Born Into Brothels has a scene where an older woman keeps cursing at this little girl. Besides being utterly abhorred at this woman, I was impressed. This 10 year old little girl, never stooped to her elder's level nor did she raise her voice at her. What is most extraordinary is the display or pure self-control. The capacity this child has for handling blatant disrespect leads me to believe that, another person would not be able to maintain any kind of rationality.
Respecting your elders has always been a precedent of every culture and society. This scene alone challenges that. It brings up a question. Where does a person draw the line between respect for another human being, and respect for himself?
Pushing boundaries is what this age is about. We have pushed and stretched technology, fashion, design, and originality, are precedents next? The good old fashioned values seem to be lingering, but they do not possess the same presence and grasp on people's attitudes. For that 10 year old girl they have an obvious presence, but are they weakening in more developed places? For example, imagine you are at a target and you see a child in a rage or in tears because they were not bought the toy they wanted. Nothing special, it is not unusual here. Meanwhile in third world countries, which make up the majority of the world's population, a child cries when they are losing a loved one, or have tuberculosis, or cannot find food.
More fortunate people here are realizing that there are people that have it worse, way worse. The problem is that in first world countries like the one we live in, life is so fast paced and so hectic, that it is hard to remember that this is not how the whole planet functions. Taking a moment and thinking about all the things that had to go right for you to be where you are at that second is a humbling and grounding experience.
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