Stephen A. Smith

Love him or hate him, Stephen A. Smith always has an opinion. And he was suspended by ESPN for saying women should not provoke men by hitting them IF they don't want to get hit themselves.

You know, I hate the society we live in. Men should not hit women. Women should not hit men. BUT when someone is hit by another person, it's always been okay for the other person to to hit back.

Until now.

I'm not saying you should, I'm saying it's okay if you do.

I am so fed up by media minds that say hitting a woman is wrong while NEVER proclaiming that women should stop hitting men as well. What they are saying is that even if a woman hits a man, the man should never hit back unless "his life is at stake."

What?

Fully 30% of domestic violence assaults in this country are perpetrated by women. The figure might very well be higher but men who are regularly victimized by women are in an awkward position. They are laughed at when they report it and arrested if they try to stop the violence against them by themselves.

Women who say that men are stronger and should never hit women even when provoked are spreading the unfounded stereotype that a physically fit woman can't possible hurt a guy seriously.

Yes they can. And they do it regularly.

Women, if you want the violence to stop, tell women to stop hitting men like it's open season. And don't be surprised if someone hits you back.

Which is what Stephen A. Smith was saying.

And he was right.

Men, stop hitting women. It's wrong.

Women stop hitting men. It's wrong.

Men, stop hitting men, it's wromg.

Women stop hitting women, it's wrong.

AND if any of you throw the FIRST punch or hard slap, be prepared to get one back in return, perhaps much harder than you delivered. That's the problem with violence, it escalates.

It's okay to fight back. And it always will be. Don't throw the first punch if you're not willing to accept the immediate, direct consequences of your actions.

One of the primary reasons women still hit men is because they assume the man will not hit back.

I say stop assuming this. And stop hitting.

Domestic violence won't end until we ALL stop hitting.