Traditions can change.
I write to you today to bring awareness of child brides. To begin this discussion, it is vital to go into this knowing that traditions can change. Traditions are the lifeblood of some societies and cultures, but what if these traditions force society into poverty, death, or extremely low education - is that a tradition worth keeping? Traditions can either be influential on a society (negatively or positively) or it can have no effect. But it is apparent the issue of child brides has an impact on society and in a negative way. So this first blog on an issue, that many here in the United States see as a foreign concept, such as child brides revolve around the concept of whether tradition can or cannot change.
I believe it can. Traditions evolve - or change - or morph, whatever you want to call it. Traditions come into fruition after much practice by society, so if a society stops those traditions, they stop being traditions. Just like in some families, it might have been tradition to pray before a meal, but after so long of not doing it, it is no longer tradition - it becomes a memory. This tradition of young girls, and young boys, being married off when they are very young (below the age of 15) must stop. And the good thing is it can. Young people must get an education - not only for the betterment their own personal self but education decreases poverty, infant mortality rate, and increases the standard of living. It is vital for a society to prosper for young people to get an education, which they are unable to do if the tradition of child brides continue.
So on this first blog, I ask YOU whether tradition can change? Is it possible to for society to stop having these oppressive traditions, typically affecting the women mostly? I hope that you will take the time to become interested in this worldly issue of child brides and do as much as YOU can to change tradition.
http://girlsnotbrides.org/child-marriage/
~Not a Child, Nor a Bride.
I write to you today to bring awareness of child brides. To begin this discussion, it is vital to go into this knowing that traditions can change. Traditions are the lifeblood of some societies and cultures, but what if these traditions force society into poverty, death, or extremely low education - is that a tradition worth keeping? Traditions can either be influential on a society (negatively or positively) or it can have no effect. But it is apparent the issue of child brides has an impact on society and in a negative way. So this first blog on an issue, that many here in the United States see as a foreign concept, such as child brides revolve around the concept of whether tradition can or cannot change.
I believe it can. Traditions evolve - or change - or morph, whatever you want to call it. Traditions come into fruition after much practice by society, so if a society stops those traditions, they stop being traditions. Just like in some families, it might have been tradition to pray before a meal, but after so long of not doing it, it is no longer tradition - it becomes a memory. This tradition of young girls, and young boys, being married off when they are very young (below the age of 15) must stop. And the good thing is it can. Young people must get an education - not only for the betterment their own personal self but education decreases poverty, infant mortality rate, and increases the standard of living. It is vital for a society to prosper for young people to get an education, which they are unable to do if the tradition of child brides continue.
So on this first blog, I ask YOU whether tradition can change? Is it possible to for society to stop having these oppressive traditions, typically affecting the women mostly? I hope that you will take the time to become interested in this worldly issue of child brides and do as much as YOU can to change tradition.
http://girlsnotbrides.org/child-marriage/
~Not a Child, Nor a Bride.
I think it is rather presumptuous of us as the (comparatively) rich, fat Americans that we are to think we have the "right" answer to traditions we think are bad. We, and in many cases the whole civilized world, do NOT have all the answers. What we find to be right in our culture may, in another culture, do more harm to the structure of that society than we can predict. If it is meant to phase out then it will; but trying to pridefully come up with our own solution can be problematic in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteLet me draw a parallel. Back in the early 20th century it was widely believe by educated, well informed people that homosexuality was a disease that could be cured. Was that correct? No. But it led to various "civilized" cultures to execute various "solutions" to homosexuality. People were sent off to summer camps, went through shock therapy, forced into heterosexual couplings, and on top of all of those solutions, because they were gay they were also ostracized as if they were leprous. We did not have the right idea, or solution for what we thought was a problem back then. Is it so far off base to think that we might not be 100% morally correct in this as well?
First off, thank you for the comment Ben. It is always lovely to know that people are reading my blogs and forming their own opinions on what I have to say. No, I do not think we always have the right answer to problems, or purposed problems. But I do feel that when the society itself sees an issue with a certain tradition, if they are looking for help, and we (as Americans) can provide it why not. Just like if we seen an issue in our society and did not know how to fix it, we would look for help elsewhere. You may be thinking to yourself that the society does not see an issue with child brides, but it is true that in Saudi Arabia they do. For the first time, the government has decided to start regulating child brides (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7999777.stm). Also, it has been noted that these child brides are not getting the same education as other children - that in itself is bad for the economy. An educated nation tends to be a more wealthy nation and in turn has less citizens in poverty. I urge you to go to the website I linked in the blog if you question anything that I am saying - also the news source I linked above. But again, thank you for your comment and the time you took to read my blog.
ReplyDeleteIs it not better for the elected government itself to enact this type of social change, rather than outside influence by ours? My point was not on whether or not this was bad (your website is void of references to their data so I am skeptical) but on how America, more and more, comes across as this really loud obnoxious guy in the room that demands everyone listen to him. It's decidedly un-American, it seems lately anyway, to NOT intervene.
ReplyDeleteAnother point I'd like to make is that I think this is more a women's liberty issue than just merely child brides. Women themselves in these cultures need a stronger voice. And that voice needs to sound from within, not come shouting down from elsewhere.
As in the case of Saudi Arabia, the government is enacting this social change from pressure within - because they are aware of the problems that this issue has caused. And I don't feel that pressure elsewhere (whether it be from the United States or another country) is necessarily a bad thing. I don't think we should run to fix every little thing, but there is a lot at stake in an issue like this. And clearly, the United States hasn't done anything to promote regulating or getting rid of "child brides." Sometimes an outside voice is necessary; one that will support and back up the one within. Women's rights is an international issue, and I see nothing wrong with women in other countries supporting women within to change tradition. I think it is a good idea for any group fighting for more rights and a stronger voice to ask for outside help and resources if they can be provided. Why not? You stand a better chance with an army than by yourself. And I am sorry you did not find the website legitimate enough, so I will continue working on research that is sound enough. Also, this beginning blog was just to get my foot into the door. I was merely stating that traditions can evolve and change, which is the first step in understanding any supposed problem - to know it can be "fixed" if it needs to be. And I am focusing my project on one specific topic - like child brides - that is why I am not speaking of merely women's liberty.
ReplyDelete