Am sure many have read the news already that little Latika was offered for sale.
It’s the kind of news that must ring throughout the blagosphere, and millions must condemn the evil, greedy father who was going to sell his daughter for money.
But what of the reporters that performed the ‘sting’ operation? They know the hype, interest, and controversy surrounding the slumdog children. Even when the boy was hit / disciplined by his dad, the papparazi had a field day. These reporters came up with a really clever plot to exploit the poverty and fame of Latika’s parents in order to sell headlines. When you can’t find news, you have to go make it.
This doesn’t qualify as investigative journalism. They wanted a specific story, and went all out to make sure they get it. If the reporters had gone out to Mumbai, asked to buy Rubina, and gotten a “No”, there’ld be no story. Instead they posed as childless sheikhs who can give Rubina a future away from the slums, and elevate her entire family from the endless cycle of poverty. If they have tapes of the interviews, I want to hear the whole thing. Not just the parts edited for impact. I want to hear how the ‘sheikhs’ sold the adoption idea to Rubina’s parents. How they tried to move them with their childless plight. How they tempted them with money. How they weakened their resolve by inviting them to their ’5-star hotel’.
God made the Devil so much stronger than the Man. What chance did Rubina’s dad have ?
If Rubina’s dad had put up her daughter on eBay, or sold pictures of her in kiddie-porn sites, I’ll be disgusted as well. And bear no illusions, he can make a mint doing that.
Instead, Rubina was offered a life that her father can never give her in a million years. Faced with a choice like this, even a loving father will be hard put to make the right choice. Is it moral to deny Rubina her one chance out of the slums? Is it moral to ‘profit’ from it?
No one has the moral mandate to judge them. Least of all those who have not been spiritually crushed by a lifetime of poverty.
I can’t imagine what will be the loving thing to do in such a position. Even leaving morality aside.
But I can condemn the morality of the tabloid that operated the sting. Were they doing it out of ‘love’ for Rubina? Out of fear that she might be exploited, so they went to test her guardianship? They were selling news! They were the ones who’s trying to exploit and profit from little Latika. And successfully did so.
Who gave them the right?
didnt know the journalists disguised as a rich couple. gotta admit my first reaction was to judge and condemn Rubina’s dad.
but arent they out of the slums yet?
they didn’t make much money from being in the movie. and heard that the producer/director/whoever is putting the bulk of their money in a trust which will only be available to them when they finish school. Kinda makes sense, they won’t drop out, parents won’t try to take advantage of their fame by going on tours etc…