The video on social media of a mother's brutal beating of her 12-year-old daughter for allegedly posting intimate photos on Facebook has upset people way beyond the shores of your island.I try to imagine that 12-year-old's humiliation at school, not only because of the beating, but because of the publication of her alleged misdeeds in posting the photos. While I cannot properly conclude much from the video, it does not appear to me from her reactions that the child is an incorrigible "bad girl".
I cannot help but wonder what ould have been the outcome if the mother had sat her down, given her a stern talking to, and banned her from all social media for an initial three months. I think the mother lost an opportunity to build love and trust between herself and her daughter.Instead, it is almost certain that the child's distress will morph into hatred and into really anti-social behaviour. Would anyone be surprised if the little girl, in misery and shame, disappears from her district?
Almost as disturbing as the video itself was the fact that another young girl was flitting in and out of camera range going about her chores and other children were heard in the background while the horrendous beating was being administered. From their lack of concern or even interest, it would seem that such beatings are quite commonplace.While I do not call for the arrest of the mother, what is certain is that there is need for intervention by the relevant authorities to try to avert what appears to be a tragedy in the making.
Jeffrey Cobham,
Kingston 19,
Jamaica