Women and children first

Posted by helenducal on July 27, 2011 · 2 Comments 

I
witnessed a dreadfully sad event the other day.

People
gathered quietly at the steps of the church. The coffin of a young woman was
borne up those steps and inside the church.

But
the dreadfully sad event took place right in front of my eyes.

A
young woman with two small boys, stood solemnly, whilst chastising her children
through gritted teeth.

The
two boys were ‘playing’ on the steps.

They
were too young, possibly three and five, to fully understand what was going on.
She repeatedly told them to stop jumping up and down.

She
gave no explanation just shrieked. Has she quietly explained the need for them
to stand quietly for a few moments? I think not. Although I cannot be sure.

And
then I witnessed the event that saddened my heart. She slapped the older boy
around the head.

His
eyes glistened. He did not cry. He looked at her with disdain; and so did I.

If
violence begets violence (and it does not always) then this woman had begun her
son’s possible lifetime, frame of reference. You want something? You use brute
force.

He
regarded her with defiance. I watched her as she looked on sympathetically as
the coffin (of the young mother of a small boy, allegedly murdered by the boy’s
father) disappeared from view.

I
wanted to say to this woman. Look at what you have done. Can’t you see the
stupidity-the dreadful possible consequences of your actions? Or maybe she
would never connect her actions with the death of a young mother and the
bullying of her son.

If
she had hit me I would have been entitled to call the police. Children do not
have equal rights in France…nor in many other countries.

Sweden
was the first country to pass equal rights for children. What are the rest of
you waiting for?

We
cannot bring back little Hugo’s mother but can we at least think about our
actions and how they form the future.

I
stood there, watching this woman lead her two young sons away and I thought:
And so it begins. I hope I am wrong.

 

p.s. I didn’t mean to choose this layout but it seems somehow poetic and so it stays.

Helen.

Filed under Uncategorized · Tagged with bullying, children's rights, consequenses, funeral, police, Sweden