I just got through reading something seriously depressing. My head is spinning, no, not literally. No matter how much we’ve progressed technologically, medically, scientifically, blah, blah, blah, it’s all worthless when we have no control over stopping people from severely harming not just other people, but defenseless children. What is worse is that the oppressors are often defended. How backwards do we have to be?
The other day I was thinking back to my child abuse class randomly, and something clicked in my head. The topic that irks most people in Islam is the fact that Sayyidina Rasulullah (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) married a “child”, who was in fact a consenting adult. She displayed no signs of psychological trauma, and that is obvious by the vast amount of knowledge accredited to her til today. There comes a point where a person with a troubled past gives up and caves in. They don’t live their lives saying how amazing their oppressor was and encouraging others to follow in his footsteps.
That makes me wonder: since people care so much about a “child” oppressed and defenseless from 1400 years ago, how about doing something for the millions of children suffering today? No, not the child brides in Saudi Arabia or Yemen, but the children who are kidnapped and then put in humiliating positions for the pleasure of sick adults. Sick, perverted, and twisted all combined are an understatement. They don’t deserve to live a free life, and even though they must be tortured individuals to commit such vile acts, I can’t say they should get any ease.
- A report of child abuse is made every ten seconds. (Reports being made does not equal the child is helped. There a million that can go wrong after the report is made, and results maybe in more abuse.)
- Almost five children die everyday as a result of child abuse. More than three out of four are under the age of 4. (What the hell? Are we in the 21st century? I thought children, specifically girls, were only killed in the 7th century.)
It’s great to be aware about what is going on currently across our great planet, but it defies intelligence if it is taking you away from what’s happening in our own country and stopping you from actually doing something locally. Not everybody has to be a professional. Sometimes you just need to be reliable enough for the victim to open up to and depend on. Maybe we can at least try to prevent others out there like Zeller from taking their lives. Who knows. Maybe.
Diary of a Pinhead 
re: “since people care so much “…
I think the one thing Zeller’s essay illustrates is that nobody cares. Here was an individual who earned some pretty powerful connections in his very short and tragic life, yet had nobody who cared, not friends and not professionals.
Well, perhaps a very few people care, but finding them is like finding a diamond in a thrash heap. Literally.
“Are we in the 21st century? I thought children, specifically girls, were only killed in the 7th century” Or if not just in the 7th century then certainly only in Afghanistan and Yemen.
It can change, people can start caring. Positive thinking, remember? 🙂 Yea, it’s a long shot. 😦
Yes, they can…Let’s revisit this in a couple decades to see if they do. As a society, we kind of have to. *Here’s to positive thinking*