Independence Day Martine Mcbride Analysis

Why was domestic violence and abuse chosen as this topic for the media? What is wrong with domestic violence and abuse today? How does the song “Independence Day” by Martina McBride go with this topic? This essay will answer all of those question that might be going through peoples minds right now? The song “Independence Day”, performed by Martina McBride addresses the issue of domestic violence and abuse when analyzed using a cultural lens.

Domestic violence happens all around the media, not just in the home of the victim but also in public places such as schools, parks, workplaces, etc., Domestic violence also happens in relationships and families. Domestic violence is very wrong and needs to be stopped because 1 in 4 women will experience domestic violence in their lives. Domestic violence doesn’t just happen with women, men can also be a victim of domestic violence.

Nearly 3 million men are victims of physical assault which is another form of domestic violence in the USA. More than 4 million women experience physical assault and rape by their partners. More than 60% of domestic violence happens in a home of the criminal and victim, "Domestic Violence: Statistics & Facts." Safehorizon.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2016. Every day more and more victims are abused or experienced to these domestic violence criminals. In the song “Independence Day” , It says, “She tried to pretend he wasn't drinkin' again, But daddy left the proof on her cheek” which this is what mainly causes domestic violence and abuse of the victim’s and needs to be limited. Alcohol is one of the most common substance that causes this abuse. Both alcohol and abuse should be stopped immediately or enforced by law more than what it is now.
Domestic violence is always portrayed by news media all the time. It is never focused on as a positive issue, because what is really positive about domestic violence and abuse, it is always focused on as a negative light. Because domestic violence isn’t something that a person should have to go through. News media, when related to domestic violence, often takes the easy way out. It can be observed that the media tends to portray domestic violence cases as individualized or isolated, rather than a thematic and contextually societal issue. Often victims are blamed, or excuses are made for the violence. Coverage is typically only seen relating to fatal incidents, as opposed to situations involving emotional/psychological, financial, or verbal abuse, leading to the belief that the latter forms are not abused at all. "Domestic Violence in the News: How Media Is Failing Victims of Domestic Violence." Canadianwomen.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2016.
Martina McBride was born in Kansas in 1966. After writing some songs herself, Martina McBride got her big break when Garth Brooks gave her an opening slot in his tour of 1990. Biography.com Editors. "Martina McBride Biography." The Biography.com Website. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2016. In 2002, Martina McBride won her second CMA award for best female vocalist. Later on in Martina’s career she meet Gretchen Peters who had originally wrote “Indepence Day” based on an 8-year-old little girls point of view when her parents split up. Gretchen had known what domestic violence was but never knew how much her song could mean to the men and women who suffer from domestic violence until she asked Martina McBride to sing her song. Martina McBride is the spokesperson for many domestic abuse charities, among them: the National Domestic Violence Hotline, the National Network to End Domestic Violence, and the Tulsa Domestic Violence and Intervention Services. She has dedicated herself to the plight of women and children in emotional and physically abusive relationships. And her recording of this song has had a resounding effect on domestic abuse awareness. "Songfacts." Www.songfacts.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2016.
The song “Independence Day” relates to this issue because it talks about the lives of those who suffer from domestic violence and abuse. “Independence Day” was sung by Martina McBride not just because Gretchen Peters wanted her to or because Martina was the spokesperson of domestic violence and abuse and that she wanted to sing it. Martina McBride wanted to sing “Independence Day” because she wanted to relate more to those who have been around domestic violence and abuse and suffer from it.
Some people never realize when domestic violence is being taken advantage of and when it needs to stop. In the song “Independence Day”, it says, “Some folks whispered and some folks talked, But everybody looked the other way”. Which means that literally not everyone pays attention to those who have been violated by an abuser, because to be honest not everyone cares. But yet people want to care about others getting shot and killed. Let’s think of domestic violence as it happening to you or your family member, would you want someone to notice you and help you? Your answer should be “yes”. Every time someone is involved in domestic violence they never get help because some people don’t always believe it, I have heard and seen this before myself from other people. Domestic violence is a very crucial thing to do to a person and it needs to be noticed and stopped.
There are a lot of bad reviews on what people say or think about domestic violence. Some say that the victims of domestic violence are “stupid” or “weak” because they stay with their abuser, that is not the truth, they stay because they start to think that the negative things that the abuser has told them about themselves is true and that the abuse is “normal”. Some people ask “why doesn’t that person leave?” well the truth is, sometimes it is not that easy to just leave, some abusers will threaten the victim and tell them that if they leave that they will die. The one thing that some people might see and should see as a bad thing to say to a domestic violence victim is, “the domestic violence shelter is full, go back home. We can’t help you.” This is why domestic violence victims never get help and always end up never surviving from their attacks. These people are wrong because nobody should say anything like that about the victims of domestic violence. Because as a person who has seen domestic violence happen, would not want that to be said to the person who has suffered from it, also known as my mother. She was a victim of domestic violence from a drunk, who would hit and push her for no reason. Finally one day my mom had him move out with my family's help, and she was free from her abuser.
Domestic violence connects to cultural criticism because it constantly is happening around us as a society, even if we don’t notice it.

A person can walk pass you and you could not even know if they are suffering from domestic violence or not, because some people hide it. Domestic violence connects to the song “Independence Day” by Martina McBride, because it relates to the men and women who are victims of domestic violence. It basically says that once they are free from their abuser they can stand free and strong at last. Cultural criticism is the most appropriate lens for this issue, because domestic violence can happen to anyone and anywhere.

The song “Independence Day” and domestic violence are both important because like this essay has said before, it constantly is happening all around us, everyday. The victims of domestic violence, needs to be saved and free from their abusers so that they can stand alone and strong together. All of us as people who should see this as a wrong issue, should work together to end domestic violence, and show that it does matter and that it should not be

ignored.