Norwegian jobsworths take away Indian children
Discussion
Countdown said:
King Herald said:
Being raised in the manner of an illiterate peasant, you mean?
When did young children sharing a bed with their parents or eating with their hands become an indicator of their level of literacy or socio-economic position? What a stupid comment.King Herald said:
Ahaa. I'm simply reiterating Donkeyapples comment. Read further up the page.
Or more accurately, quoting out of context. 
The remark I made was in reference to sending your children to a prep school unable to use a knife and fork being tantamount to child cruelty.
As you will know from reading my earlier remarks nothing I have said in this thread is aimed at this specific story as there is almost certainly more to it than the harmless act of near babies eating with hands or sleeping with parents. It's a bit feeble but harmless.
Having spent time in Norway I would be more than surprised of there wasn't much more to this. As has been stated by almost everyone on this thread who is wise enough not to consider any things scrawled by a tabloid scrote to be of any relevance or truth.
We are quick to blame tabloids, and perhaps rightly so.
This, however, was big news in the Indian press and widely reported worldwide. It's not tabloid sensationalism, unfortunately. The parents and grandfather have weighed in with videos pleading for the children's return. All seem to be part of a perfectly normal, loving family, and plenty of other people who know them have said the same. The Indian government has appealed on their behalf, which, if you know how the Indian government operates, is simply an incredible show of support.
Tellingly, the Norwegian authorities have kept silent, except for terse statements to the effect "we know best."
I suspect there isn't much more to the story, except perhaps a colossal culture clash and massive misperception on the Norwegians' part. To undo this, they now have to undo everything--the manipulation of the reporting, investigating, and judicial procedures that enabled all this to happen, without undermining themselves and their system. It will be tricky, and awkward, but depriving this family of being together is a far bigger crime. If they have grounds for maintaining their stance, they should step forward and present them.
There was a similar case in Plano, Texas, from quite a few years ago. An Albanian father at a school event held his very young daughter up so she could have a better view, apparently by supporting her in her crotch (making his palm into a seat, if you will). One or more homegrown Texans took offence, accused him of child molestation, and the thing snowballed from there into the child being removed from the family. So far as I know, it was never undone, despite numerous pleas.
Cultural clashes, ethnocentrism, ignorance and narrow-mindedness are an ugly mix.
This, however, was big news in the Indian press and widely reported worldwide. It's not tabloid sensationalism, unfortunately. The parents and grandfather have weighed in with videos pleading for the children's return. All seem to be part of a perfectly normal, loving family, and plenty of other people who know them have said the same. The Indian government has appealed on their behalf, which, if you know how the Indian government operates, is simply an incredible show of support.
Tellingly, the Norwegian authorities have kept silent, except for terse statements to the effect "we know best."
I suspect there isn't much more to the story, except perhaps a colossal culture clash and massive misperception on the Norwegians' part. To undo this, they now have to undo everything--the manipulation of the reporting, investigating, and judicial procedures that enabled all this to happen, without undermining themselves and their system. It will be tricky, and awkward, but depriving this family of being together is a far bigger crime. If they have grounds for maintaining their stance, they should step forward and present them.
There was a similar case in Plano, Texas, from quite a few years ago. An Albanian father at a school event held his very young daughter up so she could have a better view, apparently by supporting her in her crotch (making his palm into a seat, if you will). One or more homegrown Texans took offence, accused him of child molestation, and the thing snowballed from there into the child being removed from the family. So far as I know, it was never undone, despite numerous pleas.
Cultural clashes, ethnocentrism, ignorance and narrow-mindedness are an ugly mix.
Edited by just me on Friday 3rd February 00:20
King Herald said:
Countdown said:
King Herald said:
Being raised in the manner of an illiterate peasant, you mean?
When did young children sharing a bed with their parents or eating with their hands become an indicator of their level of literacy or socio-economic position? What a stupid comment.
DonkeyApple said:
King Herald said:
Ahaa. I'm simply reiterating Donkeyapples comment. Read further up the page.
Or more accurately, quoting out of context. The remark I made was in reference to sending your children to a prep school unable to use a knife and fork being tantamount to child cruelty.
Countdown said:
Some people (my mum included) view Boarding school as tantamount to child cruelty
Which indeed it can be. Only certain children do well at boarding schools and certainly I wouldn't send a child before their teenage years. But you do appreciate that a prep school isn't a boarding school?
DonkeyApple said:
Countdown said:
Some people (my mum included) view Boarding school as tantamount to child cruelty
Which indeed it can be. Only certain children do well at boarding schools and certainly I wouldn't send a child before their teenage years. But you do appreciate that a prep school isn't a boarding school?
If I'm absolutely honest I'm not sure if my kids were fully au fait with knives and forks when they started primary school, probably because evening meals at home are usually eaten with hands. However as they used to take sandwiches to school the problem never arose IYSWIM and they all became pretty competent in short order.Thinking back to when I were a lad, I never used knives or forks before I started primary school. I don't seem to remember it being much of an issue tbh - they're not exactly complicated.
Countdown said:
Thinking back to when I were a lad, I never used knives or forks before I started primary school. I don't seem to remember it being much of an issue tbh - they're not exactly complicated.
I actually use a fork and spoon for eating, something 15+ years living in Asia has instilled in me. Yes, I do get some funny looks off the uninitiated on board my ship, but I have yet to find anybody who can show me why a knife and fork is more logical. Obviously they point out the lack of a knife, but if I can't cut something with the edge of a spoon I don't particularly want it in my mouth anyway.
I'm no fan of steak or other such rubbery 'delicacies' so a spoon and fork is a far more efficient and suitable method.
King Herald said:
Countdown said:
Thinking back to when I were a lad, I never used knives or forks before I started primary school. I don't seem to remember it being much of an issue tbh - they're not exactly complicated.
I actually use a fork and spoon for eating, something 15+ years living in Asia has instilled in me. Yes, I do get some funny looks off the uninitiated on board my ship, but I have yet to find anybody who can show me why a knife and fork is more logical. Obviously they point out the lack of a knife, but if I can't cut something with the edge of a spoon I don't particularly want it in my mouth anyway.
I'm no fan of steak or other such rubbery 'delicacies' so a spoon and fork is a far more efficient and suitable method.
But then again I eat my curries using roti/naan with only my hands, so what would I know!
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