Tuesday, August 22, 2006
This article is a few months old, but worth posting anyway. Leniency for 'ignorant' woman who hurt baby
A BANGLADESHI woman who shook a baby boy so violently that he suffered brain damage walked free from court yesterday because a judge conceded that she did not know how to behave in the West.
Rahella Khanom, 24, caused the five-month-old boy in her care to suffer fractures to his breast bone and ribs as she tried to rid him of evil spirits
This is cultural relativism at its worst. Who are we to insist that she understand our Western biases on raising kids? It doesn't matter what culture you come from, our way is better because it takes a rational approach to helping kids heal. It's no wonder people from many third world countries seem to be slow. In many cases it may be from the 'treatment' they got from parents. I'm not saying the kid should be taken away from her forever, just long enough to make sure it's not going to be in further danger.
A BANGLADESHI woman who shook a baby boy so violently that he suffered brain damage walked free from court yesterday because a judge conceded that she did not know how to behave in the West.
Rahella Khanom, 24, caused the five-month-old boy in her care to suffer fractures to his breast bone and ribs as she tried to rid him of evil spirits
This is cultural relativism at its worst. Who are we to insist that she understand our Western biases on raising kids? It doesn't matter what culture you come from, our way is better because it takes a rational approach to helping kids heal. It's no wonder people from many third world countries seem to be slow. In many cases it may be from the 'treatment' they got from parents. I'm not saying the kid should be taken away from her forever, just long enough to make sure it's not going to be in further danger.
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