CNN and others have brought a very sensitive issue in recent days, in light of the horrible disaster in China. The One Child Policy. Here’s the “sensitive” title: “Parents’ losses compounded by China’s one-child policy”.
Regardless of the outstanding sense of timing in bringing it up. Regardless of whether or not I agree with the policy. It’s inconsequential.
What is absolutely consequential is that it’s unethical to even discuss it when people, any people, are counting their dead.
But if you read carefully, can you tell what’s hiding behind the relatively innocent criticism? Yes, of course, the One Child Policy is unacceptable in Western terms. But ask any parent, and they will tell you: it matters not how many children you have. When you lose a child, your world collapses, your life becomes a prolonged misery.
Does CNN actually suggest that if the poor Chinese who lost their children in the disaster would feel better if they had another child? How dare they? How dare anyone?
What’s even worse, is that given the circumstances, many families lost more than one child. Many families lost everything. For many who survived life will undoubtedly change forever.
My advice to CNN: use a little bit of judgment, some ethics, and a lot of sensitivity. Please.
And Freedom of Speech means that sometimes you can choose to shut the hell up.
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