I'd like thoughts from anyone who'd like to offer them:
I was on a crowded bus last week. A woman nearby with a small child began harshly scolding the child, and finally snarled at the child, "I'm gonna punch you in your face" right before she did just that. The woman then became belligerent at a couple of passengers nearby who dared to speak up--"Go ahead. Call the cops." I didn't have a cell phone with me, but even if I had and if I'd called 911, I doubt that anyone could have tracked down this woman and child. I got off the bus shortly after the verbal abuse she gave to the other passengers.
I was furious with myself for being so helpless. But I saw how much good it did for people to speak up. In fact, it occurred to me that confronting this woman might cause her to take out her fury on her child again later on. I'll never forget the look on the face of the child (about three years old), the striken look of betrayal and hurt at the mother. I've been haunted by this incident.
Not only do I have personal connections to others who have suffered this kind of tragedy, but I have become increasingly aware of these issues since the 
