My sister sent me this link to a news story about a baby in India who was buried alive and found two days later when she poked her tiny little hand through the earth and made a fist as if to say “Girl Power”.
Ok – so I threw in the “Girl Power” part for fun, but there is nothing funny about this story. The tiny infant was the eighth daughter in the family and her parents felt that she would be too much of a financial burden because in their country, the parents of the bride must pay a dowry to the groom and his family when their daughter gets married.
It is a sad reflection of our society when human beings are treated as property or considered to be “burden”. This little girl is obviously a strong fighter to have survived for two days after birth without ever being fed her first meal, being held or being rocked to sleep. She has a purpose in this world. I am willing to bet that we will see great things from her in years to come. No name was mentioned for her in the article. I know very little about the culture in her country, but I hope she is given a strong, meaningful name. Maybe some my great readers from India could offer some suggestions. ;)
5 comments
gretchen
Hey – no problem. I didn’t think your comment was bad. I was just trying to add that we can disagree on a lot of things culturally, but human life should be valued in all cultures. I’m glad you agree. :)
USpace
Gretchen,
Thank you, I agree, and I apologize for my sarcasm.
gretchen
Thanks for your comments, USpace. I agree with respecting other cultures, but human life is universal and should be valued no matter where we live. I don’t understand cultures (including my own American culture) that doesn’t comprehend the worth of each and every person born into it. :-??
USpace
This is a terrible thing that happens, thank God this girl was rescued. But this is not Western society, it is just another society just as good as ours.
.
absurd thought –
God of the Universe says
respect backwards cultures
.
Kel1
I read about this elsewhere, and in the article I found, it stated that it was her GRANDFATHER who actually abandoned her…and that one of his daughters had given birth, but that he knew he’d have another female mouth to feed so he just “couldn’t do it.” :( It’s very different in places like China and India, where they cast girls aside either before their birth (selective abortion) or shortly thereafter.
And when they’re not cast aside then, they are sold for money into the sex slave trade so a family can get a few bucks to live on…and that’s literally how much these girls are sold for…a few bucks.
It is very depressing to think about. But it’s good to see things like this being reported, because it reminds us of the value of life, and it also shows us how desperation and man’s inhumanity to man can affect us.
Any society that seeks to “better” itself by sacrificing its own children cannot thrive. In our own country (America) we have killed about 40 million of our own, and we wonder why our future security (and social security system) is at risk??
The original feminists like Anthony and especially Stanton saw things like this happening and decried it. Disposing of one’s children does not make for the betterment of a person or of society at large.
‘K, I’ll get off my soapbox now. :P
That is a beautiful little girl, and I’m sure that she is wanted by SOMEONE, even if she was not welcomed by those to whom she was originally entrusted.