There are a few things in this word that seriously disturb me. And I mean this on a deep, painful level... One of which would be discrimination...especially that of racism. This hits home for I've suffered the consequences of the ignorant, close-minded, stereotypical workings of those who affect the circumstances I live under... ahh... But that’s a different story.
What bothers me now is an image imbedded in my head a few days now...One of the other really disturbing pieces of life that I just can't come to terms with. And that is a parent, verbally and physically abusing their children (in public) reeking of absolute ignorance and lack of understanding. This mother, who seemed a bit on the loose screws side, was raucously shouting at and threatening her 4year old daughter with a belt, for every single thing that she said and did. She wanted something to drink... the mother grabbed her and hit her shouting to her as to why she has to be so difficult and why she has to be thirsty. The girl asked for water...the mother took the belt and beat her this time, screaming at her to drink mauby. The girl then wanted to sit down on a free seat and the mother screamed at her to come and lie down and sleep and hit her again. Every single thing she child did or didn't do, this mother is breaking out in her abusive ways, 'roughing up' the girl, and then blatantly turning to everyone else in the room and complaining that the place so hot and the journey taking so long.
Now we were all on a boat on the way back to Trinidad, about 5 families in that part of tourist class, all with kids. The other mothers were looking on at this irate woman and no one said a thing. People are trying to take a nap or eat or have some quality family fun...and this woman just goes on, abusing that little girl, for no apparent reason…and quite loudly too.
I'm not one to judge and I tried at first to see things from the mother's point of view... but after awhile it was more than obvious that what I was witnessing was just down right wrong. I prayed for God to bless the mother with patience and understanding and the little girl to not be affected negatively. It's not my place to seem condescending, but I said that pray with honest sincerity. The whole situation left a burning sick feeling in my stomach. I've seen it many times... parents walking with children on the street. The child stumbles and the mother grabs him, hits him and quarrels about the fact that he fell. I mean... how can people do that? Why?
10 comments:
I am sure this mother grew up in an abusive home, but that shouldn’t excuse anyone for their actions. At some point in time people must take responsibility for their actions and suffer the consequences. Unfortunately, in this case an innocent child is suffering. What keeps people in check is guilt and obviously this mother doesn’t suffer from a guilty conscience since she can so readily abuse her child in public. That means she sees nothing wrong with what she is doing. Human Begins have a great propensity to be cruel and that cruelty can be for no reason other than “that’s all they know.” This mother probably grew up never knowing what love is so how can she show any affection to her children. How can her children then continue the cycle of love? I have seen cases where people tried to intervene and reason with the abusive parent only for the child to suffer greater abuse in private.
The solution is to break the cycle of abuse. It would be easy to say love is the answer but some people are so abused and shattered by circumstances it may take forever for them to respond. In the meantime the abuse continues and grows. Some people are not mentally and financially suitable to be parents but they still become parents. Unfortunately abuse of the innocent by man will always be with us and everyone must do their part in stopping this cycle. Hate is the easy response but that will only continue the cycle and not stop it. The answer might be easy but its execution will not be.
your right aka... its a vicious cycle that hurts me to see. You couldn't have said it any better
u was dere live seein all dis action?
why u din go and hit the modda 2 3 cuss etc etc dred? lawd fadda
well d kinda hard looks she get she eventually sit down and thankfully cap out...
and 6620... where u get dat from?
where i get wat from?
"The solution is to break the cycle of abuse."
And how is this to be done?
It can only be done if the 'abuser' realises it him/herself. Something that requires a higher level of thought that most people forego because they take the easy way out i.e. "i grow up so and i think it's ok and therefore it's right."
it's a pity some people think the way they do.
Where u get d name '6620' from? It intrigues me
and yea snbg It really is a pity ppl think the way the do... their life's perception can make the greatest wrongs seem right.
6620 - sounds like a very fine state of the art Nokia
It is really disheartening to hear stories such as this. What I would like to know, is if this woman was being openly abusive to this child in public, shouldn't the authorities on the boat have said or done something about it?
Some people just will not change their ways on their own, not unless there is pressur eon them to do so. Why is it that society simply accepts this sort of behaviour? It only encourages the problem.
The amazing thing is dat for that whole ride, i didnt see one guard/person of authority. no 1 checking to see if we on d right deck or anything. Silence can be misunderstood to be acceptance and thus - nothing changes.
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