In the spirit of one of the oldest adages: two wrongs don't make a right, let me say this unequivocally and without any hesitation: I was beyond pleased when NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell not only expressed deep regret for his initial lenient handling of the Ray Rice domestic violence incident, but also handed down a massive policy overhaul and severe penalties.
"A first offense will be subject to a suspension of six weeks without pay," Goodell said. A second will result in "banishment." The rules apply to all NFL personnel, not just players, and more severe penalties involving pregnant women and children.
The commissioner not only admitted to allowing the NFL's standards to fall short, but the new policy sends a strong message that the commissioner is no longer taking this issue lightly.
In the wake of the release of the video revealing what happened inside that elevator between Ray Rice and his wife Janay, the NFL has since suspended Ray indefinitely. While I applaud the NFL for the decision to release Rice, I still hold firm to the belief that as a leader of one of the most admired pastimes in American culture, the NFL players, coaches and leaders can serve as role models in our society and not only commit to prevent domestic violence, but they also have the power and influence to make a difference in what is unfortunately a national epidemic.
It is my hope that the public outcry, tremendous media attention and discussions will not fade once the spotlights are turned off, but will lead to greater public awareness and prevention to proactively address domestic violence and engage America in a call to action to stand against any act of violence.
See L.Y. Marlow's appearance on HuffPost Live for more commentary.