Arushi Talwar's parents have today being charged by a court for the murder of their daughter. My father is of the opinion that it may be an "honor killing".
Honor is defined as
Honor is defined as
"honesty, fairness, or integrity in one's beliefs and actions: a man of honor.";"a source of credit or distinction: to be an honor to one's family";"high respect, as for worth, merit, or rank: to be held in honor" etc.
Now this implies that honor depends on one's convictions and beliefs. What if one's convictions are erroneous? The term is used by the media when ever a daughter is killed by her relatives for almost always, falling in love. Is this honor?
No, it is not. No man has the right to take the life of another. A murder by any other name, even "honor killing", is a murder. It does not matter what justification a murderer states, taking the life of another can only be justified if in defending oneself, one had no other option.
"Honor killing" is murder by individuals who desire respect in the eyes of the lowest in society. The respect of the unthinking, that is a contradiction in terms. The mentality that makes such individuals possible visualizes daughters and wives as nothing different from owned land or cattle. A "male dominated" society is not the appropriate term, a better, apt term would be a "savage-mentality" dominated society.
I grieve for the daughters, sisters and would-be wives who are killed in the name of honor. The fathers, brothers and mothers who are guilty of murder, I feel nothing.
For they are dead already.
Now this implies that honor depends on one's convictions and beliefs. What if one's convictions are erroneous? The term is used by the media when ever a daughter is killed by her relatives for almost always, falling in love. Is this honor?
No, it is not. No man has the right to take the life of another. A murder by any other name, even "honor killing", is a murder. It does not matter what justification a murderer states, taking the life of another can only be justified if in defending oneself, one had no other option.
"Honor killing" is murder by individuals who desire respect in the eyes of the lowest in society. The respect of the unthinking, that is a contradiction in terms. The mentality that makes such individuals possible visualizes daughters and wives as nothing different from owned land or cattle. A "male dominated" society is not the appropriate term, a better, apt term would be a "savage-mentality" dominated society.
I grieve for the daughters, sisters and would-be wives who are killed in the name of honor. The fathers, brothers and mothers who are guilty of murder, I feel nothing.
For they are dead already.
Well said, Harry. While acting upon a false sense of 'honor', they actually bring dishonor to the concept of humanity. It is especially shocking when such mentality is found among those of the educated class.
ReplyDeleteWe, who are from privileged backgrounds, often like to think that many of the evils of society are now extinct. Evidently, there is still a long way to go.
Thanks, Urja....
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