Ray Rice

I've heard all kinds of reaction to the Ray Rice elevator video that surfaced this week. One thing I hear often is, "why did the NFL abandon its 6-game first offender policy just because there is video?"  Fair question, because on the surface, if this is his first offense (which it is), he should not get more than 6-games (the league has suspended Rice indefinitely and the Ravens have released him). Now I fully believe many of the other domestic violence offenders have done worse; they just were not caught on video.  But here's the thing: Video does make a difference.  When we see something as shocking as a man dropping a woman cold with one punch, it resonates in ways that hearing a story cannot.  There is a reason ISIS is be-heading Americans and distributing the video; because seeing that is horrific and shocking and elicits the reaction that they are looking for.  At some point, Ray Rice will be allowed to resume his career, assuming he is contrite and continues to try to get better.  We have lost sight of the real victim here.  That is Janay Rice.  And while I am sick of seeing the video, over and over and over and over… hopefully this whole uproar will save some future women from being victims.  Hopefully at least one man who is considering hitting a woman, will think about how Ray Rice's life has been destroyed by this, and do the right thing… walk away.