Conservative activist Ben Carson addressed the situation of former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice and his wife, arguing that “sometimes it’s OK to stay after domestic violence.”
“To imply that a person is displaying weakness by staying in a relationship, or showing strength by leaving, is far too simplistic,” Mr. Carson wrote in an op-ed published by Time on Wednesday.
After video footage released Monday by TMZ showed Mr. Rice punching and seemingly knocking out his fiancee, many people took to social media asking why she stayed in the relationship and even married Mr. Rice.
“When considering the repercussions of a particular act of domestic violence, it is not merely a question of whether or not the abuser should be punished,” said Mr. Carson, a former neurosurgeon. “The broader question should be: How can justice best be served?”
Mr. Carson laid out various examples of domestic abuse and reasons why someone might choose to leave or stay. Abusers often are victims themselves, he said, and “abuse begets abuse, and the cycle continues.”
He suggested that the best solution in many cases for two people caught in an abusive relationship is to seek treatment or counseling and help from the community.
Regarding the video of Mr. Rice, Mr. Carson wrote that the footage does not account for what happened before or after the incident, and how much work the couple have done to repair their relationship. “It seems however that the more recent release of the video and the ensuing public condemnation has reopened wounds that may have been well on their way to healing.”
• Kellan Howell can be reached at khowell@washingtontimes.com.
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