[plnewman]

"I ran away from home at the age of 11 after my father beat me for stealing a kitchen appliance," said Samir who works in a sweatshop.

[snip]

"I have saved 4,000 rupees (70 US$) in the last seven months. It's a good feeling to have some money. I will buy a shirt and a watch for my father and send it to him to seek his apology."

"He might forgive me and ask me to be with him at home."

For me it is heartbreaking that this child was beaten and still feels that he owes his abuser an apology.

(edit: formatting)

[kumarm]

Physical Discipline by parents is not considered out of ordinary in India. To anyone who grew up in India, you calling a dad abuser is more offensive.

[FraaJad]

Yes, I would have rather reported him to the police for stealing and put him in a juvie where he could master the art of thieving. <- this is the western solution isn't it?

Abuser? my foot! Western society is good transferring responsibility to the society at large.

[praxulus]

If you're a a bad parent, particularly in a poor inner city family, that's the western solution. If you're a good parent the solution is to teach your kids moral lessons without using violence.

[mitra]

He stole a kitchen appliance and his dad punished him for it. He seems genuinely sorry and is working hard to make amends in the process growing as a person both socially and financially. This is not abuse, it's a right way to raise a responsible human that takes responsibility for his actions. I think it's heartbreaking that you ignored the relative good in the story and chose to hone in on the "spanking" that a rebellious child may need a few times in his life.

[delluminatus]

Beatings are not a good way to raise a child. However, it's not really abuse -- or it might not have been by the standards of U.S. law and I can almost guarantee it wasn't by the standards of local culture.

Also, he did steal an appliance. It's not like his father was just beating on him.

[mythealias]

In India it is common to discipline kids by beating. This is practised not only by parents but also in schools. It is getting rarer in middle and upper class but predominant among poorer families.

It is very difficult to keep your composure when you are living on a day-to-day wage basis. While you can argue that beating kids is no way to behave. I believe that thinking stems from one's upbringing and social standing.

I think one isolated incident is not a good ground to call someone an abuser.