Another Disturbing Article

[Jeff Lebowski]

http://go.reuters.com/newsArticle.jh...8&pageNumber=0

I've heard of genital mutilation, but this is the first time I have heard of "breast ironing". How sad.

[RockyBalboa]

Originally Posted by homeboy

http://go.reuters.com/newsArticle.jh...8&pageNumber=0

I've heard of genital mutilation, but this is the first time I have heard of "breast ironing". How sad.

That is beyond repulsive

[El Guapo]

Originally Posted by RockyBalboa

That is beyond repulsive

It certainly is repulsive, but even more repulsive is the fact that they live in a society where they feel compelled to inflict such pain on their own children because they fear what will happen to their children in the absence of the procedure.

It is easy to condemn the mothers for this horrific act of mutilation. And yet, placing yourselves in the shoes of one of them, I can see how you could logically conclude that you were acting in the best interests of your child. Tales of rape and serious sexual abuse are widespread in those communities. It begs the question: how far would you go to decrease the likelihood of someone from raping your daughter?

I don't think there is an easy answer here. I think we can all agree that breast ironing is despicable. I think we can all agree that raping women is despicable. But how do you stop the first when the second is likely to occur?

I think the answer is to focus on the second, but how do you do that in a continent largely bereft of law and order? Africa is a sad, sad place with problems at every corner.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Originally Posted by El Guapo

Africa is a sad, sad place with problems at every corner.

Bingo.