Mean Little Birds

Fall is officially here, the hummingbirds have headed to their winter homes in South America.  I will truly miss the little rascals in their aggressive dance around the hummingbird feeder.  The male hummingbird will not allow the female or weaker males to partake in the nectar until they are quite certain they have proved without a doubt who is the dominate male.  Watching the tiny birds flit here and there chasing the weaker is quite entertaining.

It's not so entertaining when the male of our species acts in this manner.  What is it with the male of the species?  Every year in the U.S. it is reported that 4.8 million women suffer abuse from their intimate partners.  But in our case it is not just the men abusing the women.  There is reported that 2.9 million men are abused by their partner.  This is only the number of victims that have been reported.  My twin sister and I were both victims of abuse but never reported it. 

It is a damn shame the sense of ownership some people feel over the lives of others.  I am told and I know it was true in my case that domestic abuse is used to gain and maintain control over their victim.  What I can't understand is why.  Why must someone have control over another human being?  Why would they want control? 

Fortunately they aren't all like that.  I feel fortunate to be with a sweet man who believes in sharing and caring.  He never raised his hand and seldom raised his voice to his departed wife.  I have found him to be kind and generous and not once has he tried to be the dominate bullying male.