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"I ran away from home at the age of 11 after my father beat me for stealing a kitchen appliance," said Samir who works in a sweatshop. [snip] "I have saved 4,

"I ran away from home at the age of 11 after my father beat me for stealing a kitchen appliance," said Samir who works in a sweatshop. [snip] "I have saved 4,000 rupees (70 US$) in the last seven months. It's a good feeling to have some money. I will buy a shirt and a watch for my father and send it to him to seek his apology." "He might forgive me and ask me to be with him at home." For me it is heartbreaking that this child was beaten and still feels that he owes his abuser an apology. (edit: formatting)

kumarm 14y ago
Physical Discipline by parents is not considered out of ordinary in India. To anyone who grew up in India, you calling a dad abuser is more offensive.
FraaJad 14y ago
Yes, I would have rather reported him to the police for stealing and put him in a juvie where he could master the art of thieving. <- this is the western solution isn't it? Abuser? my foot! Western society is good transferring responsibility to the society at large.
- praxulus 14y ago
  If you're a a bad parent, particularly in a poor inner city family, that's the western solution. If you're a good parent the solution is to teach your kids moral lessons without using violence.
delluminatus 14y ago
Beatings are not a good way to raise a child. However, it's not really abuse -- or it might not have been by the standards of U.S. law and I can almost guarantee it wasn't by the standards of local culture. Also, he did steal an appliance. It's not like his father was just beating on him.
- naughtysriram 14y ago
  Yes, the point is that, he now realizes how difficult it is to earn a living and keep a good name and how it will feel if some one steals something. Probably his father will bring him back home.
deleted 14y ago
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mythealias 14y ago
In India it is common to discipline kids by beating. This is practised not only by parents but also in schools. It is getting rarer in middle and upper class but predominant among poorer families. It is very difficult to keep your composure when you are living on a day-to-day wage basis. While you can argue that beating kids is no way to behave. I believe that thinking stems from one's upbringing and social standing. I think one isolated incident is not a good ground to call someone an abuser.
- rafedb 14y ago
  are you crazies all really defending child abuse because he stole something equivalent to a blender? ridiculous
mitra 14y ago
He stole a kitchen appliance and his dad punished him for it. He seems genuinely sorry and is working hard to make amends in the process growing as a person both socially and financially. This is not abuse, it's a right way to raise a responsible human that takes responsibility for his actions. I think it's heartbreaking that you ignored the relative good in the story and chose to hone in on the "spanking" that a rebellious child may need a few times in his life.

kumarm 14y ago

Physical Discipline by parents is not considered out of ordinary in India. To anyone who grew up in India, you calling a dad abuser is more offensive.

FraaJad 14y ago

Yes, I would have rather reported him to the police for stealing and put him in a juvie where he could master the art of thieving. <- this is the western solution isn't it? Abuser? my foot! Western society is good transferring responsibility to the society at large.

praxulus 14y ago
If you're a a bad parent, particularly in a poor inner city family, that's the western solution. If you're a good parent the solution is to teach your kids moral lessons without using violence.

delluminatus 14y ago

Beatings are not a good way to raise a child. However, it's not really abuse -- or it might not have been by the standards of U.S. law and I can almost guarantee it wasn't by the standards of local culture. Also, he did steal an appliance. It's not like his father was just beating on him.

naughtysriram 14y ago
Yes, the point is that, he now realizes how difficult it is to earn a living and keep a good name and how it will feel if some one steals something. Probably his father will bring him back home.

deleted 14y ago

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mythealias 14y ago

In India it is common to discipline kids by beating. This is practised not only by parents but also in schools. It is getting rarer in middle and upper class but predominant among poorer families. It is very difficult to keep your composure when you are living on a day-to-day wage basis. While you can argue that beating kids is no way to behave. I believe that thinking stems from one's upbringing and social standing. I think one isolated incident is not a good ground to call someone an abuser.

rafedb 14y ago
are you crazies all really defending child abuse because he stole something equivalent to a blender? ridiculous

mitra 14y ago

He stole a kitchen appliance and his dad punished him for it. He seems genuinely sorry and is working hard to make amends in the process growing as a person both socially and financially. This is not abuse, it's a right way to raise a responsible human that takes responsibility for his actions. I think it's heartbreaking that you ignored the relative good in the story and chose to hone in on the "spanking" that a rebellious child may need a few times in his life.