Yesterday I saw in my newsfeed a video of a woman beating her baby with a pillow. I will not repost the video here for I believe enough damage has been done by the social networking. So I read and see that how judgmental we all are. We just want to crucify her without even knowing the situation. OK, now the story is out. She was raped, gave birth to this baby and now looks like she is abusing the baby.
I was looking at the video and as a mother, it was heart wrenching to see the baby being beaten up. But upon looking at the video with another perspective, I see that she was beating the baby with a pillow, not something hard or sharp. With my mind clear of judgement, to me, it looks like the woman herself is equally the victim. It looks like she loves the baby as much as she hates the baby. The baby reminds her of a horrid incident but she also loves the baby. The baby actually looks a healthy size and no significant bruises are seen on the baby.
Today, I saw comments saying that the 18 months jail sentence is inadequate for her behaviour. Again, it really hurts me to see how quick we are to cast judgement, to crucify someone we deem to be unfit or bad based on our own experience and yardstick. But is the 18 months jail sentence going to help anyone? Probably results in more anger and hurt in this woman and result in 3 children living without their mother for 18 months.
We live in a 'punishment' to justify the means society. Is it really going to work? What happens after 18 months, after her release? She might even have more anger towards this baby because she will think it is the baby that put her behind bars, this baby that resulted in her being torn away from her own kids for 18 months. Can we not be a bit more compassionate and understand that not everyone have a breezy life and this woman is also a victim herself.
Wouldnt it be better to sentence her to 18 months of 24/7 supervised care by a nurse or a trainer professional and let her heal/come to terms that this baby is already in this world and is part of her. Give her guidance and let her decide whether she can face the baby and if she cant, prepare and coach her to give the baby up for adoption. Let everyone heal including the baby. But putting her behind bars do not do anything good for anyone but create bigger resentment and anger.
Looking at the video, I do wonder if she had has the choice of abortion, would it turn out better for her and that baby? Killing a baby in the womb vs hurting a baby which could lead to long term emotional, psychological and physical effect...
We should really not be so quick to cast our first condemnation on people. There is always a circumstances or a history.
No comments:
Post a Comment