A Passion for Education: but not the kind you're expecting

There are many things I'm passionate about; Harry Potter, tattoos, writing, art, dance, music, the Internet, cats, gay rights, women's rights, clean water for everybody... but my latest passion and almost obsession has been advocacy. Training to be an advocate at the College of Idaho has consumed my life this semester. I have learned more about the cycle of abuse than I can possibly imagine, and one of the most important things about the cycle of abuse is how little people know about it.
Recently on Reddit there was a picture depicting

 the cycle of abuse. This image shows how if a child is abused, he or she may grow up to also be an abuser. What isn't shown is how children start to associate abuse with love and aren't aware that what they are doing is wrong. Daddy wouldn't hit me if he didn't love me. This thinking is then carried on to when that child becomes a parent.
Reading the hundreds of comments on this photo was actually very heartwarming. Many of the posters had been abused as a child and took that experience and turned it around. "My dad hit me and because of that I will never raise a hand to my children." These statements gave me such hope for humanity.
What this picture doesn't explain is that there are two cycles of abuse. The second one happens later in life, and is usually associated with women. If a woman's first relationship is with an abusive partner, that woman is more likely to have another abusive relationship in the future. It's the same ideology; equating love with violence. Manipulative charmers--men who are most likely to become abusive--pick up on this psyche. Women who have been in abusive relationships are usually vulnerable and more susceptible to abusive partners. Until they get outside help or come to a great epiphany, the circle of abuse will continue.
Education is key in stopping both circles. With the power of the Internet and other accessible materials, people are becoming more aware that an abusive childhood is not the norm. People are still afraid to talk about abuse, and this taboo subject needs to be more open. If the cycle of abuse was taught in grade school, the cycle could be broken before it continues. But no one wants to talk about it, and no one wants to expose their children to that kind of violence. But the reality is that some children are in the middle of that kind of violence, and there is no excuse for that.