Reactions to Chris Brown and Rihanna

Rihanna and Chris Brown have been in the news quite a bit this past month. In the beginning, it was their alleged altercation, which left Rihanna beaten and bruised, as seen in the photo on TMZ.com. Then there was the news that the two would be getting back together, much to the surprise and disappointment of family and friends alike. But no news has been as shocking as the reactions of the fans in response to the incident. Some have acknowledged what Brown did was wrong, while others have been quick to defend their favorite pop star, saying that Brown had to have a good reason for abusing Rihanna.

But my question is this: Why is the notion of abuse and violence against women still accepted? Why do people still believe that Rihanna must have "done something" to make Brown mad?

In an article written by nytimes.com, two of Brown's fans defended him, saying: "She probably made him mad for him to react like that." And, "She probably feels bad that it was her fault, so she took him back."

Where is this coming from? When is it ever acceptable for someone to be a victim of abuse? I believe that abuse is never okay, and that neither gender should suffer through violence.

The fact that so many people are endorsing it, saying that Rihanna is deserving of punishment, means that we as a society have a lot to teach the younger generations, before they become or know someone who will become a victim of abuse.