Well I wondered if someone was going to speak up from the UK about what Mikejedi has written in his last blog about the huge number of men that abuse and beat women in that country. I have to agree with GrimUK in his comments and frustration that he feels about those statements. All I can add to this subject is what is present in the United States about this subject. About 6 yrs ago I had the opportunity to volunteer at a crisis center a few nights a week, and I have to say that it was a real eye opener. What I saw and heard while helping there was so unnerving it was a hard thing to do just to keep an open mind and try very hard not to show favor to any one more than the other. I want to touch on one of the forms of abuse that is just as damaging as the physical harm that some men think they can give to a woman. It is probably the more damaging one of emotional abuse. That takes many forms, it can include disrespect, not paying attention to what she is saying, put down about her habits, the way she looks, her manners and many other things that may sound like not really important, but they are more so than any other type of abuse. Grim talked about the damage, not necessarily physical, and that is what does the most. Sometimes we never recover from that type of abuse, and that is proven by what some woman in our country that experience that, just say: "Well that's just the way he is" or "I can't get away from him or her, it will be worse if I leave or report it". I have met some women from the UK in the past, and they are just as loving as any other women that I have had the privilege of knowing. I don't know much more about what the UK is really like, I don't live there, but if what Mikejedi has said is the norm, then I have to disagree with him on that point. There is abuse in our country, but I don't think that it is the normal way of life there. Physical abuse now is strictly punished by the authorities, and sometimes it means a prison sentence if it is ongoing, and it should be punished that way. I have to say because of the experience of working close to those types of situations in that volunteer job has really taught me an additional truth about what hurts people. I was raised myself that as a male, I was to NEVER ever lay a hand on a female under any circumstances. I was fortunate in that respect, the way of family life today is much different that it was 30 yrs ago. Today, the Mother and Father both work usually just to survive in most cases, or just to have a better life. What happens is the children then are left to figure out themselves how to relate to others, and then we have the media and movie industry selling violence and all kinds of junk in forming a character base for our young people. But, that is another road for this subject, the point is, for some reason the women in our country just don't know how to stand up in a lot of cases to put a stop to it. I am still talking about the mental, emotional and spiritual mis-treatment that they may experience with their mate. This is sad, but it is not the normal way of life there. The biggest percentage of life there is not that way, it may lack some priorities that out of whack, but most people can relate to each other in peace without going overboard with put downs and all the other forms of hurtful activities and statements to each other. So, Mikejedi, I hear what you are saying, but yes please be careful when you put a majority in a negative light and let's try to put our thoughts in a fair and equal pattern then we can make a statement that is received in a better light. For knowing what I understand and know about this subject, and believe me I learn every day about that, I have to say that I can understand now why a lot of the women in Ukraine want out and to get away from the emotional abuse they experience from a lot of the men here in Ukraine. It is sad, but appears to be a true conception of the way of life here. So many of them in letters to me have expressed dislike for the treatment in relationships, and trust that is really not in good condition here. I also know that there has to be some people that are good and honest standing citizens in this country that treat each other with respect and caring of each other. But there are so many different avenues we can take this subject, and I only touched on one part of it. I think what this site does for all of us, besides making all the guys confused about who we may want for a mate, it gives everybody a fair chance to really get to know someone before they go into a full-blown love affair that will last a lifetime. This can be a subject that maybe should be discussed in detail between potential mates with total honesty and how they may feel about this issue. But, you know the bottom line to this particular problem is the same as any problem. We have to be totally honest in our communications about anything. It always seems to come back to that, doesn't it? Total open communication will eliminate a lot of the anger that triggers abuse in any form. The decision then is can we live with the other person with their beliefs and feelings? Once that is agreed on, then the passion between us will carry us to a life of harmony and happiness for a lifetime, and that my friends, is our goal and a priceless life together. It is my wish that I am blessed with that and also for everyone else here to experience that lifestyle in the most loving way!