. You are not alone.
