Monday, August 10, 2015

YOU CAN'T RUN

I have been working with Penguin / Random House over the past year on my book
YOU CAN'T RUN
It is about my life from the age of eighteen . Having had a contract for an 80,000 word book and actually having 500,000 words , there is a lot left out !
There are so many things I couldn't put in also , for different reasons.
My main purpose of this book is to highlight the flaws within the system.
Where cut backs cause lives.
Where mistakes cause lives.
 To also show what needs to be done now.
There also needs to be an understanding of this 'disease' called Domestic Violence.
It's widths, depths and breadths that cause untold damage globally.
How it spider webs itself out from the perpetrator through generations now and into the future.
The ripples are deadly poison to the minds of those affected in person and those who see and hear and lay witness to such horrors.
There needs to be an overhaul in the system.
One that dictates to the world that we will NOT accept violence.
A change that represents and respects the deaths of those before us and gives their lives meaning, worthy of their individual existence.
Change that would deter this crime , this misunderstood human crime.
I would like to see perpetrators sentenced with a fitting time served , with no early release.
Let there be a set maximum amount of years for rape, attempted murder, murder, false imprisonment, grevious bodily harm with intent.
These crimes need to hold high sentencing , we need to publicise that continuously to deter crime.
Deterrence is the key, is it not ?

What is a life worth ?

You may well ask, especially if you have lost a loved one to this 'disease'.
I call Domestic Violence a 'disease' because it is growing in numbers globally and there appears to be no cure.

How is the worth of a life even worked out by the justice system ?

How these crimes affect the victims.
It leaves them with a life sentence of physical and mental torture.
For some though, they didn't even get that choice having had their lives,
 their breath stolen by another human beings choice of act.

How do we stop them before they start ?
Educate, raise awareness , set high sentencing , imprison for repentance not for a pleasurable holiday with all mod cons included. The world is guilty of enticing and encouraging crime .The music industry, unsuitable lyrics , raunchy videos, destructive games of death and violence,  I could go on. Prison to some has become a place of bragging and gaining knowledge to further crime. Having so many benefits on the  inside,  when good citizens on the outside struggle with the bare minimum to survive.
What message does this feed to the future generations minds ?
They are brainwashed from an early age by television and the media. If we are not the idols they need to look up to ......How can we expect to change anything ?

We are making headway very slowly with small changes,  but as each day passes another life is marred, scarred or taken .

For some, tomorrow is too late .
For some, tomorrows are not promised.
Let sentence reflect repentence
Let sentence make sense
Let life have some worth.

I have a gripe with the system in particularly where human rights come to be weighed in favour of a perpetrator. How on earth this is ever fair or just is beyond words. I use a phrase that to some would say does not exist , but it's embedded in my brain .It's my way of labelling, to explain a whole sentence in two words.

' Humanic Crime ' 

This is where one human being inflicts pain, injuries, torture to the mind, body and soul of another human being (beings) .

This type of criminal should lose their human rights !

Which would stop them using the system to get what they want by playing the  'human rights card' .

I understand as I have been told on numerous occasions that what I want is not possible.

So I beg a question....why not ?

If we are to stop these people in their tracks 'before' they commit these crimes then we are going to need a strong enforcing deterrent.


If you have the chance to read my book you will get why I feel so strongly about change.
Together globally , with a united strong voice, we can change history.


YOU CAN'T RUN BY MANDY THOMAS



8 comments:

Roja said...

