September 18, 2007 > Be a man Be a man It's more than a nursery rhyme One of the oft repeated rhymes of childhood appears to solve the riddle of boys and girls. It simplifies the issue by saying that boys are made of "Frogs and snails, And puppy-dogs' tails" while girls are created from "Sugar and spice, and all that's nice." Myth after myth follows as boys and girls grow into men and women who sometimes replace these pleasantries with cold and frightening statistics of abuse and attitudes separating humanity into warring camps. Often women bear the brunt of this assault through the indifference and implied assent of society. In some societies, abusive relationships are openly condoned under the guise of spousal protection. Safe Alternatives to Violent Environments (SAVE) is an organization created by the need for awareness, open dialogue and practical steps to combat this problem. Even in an "enlightened" society where the force of law has been brought to bear on domestic abuse, subliminal messages consistently deliver a different message. Boys (and men) are channeled toward a position of strength which is equated with power and violent confrontation, often used to remedy any altercation no matter how insignificant. SAVE has issued a call to action, an "Eye Opener," to answer this insidious message and has asked the community at large to help. Give your answer. Reject complicity to violence; join with civic leaders to find an answer to this rampant problem. Help teach boys to become real men who hold high values and treat others with respect. Join SAVE at the 5th Annual Breakfast Eye Opener to learn how we can influence future men and women to create healthy, non-violent communities and domestic partnerships. SAVE Breakfast Eye Opener Friday, September 28 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. Fremont Marriott 46100 Landing Parkway, Fremont (510) 574-2250 http://www.save-dv.org/events_breakfast.html $75/ticket Master of Ceremonies: Willie Monroe, ABC7 News Liz Figueroa Domestic Violence Prevention Award recipient: Fremont Police Chief Craig Steckler