Certainly we public servants have to learn how to really listen and understand what is being said to us. Family members and friends also have to be more available to each other to hear what it is we need to say. Communication is a back and forth process which leads to understanding. In this digital age where conversations are too often simply punctuations in caught time, there is little opportunity for real communication. And Laurie's husband needs help or confinement.
Domestic violence is everybody's problem.
Maybe it can be some solace for Laurie and her police officer if they know they may have helped make it clearer how communication can so easily advance to a level of abuse. Yes, not only sticks and stones but words as well can hurt us. Larry Lister is a professor of social work at the University of Hawaii-Manoa.