Hi Mandy! I first read about you in Katie Piper's wonderful book, Beautiful Ever After, and then I found out through one of Katie's Twitter posts that you were writing this book. I have pre-ordered a copy, and I hope that the book will sell well and your message will reach as many people as possible! I am sure that I will find some parts of your story very upsetting to read because, like you, I was in an abusive relationship from a young age (from 17-20) and I understand the terror of being such a relationship only too well. But the main reasons I am buying the book are to support you and also to learn more about the ways that you are fighting to make a difference. Often I wish that I could do more myself to help other survivors of violence. I know I am one of the lucky ones. When I ended the relationship (in 2000) my ex tried to kill me, stabbing me multiple times and strangling me. I needed emergency surgery and was incredibly lucky to survive at all. Fortunately I made a complete physical recovery, but mentally it took me many years to get over what happened. It didn't help that my ex only served 2 and a half years in prison for Attempted Murder! I was terrified when he was released and I had to leave the country for 3 months just to be sure I was safe. Fortunately he never came after me or my family and I later spotted him in the street in 2008 (thank goodness he didn't see me!) and he was a mess, having destroyed himself with drink and drugs. After I saw him like that it was easier to let go of my anger. I don't feel I need revenge any more, even though I still think the sentence he got was ridiculously short, and I agree with you that perpetrators of DV should get sentences more appropriate to the seriousness of their crimes. I am nearly 36 now and I live a good life- I am strong, happy and healthy, and that was my revenge: to overcome what he did to me and to build a better life for myself. But every time I read a heartbreaking story of DV in the news I am so angry and upset at the cruelty and injustice and I wish I could do something to make a difference. I love your tiger painting although I can't afford to bid for it. It's beautiful! I am an artist (illustrator) myself and I draw a lots of cats, big and small. Cats are such a wonderful representation of grace, power and beauty, and they are also renowned survivors (landing on their feet, the 9 lives saying...). I am glad I heard about you. You are incredibly brave and strong! Roja Xx

Roja said...

Sorry for my typos in my last comment! I meant to say "I understand the terror of being in such a relationship only too well" and "I draw lots of cats, big and small". Roja Xx

Unknown said...

Nice post. thank you for sharing. Keep writing and sharing.
The best and inexpensive essays service available online are very helpful in getting the difficult essays within the time limit provided. The best and genuine companies with cheap essay writing service offers helps you to get the best written work on time. These services are very much helpful for the students who are struggling with the writing problem. Most of the services are writing essays for cheap and providing 100% quality results.

Anonymous said...

Mandy I have just read your book and it is hard to read but I it has helped me a lot thank you x you are truly inspiring x

Anonymous said...

Mandy - I've just read your book - wow - the pain, anguish and physical/mental torture you've all been through is unimaginable. You are an inspiration to all women x - you all deserve the rest of your lives to be peaceful and happy. I wish you all the very best.

Anonymous said...

Ive just read your book , things with the law haven't changedone , maybe with the police and safeguarding it has ... but the courts where children are concernedoing have not .. these men will use the children ... and family courts will force children too go ...I am fighting 5 years on after the abuse passed too my son ... I'm in court again with him trying too get contact ... judge troy .... referred too my domestic violence as complicated ... he then read me case law on coherence of my child .... we are still living in fear ... what a waste of police time and money counselling safeguarding. .. the changes need too be made in court .... I never let him go back too him and I never go back too court ... my x was congratulated on being a good dad by the judge this man said he kill us all and he congratulated him he had a report in front of him saying he was high risk and a psychologist report saying we were still in danger ... I never go back too court ... it took me years too get out of that and the judge referred too the fact I'd gone back ....family law courts don't protect the must vulnerable. ...

Unknown said...

I think ur an inspiration god knows how u survived iv been through domestic abuse with 2 small children but not to ur extent had guns at my head in my mouth but ur abuse was horrific like u I had been in refuges and also a panic button wich didn't work or they just cudnt be bothered to answer they wanted me to stand up in court and give a statement like u face to face they even promised me to change my name and move me but why shud I leave wot little I had left so I declined there were witnesses and he got 3 yrs yeah justice for u

Unknown said...

I think ur an inspiration god knows how u survived iv been through domestic abuse with 2 small children but not to ur extent had guns at my head in my mouth but ur abuse was horrific like u I had been in refuges and also a panic button wich didn't work or they just cudnt be bothered to answer they wanted me to stand up in court and give a statement like u face to face they even promised me to change my name and move me but why shud I leave wot little I had left so I declined there were witnesses and he got 3 yrs yeah justice for u