How far do we go?

[Dustparticle]

This is funny news: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-46534681

[BenJepthah]

What a brilliant child. I’m glad the authorities took this as an opportunity for civic improvement.

[Tortuga]

14 minutes ago, BenJepthah said:

What a brilliant child. I’m glad the authorities took this as an opportunity for civic improvement.

OTOH, I'm appalled at the child's rebellious spirit. It seems that everyone in the world feels that if they yell loud enough or long enough or to a bigger audience, they will get their way. Social media has created a world of spoiled adults that feel mass opinion, whether its right or wrong, will help them get their way. While some change is good, It's sad to see children caught up in the unbalanced attitude of this world.

[Doug]

They grow up fast, eh?    To the father:  Let your "Yes" mean "Yes" and your "No", "No"

[Zephyr]

to the daughter: you see your family has little money, you know your father loves you because he has begun the restroom walls...be patient.

 

Nice story and sad at the same time

[BenJepthah]

I find it interesting that this family has instilled in this daughter such a trust in Law enforcement. I’m guessing that theirbos more to this story than being told. Perhaps one of the officers or police Chief is a relative. In any event her father ( from

whom she learned to write such a letter) seems like he’s a reasonably good man. This whole thing seems to have turned into a bit of a blessing to the family and the community.

[hatcheckgirl]

I think it sadly reflects 2 Tim 3:2 "disobedient to parents, unthankful, disloyal".  I understand her needs, obviously she has good cause to want her own privacy and for health reasons.  But to believe you can bring a parent to the police?!!  And the mother condoning and accompanying her?  Sad.  It is not a good way, as we know, to solve problems of poverty.  Ultimately, it is the government's responsibility for community hygiene.

 

For this sort of attitude to be lauded, and reported and shared as a "good news story" on the media, really shows how lost people in the world are.....

[Tortuga]

We can imagine how different this story would be if the entire family was applying bible principles...

[cricket246]

News stories always seem to have two sides to them, for me anyways.

 

For instance - From one perspective the child could be seen as a rebellious, selfish child, perhaps even bratty. And turning to others (with the aid of her mom) to get something she wants regardless of others.  Some may feel the girl deserves to be punished for even making such a request in such a poverty stricken land or may feel she should have been more obedient and let the matter go when her father wasn't able to afford it..

 

On the other hand - Some may see it as a young girl taking cleanliness and hygiene very seriously. Perhaps she had worked hard to keep up her end of the agreement and felt her father wasn't keeping his word. We don't know exactly what the parents disclosed to her so she may not have comletely understood the situation of his being unemployed and how harsh  that can be, especially since she is only 7. We also don't know what kind of person her father was as to why he was unemployed. Another bearing, she may have been influenced by neighbors and relatives, perhaps even bullied by kids whose families were better off financially...

 

That's an interesting things with news articles, many are made to invoke different reactions. However, we are only seeing one side of the story..

 

[Vinnie]

it seems there are differing viewpoints  on this story.  When I read the story, it made me very sad.

 

Put aside that women in India are not always treated well.

Put aside that this is a 7 years old child.

Put aside that her father used manipulation and lies for many years to keep from provide a basic need.  

Put aside  that the girl put her trust in her father to fulfil his word by working hard in school and fulfilling her side of the bargain.

Put aside that her own mother seems to have no voice in the matter but most likely wanted the same thing.

Put aside that the father is an educated man who outwardly says he is concerned for his family.

Put aside the child just wanted some self respect  and stop feeling humiliated.

Put aside that she wanted justice.

Put aside that reached out for help in a respectful way

 

Put aside that it took a 7 year old to put a whole district to shame and effect change for everyone's benefit.

 

From my point of view, I cannot put aside the child's bravery and strength and commitment. I wish I was more like her when I was that age.

 

Edited December 15, 2018 by Vinnie
nothing to edit!!!

[Pjdriver]

You would think a father would want the most privacy for his daughter and whole family. 

It would be one thing if she was demanding something selfish...but this is relating to common human privacy and decency. 

I certainly don’t like the idea of children going to the police to get what they want...but this particular situation seems different. She wasn’t really disobeying her father, she was trying desperately to get him to do what he agreed to relating to common human decency. It’s sad that some children have more sense than their parents. 

[EccentricM]

On 12/15/2018 at 11:17 AM, Pjdriver said:

She wasn’t really disobeying her father, she was trying desperately to get him to do what he agreed to relating to common human decency. It’s sad that some children have more sense than their parents

It appeared however he really didn't have the funds.

 

I think the best course of action is to not make promises one can't keep. At the same time.. I wonder why he wanted her to be good in her classes before agreeing to build something as important as a toilet as a family.. something is not quite right there.

 

My mom said that perhaps he didn't think she was capable of being top of her class, and saw it as a way out as it were. But if that was the case, he should of said from the start "I will make one if I afford it" as opposed to making an outright statement that he would.

[Doug]

7 hours ago, EccentricM said:

 

I think the best course of action is to not make promises one can't keep. At the same time.. I wonder why he wanted her to be good in her classes before agreeing to build something as important as a toilet as a family.. something is not quite right there.

 

My mom said that perhaps he didn't think she was capable of being top of her class, and saw it as a way out as it were. 

It's how the world thinks and acts. Rather than saying "No. You can manage just like everyone else".

He looked for a devious way out of it by making the deal. "I'll do that for you but you must do this for me".

He didn't keep his end of the agreement.