"If you aren't part of the solution, are you part of the problem?" This is a very reasonable question. To me the answer is yes, if you are not part of the solution, then you are part of the problem. Most large problems cannot be solved by only one person, they need help. So if you are not one of those people that are trying to do good and help out, you are becoming part of the problem. Or, say someone is doing something wrong, and you don't help out and tell someone of what they are doing, then yes, you have now become part of the problem. Although sometimes it doesn't seem like what you are doing to help out is doing much at all, it is. Say, there are people working to get out an idea, or a proposition, if you spend some of your time telling others about it, or handing out information sheets, you have just let that many people know. So yes, in my opinion, if you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem.
In the book Sold, this question has an obvious answer to me, like i talked about above, yes. Take Lakshmi for example, she is part of the problem because she is not trying to fight against Mumtaz. The problem is that young girls are selling their bodies just to "pay off" Mumtaz. This is wrong, girls this young shouldn't be having the experiences that Lakshmi and the rest have gone through. Therefor Lakshmi is part of the problem, if she wanted to do something to help, she would have to rebel, and get the rest of the girls to follow her and not let anymore girls into that business. Mumtaz would be nothing without them, and so then her "business" would be shut down. Although Lakshmi and the rest of the girls at the Happy House are not okay with what is being done to them, they are still a huge part of the problem.
I agree that if you aren't part of the solution, you definitely become part of the problem. The only thing that I would counter you on is how if Lakshmi wanted to become a part of the solution, she would have to rebel. I think that that would definitely be one way of doing things, but it is not something that is reasonable if she were to make a long-term solution. If she and the others succeeded in rebelling, they would be free, but thats it, no one else in the trafficking system would be free. I don't think Lakshmi is a part of the problem, I think she is the victim of the problem.
ReplyDeleteWhile I do understand your point, it seems that Lakshmi can not be a part of the solution. Fear is a great factor in this. While she would love to escape this world she is afraid to stand up to Mumtaz. When she is first sold, you can feel the amount of fear in her words. "I wrap my arms around myself and grip with all my might. But the trembling won't stop" (page 106). As Cara said, being a part of the solution requires rebelling and she might be too afraid to do so.
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