Forgiving Acid Attack

For somebody to become so caught up with their own emotions, and to seek resolve by seeking revenge over a case of rejection. I am baffled.

Ameneh Bahrami is fighting for her attacker to have his own eyes burnt with acid, as he blinded and disfigured her face after throwing the substance in hers. There are two points to this article in which one I can agree with and the other, not:

"He said 'I am going to destroy your life and do something so nobody will marry you'," she remembers.

This all from being turned down for marriage. It actually scares me knowing that there are people out there who want to satisfy their own insecurities by paining others. I feel appalled by human nature:

'Bahrami won her case in 2008, when the court ruled that the 27-year-old Movahidi should be blinded with acid. It also sentenced him to jail and ordered that he pay compensation to the victim.'

But I think this also appals me as well. I couldn't imagine having some sort of power over somebody to feel the same pain one may have been through. It is just not within my nature, to get revenge. However, I do agree with Bahrami's point in wanting to teach people like this, a lesson in hope they would get perspective as well. Realisation of one's action MUST be realised, otherwise who knows what they may do next?:

'... But she is determined to pursue the ruling. "If I forgive, I get nothing for forgiveness," she says..."The same if I take his eyesight, I get nothing. But I want people like Majeed to know that there is punishment."'

Though what feels like double standards is also a very difficult situation to balance. How far should punishment go? I feel like this towards children in school too. As I have got older, it seems the children get smaller, and cheekier! Humans are becoming more intelligent in picking up peoples weaknesses, and children play on these vibes. I think a physical attack only shows a weakness in people, they feel they have to use brute strength to make their point. I find words are stronger than actions, but with words are they not stronger if examples can be attached to them as well?

All the more I am finding news that suggests classic methods of punishment should be brought back into action. Bear with me in trying to explain the following: If the consequence brought about the idea more strongly that if one does unfavourable 'action', they will have to under go another activity-unpleasurable, yet not exactly the most painful. However, this being unpleasurable in the sense that the 'activity' may not end as soon as they would like. Would this mean for those that 'sin', would gain a better understanding into the consequences they set for their victims as well?

Harry Potter esq...Merthyr

This is amazing, usually when you hear about a human lightening strike you suspect a frazzly result. Though the patterns made on the little girls skin are quite interesting.

Sluts, prudes, whores, fashion...

It interests me when asked how people would summarise their thoughts towards the words 'slut', 'whore' and so forth... Most of the time it is a varied opinion separated by age. The younger say whore without realising what the true meaning instigates. We all have our ideas of inappropriate dress and behaviour, as a woman myself it does frustrate and seems endless that forever woman will be known as sluts and whores yet men have no masculine equivalent. Is there a slutty outfit for men?!

I remember when the word 'tarty' was used when I was a kid, my mum would always make sure what I wore-especially whilst growing up meant I wanted to try new styles of clothing (influenced by all sorts of media), that nothing came across as 'tarty' and not 'too grown up'. It was important to not put the wrong message across and encourage the wrong kind of attention. I find the debate lies in woman dressing to be sexy and represent their feminitity, and represent their attitude towards themself and how they feel-though however biased the following may seem as one who has (as confident as I can be in saying this) taken the short skirt and baring all approach too far-is dressing slutty a case of inhibitions put on show?

How much does bearing all become bearing our weaknesses?

Of course there are many reasons why women show more and show less. It is hard to distinguish why people feel more comfortable showing more skin and if this is down to freedom of expression or asking for some kind of attention, to make one feel good about themselves? Can the balance be knowing when each social situation is appropriate. I know full well I wouldn't want to wear (or risk!) a variably low cut top to see my grandparents yet on the walk to work I wouldn't think anything about it. There is a balance to how we present ourselves and to what we wear, perpaps the reactions of others make it seem wrong or is it instinct within ourselves to know otherwise?

Appearance does hold its importance as we tend to judge people within the first seven seconds where our first impressions are made-these also tend to stick and take time to change as well. My concern is with what people wear on occassions when there is a more serious danger in putting the wrong message across. Can a woman wear an outfit showing skin though not necessarily putting out the idea 'I am here to have sex with'? Can a woman wear a figure showing flesh flaring outfit for herself, or are there just too many messages behind our clothes? A good question to ask self when dressing is who am I wearing this for?, and why. If anything, is there something we want to achieve?

I am not saying that we should all have to cover up regardless of how we feel about ourselves, I suppose I am just curious to boundries we may build for one self. How much does personal syle reflect our sexual freedom and our sexual hold ups. Is 'slutty' the new free being?

The balance of the argument is expression of self (after all why do nudist beaches exist!) and just being with our bodies, or showing our bodies to get effect in order to establish ourselves and re-enforce any doubts we may withold. I think everyone does it slightly everyday, we become wise to everybodies reactions even if it is something as innocent as, when a friend may compliment on a dress... Next time you see them you may wear that same dress in hope of getting a positive response again. It is quiet fascinating that clothes have marvellous emotional attachments to them. Some see fashion as somethng superficial-it is a ugly ugly world considering the unfair trade that works with it. But on the other hand it is a world so beautiful as well, it is human. It is creation in so many forms.