killed themselves if they do. One point in the article, which I found unacceptable, relates to chapter five in the text about marriage. In India, more than 5,000 brides die annually because their dowries are considered insufficient, according to the United Nations Childrens Fund. If this is going to happen either the United Nations Childrens Fund should remove this statement, or dowries should not be used in Indian marriages anymore. This may be considered ethnocentrism on my part but women are human beings and deserve the right to live life and not be afraid. In my opinion honor killings are wrong. I cant understand how you could kill a woman in your family for any reason, let alone not serving a meal on time. There was even a case where a husband murdered his wife based on a dream that she had betrayed him. This type of behavior wouldnt relieve any dishonor that a woman could bring into a family but rather put more dishonor and shame onto a family because they have committed murder. The governments of these nations know that honor killings are wrong, people are punished when they are caught doing this. However usually the murders go unknown or the people find ways to get out of being convicted. In some places, the teenage brothers of victims are frequently directed to commit the murder because, as minors, they would be subject to considerably lighter sentencing if there is legal action. Typically, they would serve only three months to a year. These governments need to do more about this problem. It is wrong and barbaric. There are so many cultures different from our own. Usually I find these differences good and interesting to learn about, but honor killings should not be part of any culture. Just the thought that, honor killings in Pakistan, where it is estimated that every day at least three women - including victims of rape - are victims of the practice, makes me sick. Something needs to be done about thi...
