An Immediate Solution That Fosters Long-Term Problems
Imagine a situation where two siblings have a misunderstanding—a fight. How would you, in the position of an uncle, one of the siblings, or just a neighbor, resolve this issue now? If both parties are at fault, will you ask the younger to accept all the blame and remain silent simply because he or she is younger than the other party? Or will you insist that one should be punished because between the two siblings, one is more financially capable than the other, hence the one with less financial strength should carry all the blame? I am vividly aware of an African tradition that tends to favor eldest children over others: “He or she is your elder; you ought to respect him or her no matter what he or she does.” This principle, in olden days, was considered acceptable and even necessary for maintaining family order. But looking at it closely, you can see a dangerous loophole: the younger must respect the eldest irrespective of the elder's actions. Even if the elder's behavior is ...