A lot is happening everywhere in the world today, and people are preparing to spend the weekend with their loved ones getting ready for the New Year which is just around the corner. Many organizations will honor people that have done something hroic for the society. CNN, for one, runs a program to honor Heroes over the world and nearly all the folks showcased in that program are true Heroes.
But then, every once in a while, there are assholes (Please pardon my French!) that prove that some humans are actually going backwards in time. first, there was the deranged soul that shot several innocent kids in Newtown (CT), and I thought that it was a new low. But then, I read about the girl who was gang-raped in a Delhi bus on Dec. 16th, then beaten and thrown out to die. After fighting for her life over the past several days, she finally succumbed today to her grave injuries amidst multiple organ failures in Singapore.
Over the past few days, I have been reading comments about the incident and following the news in the Indian/world news media. One friend suggested that the modern clothing was one of the causes for this incident or growing crimes against women in India, while another blamed Indian movies - especially the provocative songs like Sheela ki Jawani or Munni or Halkat Jawani for these increasing crimes. The weird part was that some of these comments came from women, and some from parents who themselves have daughter(s).
India is not alone in seeing these crimes spurt. Just a couple of years back, there was a similar incident in Richmond, California where 6 highschool students gangraped a fellow student after a highschool party where they were all drinking together. Date rape is also a fairly common thing in the wild west. And rape is still a stigma all over the world, which prevents the victims from coming forward to report it. But what makes the case in India more barbaric and deplorable, is the way the girl was treated. Without going into the details (I am sure you can read about the gory details by Googling the news), let me just state that the girl was raped, then beaten with iron rods and then thrown out in the bushes from the moving bus.
The girl fought bravely her sever injuries for several days. During this time, several of the women's group finally decided to stand up and take the up the fight. There have been demonstrations all over the country. My wife and I were talking about the case just a few nights back, and we discussed her remote chances of survival as she struggled with speticemia and organ failures. For the first time, the Indian Government sponsored a civilian to be sent to Singapore for treatment. During her flight, she collaped and the doctors were able to revive her. So, the odds were always against her.
Over the next few days, there will be many discussions, arguments, and demonstrations on this topic. There will be "experts" willing to share their wisdom, and then there will be the news media goons who will keep sensationalizing the event. People will dissect every statement, move including the decision to send her to Singapore. But where do we go from here? Can we really blame the "clothing" or the "movies" for such deplorable acts? Is it not our lack of respect for women that is the real reason? What is the punishment for this crime? Many angry people have said that the perpetuators should be castrated and then tarred! Is that the right thing to do?
Lot of questions and I don't really see any immediate answers. One can't change the mindset by just bringing in laws and rulings. It takes a more sustained effort at a grassroot level - and unfortunately, no body is really talking about that. As a father of two beautiful daughters, I often worry about their safety - but I know I have brought them up well, they are strong, and that they are in a place where women are somewhat respected -- not because of what they wear or how they dance or sing - but just because they are who they are. That said, I am hoping that India can use this incident to come up with a movement to bring back the respect for women in the Indian Society.
I pray that the girl's soul her family can find some peace!!
But then, every once in a while, there are assholes (Please pardon my French!) that prove that some humans are actually going backwards in time. first, there was the deranged soul that shot several innocent kids in Newtown (CT), and I thought that it was a new low. But then, I read about the girl who was gang-raped in a Delhi bus on Dec. 16th, then beaten and thrown out to die. After fighting for her life over the past several days, she finally succumbed today to her grave injuries amidst multiple organ failures in Singapore.
Over the past few days, I have been reading comments about the incident and following the news in the Indian/world news media. One friend suggested that the modern clothing was one of the causes for this incident or growing crimes against women in India, while another blamed Indian movies - especially the provocative songs like Sheela ki Jawani or Munni or Halkat Jawani for these increasing crimes. The weird part was that some of these comments came from women, and some from parents who themselves have daughter(s).
India is not alone in seeing these crimes spurt. Just a couple of years back, there was a similar incident in Richmond, California where 6 highschool students gangraped a fellow student after a highschool party where they were all drinking together. Date rape is also a fairly common thing in the wild west. And rape is still a stigma all over the world, which prevents the victims from coming forward to report it. But what makes the case in India more barbaric and deplorable, is the way the girl was treated. Without going into the details (I am sure you can read about the gory details by Googling the news), let me just state that the girl was raped, then beaten with iron rods and then thrown out in the bushes from the moving bus.
The girl fought bravely her sever injuries for several days. During this time, several of the women's group finally decided to stand up and take the up the fight. There have been demonstrations all over the country. My wife and I were talking about the case just a few nights back, and we discussed her remote chances of survival as she struggled with speticemia and organ failures. For the first time, the Indian Government sponsored a civilian to be sent to Singapore for treatment. During her flight, she collaped and the doctors were able to revive her. So, the odds were always against her.
Over the next few days, there will be many discussions, arguments, and demonstrations on this topic. There will be "experts" willing to share their wisdom, and then there will be the news media goons who will keep sensationalizing the event. People will dissect every statement, move including the decision to send her to Singapore. But where do we go from here? Can we really blame the "clothing" or the "movies" for such deplorable acts? Is it not our lack of respect for women that is the real reason? What is the punishment for this crime? Many angry people have said that the perpetuators should be castrated and then tarred! Is that the right thing to do?
Lot of questions and I don't really see any immediate answers. One can't change the mindset by just bringing in laws and rulings. It takes a more sustained effort at a grassroot level - and unfortunately, no body is really talking about that. As a father of two beautiful daughters, I often worry about their safety - but I know I have brought them up well, they are strong, and that they are in a place where women are somewhat respected -- not because of what they wear or how they dance or sing - but just because they are who they are. That said, I am hoping that India can use this incident to come up with a movement to bring back the respect for women in the Indian Society.
I pray that the girl's soul her family can find some peace!!
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