From MSNBC: "In a tangle of bushes and trees outside a remote village in southwest Pakistan, six close male relatives of three teenage girls dug a 4-foot wide by 6-foot deep ditch, on a sweltering night in mid-July, and allegedly buried the girls alive."
Read the rest of the article about what one local official defends as a "centuries-old tradition." Why do you think it is so difficult to end this tradition?
16 comments:
It is hard to end the tradition because as long as the people with the money and the power back it nobody will stop them because they are afraid of the retribution to them and their family. Also it is tradition and tradition in the Middle East/Asia is very important to the people. This is like the short story "The Lottery".
The people are afraid to make any comments even if they think they are wrong about the traditions because they are afraid what will happen to them and their families.
I do not feel this is a fair thing that they have done. No matter what your beliefs are, to be buried alive is inhumane. I applaud the women for standing up for what they wanted. My only other feeling is sorrow for the women. In todays world women need to start standing up for themselves and not be in the male shadows. Unfortunely not all countries has progressed at the same pace.
I agree with Cathy, I applaud these women for trying to go after love and stand up for their rights. I do wish that they weren't murdered (even if to their village it wasn't considered murder, it should have been) but what would wishing do. I wonder if that rule only applys to the women of that village and if a man would do it would the same consequent would happen?
I also applaud those women because they did stand up for what they wanted no matter what the cost. So many women today marry for money, looks, reputation, and because their parents will only allow them to marry that person. I know that it doesn't happen as much any more but it still happens and I wish people would fight for what they love.
I can't believe that three young teenage girls were burried alive because they wanted to marry boys in another tribe. I don't care what the "tribal rules" are it's murdering someone, which is illegal. Women need to stand up for their rights. We are getting murdered for loving someone? thats ridiculous, even if it is something that happens within the tribe it;s still not right.
I was deeply saddened to read the quote under the photograph of the woman that said "It’s a man’s world and these things will never stop". I think it is a combination of learned helplessness, gender inequality that is deeply rooted in the society, and the reluctance of men in positions of power to extend basic human rights and justice to everyone, including women that is making it so difficult to end this tradition.
It's difficult to end a tradition when even the senator representing them defends what they have done. If there is no punishment for such terrible things, there is no way anything can ever change.
I could not even image doing something like this to a family member or anyone. How can those men live with themselves? I am so glad I live in the USA where I am free and able to make decisions for myself.
i agree with Justina, i could never do anything like that to a family member of mind. i do applaud the girls that stood up for their rights, and im deeply sadden that girls had to be punished for standing up for what they believe in. Unlike the United states many other countries women do not have the same rights as we do. which took many years for women here to achive. the middle east might change but the power there is very different from the USA.
Its hard to believe that things of this nature still happen in the world. Our country may be going through a hard time now but something like this makes me put my problems in perspective. I can't imagine this severe of a punishment for just standing up for what you believe in or for any reason! The traditions in pakistan are obviously very important to the men of the country. Unfortunately things may never change until great numbers of people believe this tradition is simply murder and unjust.
I always find it hard to wrap my mind around the fact that things like this do occur in other countries, more often than not. The courage these girls showed is admirable, and it's sad to see the result was their death. It's crazy to think that tradition is that important over there, that a family would kill their own children for the sake of culture. It makes one glad to live here, in the US.
The tradition, religion, prestige and pride, its the social practice made up by MEN who rule the society. And ofcourse, its Pakistan where women can't even held their head high to look. Those poor girls are dead now and nothing's going change. Infact, nothing happened when Benerji Bhutto was killed so its very sad situation, and nothing can be done for the girls too. Eventhough the media and Human rights are talking about the story, it will be covered up pretty soon. The system itself doesn't have any support for women.
It's hard to stop these kinds of things from happening because as stated in the article, even though the president of their country made "Honor Killings" illegal, when men commit these crimes they are protected by powerful tribe leaders. Even though people wanted an investigation they got rid of very important evidence so no one knows what happened and doesnt get caught. How is anyone supposed to solve anything like this? Also, they threatened to kill the reporter if he continued to cover the story. Unfortunately, this probably happened many times before, but we never hear about it.
I agree with what Justina said I am glad to live in America we are definitely blessed.
The tradition will not end unless those who have the power in that society (Men), stop it. How can those who suffer, the women, state their opinions about such practices, if they did something horrible would surely happen to them as well. Times have changed and I think societies where men are totally in control and women are condsidered inferior need to modernize and realize that they are equal, both human beings. Does it really make them feel good to kill inocent people just because they want to show that their men? that their tough? that they have a right too? Nobody has the right to do anything like that.
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