In some cases if you take notice of things around you that are problematic, and you do not do anything about it, it could be considered to be "apart of the problem." For instants if someone is being bullied and you just sit there and do nothing about, yet you know that someone is being hurt, you are apart of the problem if you cannot help something as noticeable as bullying. In other situations, sometimes it is better to stay out of the solution because it is not your business, or it could be harmful to you or your peers. But if nobody does anything about a universal problem, like global warming and sex trafficking, is there even a problem?
In Sold, at the beginning of the story, Lakshmi is sold by her cruel-spirited father so that he would receive pay, and she would send home pay. Right off from the bat you get the feeling that the tone throughout this book will unruly and highly unfair. Many things in life are unfair, for people in this world do not take in what's right or wrong. They let things slip by, like when the police officers take the money from Mumtez, the grueling women who runs this "Happiness House." But is it really so happy? Girls being forced to do sexual favors for men, and people of their society are letting it pass them by. So yes, in this case not being apart of a solution forces you to be apart of the problem. What if everybody just assumed that somebody else would take care of the problem, so you don't need to get your hands dirty. Then the problem would increase until finally hell is broken loose.
Hey Emily,
ReplyDeleteI fully agree with you that if you are not part of the solution, then you are part of the problem.
I think that it would be so easy for anyone, including Lakshmi and the girls, to stop this. There are so many people in this story that are either blind to what they can do, or are just on Mumtaz side, that have much more power than they think they do. Anyone in that book could have told someone about the wrong things happening in that "happy house", and then the problem would be solved. So, everyone in the book is part of the problem.
I'm curious to see what you think Lakshmi's problem is and what the solution would be. To me, what you are trying to say is the problem is her being cheated by her father to be sent off to be a prostitute and the solution? I agree, life is unfair, you don't always get what you want, but do you think Lakshmi's life is unfair, or just not right. Personally, I believe that the overall solution to Lakshmi's problem is to get out. Run away and never stop, as you know she does get out with the help of the American man as promised. But do we know if she will run away and be free for good? What are your thoughts on that?
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that in some situations you could be apart of the problem, such as seeing someone being bullied. I also agree with you that sometimes you don't know what a problem always is. Some problems are completely out of our reach, so in situations like those, I don't think we would be helping a problem. In "Sold", Lakshmi and all of the other women in the house are standing around waiting for something to happen that will get them out of there. But really, they could be getting themselves out.
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