DEAR ABBY: Tonight, while shopping at a large department store, I witnessed a man pull his son's hair and then he kept punching him very hard on his back and shoulders in an effort to make the boy obey.
The boy looked to be about 7 or 8 years old. The poor kid sat on the floor and cried silently while his father delivered these cruel blows with hate in his eyes. I stood no more than 3 feet away throughout this episode, searching for the right words to demand that he stop hurting the boy, but I feared that if I said anything, the man would be angered and embarrassed and would take his anger out on the child later at home.
Please address this issue, Abby. Tell your readers how to handle such situations. -- FEELING GUILTY FOR MY SILENCE
DEAR FEELING GUILTY: The scene you witnessed involved a man out of control. You could have very gently and quietly attempted to calm the father by saying, "I know exactly how you feel. Sometimes taking a child that age shopping is more than we can handle." And without being judgmental, in a soft and sympathetic tone, you would have intervened and brought an out-of-control man back to reality.
This sometimes takes more courage than most people have in today's "mind-your-own-business" society, but to do nothing while witnessing child abuse is indefensible.
Readers: There is now a toll-free National Child Abuse Hotline for adults to call when they feel that they are losing control. Dial 1-800-422-4453.