Friday, January 22, 2010

karma.

Some people don't believe in karma, but I do. I believe that what goes round, comes round. I believe that you reap what you sow. I believe that when a person treats you badly, someone out there is going to get him/her too. BUT I don´t share the Mafia´s blood oath that if you take a life, you also have to pay it with (preferably) your own life. lol

My Mongolian friend does not share my view. One would think that Mongolia being close to Tibet, would have more Buddhist influences in their way of life. But my friend is obviously not one of them. She said that you have to fully understand the teachings of Buddha to understand karma. She also told me that you can not just choose the choice cuts of the meat, and forget about the rest.

While she was saying these things, I was imagining a Zen monk in white robe, meditating under a bodhi tree. I was being naughty of course, but I can not deny the fact that she does have a point.

The other week my 12-year-old neighbor was bullied, just a few meters away from her house. The boy who bullied her, biked behind her, called her names, and grabbed her eyeglasses. Her glasses fell on the ground and were broken into little pieces. Sophie chased the boy, and demanded for an explanation. The boy said that she has four eyes, and poked her.

Around the corner, came the brother of Sophie. He didn´t see the whole thing but he saw the boy poking his sister. So he came to the rescue of his little sister. He pushed the boy and kicked him.

What started as an innocent, kiddie fight, turned into a neighborhood event. Yes, at the height of winter... with the icy pavement and a freezing temperature, people came out of their houses to scold Tommy, the brother of Sophie. They started calling him names, and in less than 10 minutes, 4 police cars pulled over and started investigating. Yes, four!

The sobbing 12-year-old bully narrated an entirely different story, editing the part where he grabbed the eyeglasses. One of the neighbors gave him a nice hot milk-chocolate drink.

To make a long story short, the police had convinced the boy´s parents to file a a case against Tommy. At the same time, the boy´s parents were cursing Sophie and Tommy, leaving them totally demoralized.

What is wrong with this picture?

My point exactly. Why did the boy who started the fight go scot-free? He bullied Sophie and he grabbed her eyeglasses. There was obviously an attempt to harm her. Does that not count anymore?

It´s like, a burglar enters your home with every intention to steal. Are you just going to sit there and wait for him to take everything? Or are you going to fight for your honor? After all, he is in your territory?

Here´s what the police has to say to Sophie. If somebody attacks you, walk away. Don´t fight back. It´s against the law.

I felt bad for Sophie and Tommy, and their parents. In situations like those, I wish Superman or Spiderman would appear out of nowhere and grab that bully and toss him into the air!

But like I said, there is such thing as karma! I know that someone or something is going to teach that boy a good lesson somewhere, someday.

14 comments:

buday said...

Badaw. The parents of the 12-year-old bully seem to be creating a monster. Basi mangatol sinda sa basol.

Unknown said...

What bothers me in this story is the lesson you're teaching these three kids. One must now be thinking that he can get away with anything and the other two, that you cannot expect to be treated fairly by anyone, including the police...
And then we wonder why this world's gone so crazy...

Unknown said...

I understand tho that you could present your self as a witness and perhaps the issue might be resolved?

Droomvla said...

@Buday: grabe didi an pagkonsente san mga kabatitan. Ambot, ibahan man.

Droomvla said...

@Aledys: I, myself, don't understand why the bully got away. It's beyond me!

Droomvla said...

@Whitemist: I was not there when it happened. If I were though, I would definitely present myself as a witness because I will not condone such behavior, especially from a kid.

Anita said...

That's Holland. I wrote a post about something similar I have read on De Telegraaf. A burglar invaded the backyard chalet of a family and two teenagers immobilized him. The burglar made a complaint about one of the teenagers who had to pay a lawyer himself and go into court. I was pested myself a lot by one of my husband's so called "friends" and all the rest of the group including his family found I didn't have a reason to feel annoyed about it. Bullying in Holland = national sport !

Orange said...

Hey, just came across your blog and it seems wonderful..have to catch up on some reading here..will do so soon!! Meanwhile, nice to know another fellow expat blogger here in NL!!

Droomvla said...

@Anita: When Sophie's mom told me about the incident, I asked her why they didn't press charges (after all, Sophies's glasses were broken). She said that the insurance will take care of the glasses. For me, it was not about the glasses. It was more about standing up for what is right. Sophie's honor! (I know it sounds a bit dramatic but that boy bullied/scarred her daughter, and also her son!) But they have an entirely different idea of what is right and wrong here. So, bygones...

Droomvla said...

@Orangesplaash: Thanks! I hope you'll enjoy them as much as I did (writing them). This is actually just my online journal. Nothing fancy. :)

~ Lopa said...

hmmm I read the post and i read all comments...

And i am speechless, i don't understand this. But many times we come across something which is like a common sense to us and as granted but in a different culture it has a whole different meaning, this does sound like something similar.

He broke glasses, but so what it is covered under insurance, and he might would have hurt her but her bro didnt allow him, so brother is criminal ! whoaaa !

Droomvla said...

@Lopa: I guess, it's this European humanism thing. I dón't know what to think either. I know that I sounded a bit vindictive when I said in this blog that someone out there is gonna get him someday. But I personally know Sophie since she was 4. She's a very sweet and shy girl, and I felt bad this happened to her. Anyways...

rwidiani said...

the police makes me speechless. how can he say something like that? if i was sophie's parents, i'd put her to karate lesson first time in the morning!

Droomvla said...

@rwidiani: karate a la Jackie Chan? lol