The Purple Hand represents all people in every community around the world and is blind to the color of skin, age, gender, race, religion or nationality.
The color Purple is our national color used to honor and remember victims and survivors of abuse and violence. The Purple Heart*…our Nation’s oldest medal of honor is awarded to men and women wounded in combat. The Purple Heart has become one of the most highly respected decorations of the US Armed Forces. The PURPLE HEART is awarded to members of the armed forces of the U.S. who are wounded by an instrument of war in the hands of the enemy and posthumously to the next of kin in the name of those who are killed in action or die of wounds received in action. It is specifically a combat decoration.
The Red Heart in the palm of the hand serves to represent when you hurt yourself or another person, or someone hurts you with words or by actions, it hurts deep inside, it hurts your heart, it hurts your spirit.
The open hand extended in front of you means STOP. The Purple Hand/Red Heart means stop and think before you say or do anything hurtful to yourself or others.
Taking the Pledge is taking an oath which is done with an open raised hand, just as in a court of law. When you take the Pledge, take it to heart; mean it with your heart.
*www.purpleheart.org
"I WILL NOT USE MY HANDS OR MY WORDS FOR HURTING MYSELF OR OTHERS" …fourteen words to help people PAY ATTENTION to the things we say and do to ourselves and others that causes pain. The Pledge encourages dialogue about all forms of abuse and violence…from name calling, belittling, put downs, and negative self talk (I’m stupid, ugly…) that can escalate to suicide and/or murder.
When taking the Purple Hands Pledge you are asked to trace your own hand on purple paper, sign your name and age and post your Pledge in your home, school, workplace, place of worship, or wherever people live and work together to serve as a visual reminder of your personal commitment to stop and think before you say or do anything hurtful. Anger is a feeling, violence is always a choice.
The Purple Hands Pledges represent symbols of Unity as we reinforce and recognize the Power and Value of every individual's choice...to use our words and actions to help...not to hurt…ourselves or others.
Ann S. Kelly
Author - Hands & Words Are Not For Hurting Pledge - 1997
Anger Is A Feeling – Violence Is A Choice
Every person can make a difference in stopping abuse and violence by taking a pledge:
• Not to use violence (verbal or physical) to control others
• Not to tolerate any form of abuse from others - ask for help
• Not to hurt yourself with words or actions
• To develop healthy relationships based on respect and equality
RESPECT: to value, appreciate, care for and protect
EQUALITY: having the same value as another
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