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In Reply to: Re: My country, my country, I know it's wrong my country... posted by Farmer on November 29, 2007 at 01:19:33:
Abuse and neglect is highly correlated with poverty, which isn't always about lack of food and housing. The worst type of poverty is ignorance. I understand how the competitive culture of the US results in a certain amoung of social isolation and alienation. These things, in turn, associate with a higher incidence of unreported child abuse and neglect than seen in countries that emphasize a culture of cooperation.
The more socially connected the parents are, the more likely s/he is to have resources, most importantly, the cooperation of the "village" (immediate community) helping to raise the child. Very poor people (in terms of material goods) can be very well connected socially (in terms of family and community support).
Increased reporting of abuse and neglect in Germany is a good thing, actually. It indicates more social cohesion around the rights of children.
Have you read the writings of the German psychologist and child advocate Alice Miller? When I discovered her writings, it revolutionized my way of thinking about children's rights.
BTW, there was a high-profile child starvation case here in the U.S. several years ago that involved the parents' religious belief that the child would become spiritually pure and fullfill his God-ordained destiny as a prophet/messiah if he were given only watermellon and lettuce to eat!
