Tags
#BAD2014, #BlogAction14, #ChildLabour, #ChildMarriage, #DomesticSlavery, #Inequality #BlogAction14, #OCT16, Children's Education, Education
I think that part of the problem is that when much of the inequality is economic, and the poor and vulnerable themselves often behave in very counterproductive ways. Those who aren’t poor see this and are prone to think “oh, they brought it on themselves” and see the vulnerability of the poor as their personal responsibility issue. Paul Krugman wrote about this a while ago: http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/07/blaming-the-victims-of-inequality/
The well-off have a difficult time with the nuisance of “slavery”. It has desensitised them impeding cognitive ability to reason or at least research the facts leaving them without a clue. Not realizing that among many poor, foreigners too, they are neither trusted nor well- liked. The well-to-do people have behaved with the poor perhaps badly, and so many others. It’s something like as blacks are seen by whites, or as it is now, “every Muslim is a terrorist…” The privileged will find an excuse for any ignominy committed. Explanation: “it was for the best, or, there was nothing left to do.” Decisions made based on their own sense of apprehension, self importance, and greed…
Personally, I am a middle-class educated man and have never experienced this type of discrimination that implies that I have to do something against my will. Consequently, I probably cannot appreciate the subtle forms of discrimination that people of other class are subject to. Maybe I can grasp it on an intellectual basis, but not deep down. But I know it exists. What we are talking about here is the gross forms of discrimination such as where the poor or disadvantaged people are “shipped” at disproportionate rates compared to people like me. But the subtle forms surely hurt too. I wish there are some bloggers that are affected by slavery or coercive “employment” can produce an enlightening post for the rest of us. I hate intolerance and discrimination and work hard to root out any trace in myself, yet logic tells me I probably cannot succeed. Thank you, for keeping this issue in the public eye.
Many people want to understand what inequality is? Too many rich unquestioningly accept a system that disproportionately punishes the poor and that gives public services to the disadvantaged children many fewer resources than those serving affluent children. Does anybody encounter some problem? If you’re rich then you know how quick the administration (and police) responds to your problem. But what might happen if you are poor? No or little attention? I don’t know how one changes the reaction and/or attitudes of law enforcement. Clearly it has not changed, maybe become more harassing in many countries (villages and towns). I remember reading John Howard Griffin’s book, “Black Like Me”, and being appalled. Mr. Griffin, a white man in Texas, paints himself black and travels through the South on a bus and experiences firsthand what if feels like to be black in America. It was not pretty. I find it hard to believe that half a century (the book was published in the sixties) later, the Americans are still having this conversation, the conversation of inequality. The injustices seen in courts are also disturbing. Equal justice under the law should never be in dispute. Perhaps young lawyers should have a group of activists who are headed toward careers in criminal law form a review board that accepts referrals from defendants who feel they have been victims of a miscarriage of justice due to poverty, race, gender or stigma. They could then advocate on behalf of the defendant if the case in question is found to have merit.
I also see a rich-dominated society that shows no sense of responsibility for disadvantaged children born on a path that often propels them toward slavery – drugs, crime and joblessness; we fail those kids before they fail us, and then we, too, look for others to blame. On the larger scale the dangers modern-day slavery gives are no doubt real, many of us have seen this first hand. The failure of society and the communities involved will not be easily remedied, perhaps not in decades. But where we begin? So many problems and many people need to be involved and so little understanding and discussion across these wide gulfs of opinion.
The underlying issue is the failure of rich-dominated society to take responsibility and equity for disadvantaged slaves (whatever the forms are). I agree and it isn’t because I get it right but because I understand that who controls the society is also controls the states.
However, primary responsibility for these disadvantage children who often are prone to slavery should also lies not only in the rich-dominated society but also with the affected community and families themselves. While nobody should place impediments in the path of these children, it is the community and family that should empower these children. If we go practical, blaming the rich-dominant society doesn’t really address important underlying issues.
Until the community places a strong emphasis on learning instead of looking at someone for education (it is likely that a state or the civil society in a given state helps them with education and training), situation may not change significantly. The communities also should enforce expectations that male behaviour toward women in their communities should also be respectful.
Things will really improve when both sides take responsibility. Men need to act as proper role models to their children (especially their sons) and understand the imperative to get beyond just the short-lived physical pleasure associated with conceiving a child and take on the two decades of responsibility to raise that child to be a successful, educated, and productive member of society by reading to their young child, attending school academic and athletic events that their child participates in, attending parent-teacher conferences, and the host of other mundane activities associated with raising and supporting a child by any means. This approach may face hurdles, bit with the help of others, they must do it to do enough to protect their children first, and then look out for help from the state or other actors.
And, what’s the states’ responsibility? And others, such as, what will be the responsibility of the donors, NGOs, civil societies? State should enforce law, build a better equitable economy and offer good governance so that one should not face exclusion. Others would help people learn to protect them, and help the offenders’ exposure. That’s it. Thank you all.