"My husband is locked up," she said barely. - We live in a rural area, and the conversation is quick. It is impossible to put a sieve in El's mouth. My boss caused a car accident due to carelessness. The passenger in the other car died. There is a saying in our whole village: "So-and-so killed..."
The woman was interrupted here. It was followed by tears... Then, barely controlling himself, he continued:
- I have two children. One attends kindergarten, the other studies at school. My daughter is crying: "I don't go to school." His classmates are mocking him as "the son of a criminal". His close friend stopped talking...
We didn't know how to help him. Her husband did not intentionally kill people. This is a tragedy caused by carelessness. They say, "Disaster is underfoot." A moment's inattention, a second's mistake put an end to a person's life. But... "So-and-so killed." A person was labeled as a "murderer" by a single word that was uttered without knowing it.
The most painful thing is, what is wrong with the child? The girl couldn't keep up in the salt school. The cold word "son of a criminal" sank into his heart like a stone. Who can guarantee that the little girl who is crying because she will not go to school today will not be cut off from society tomorrow? Who will be to blame if the pain accumulated in his heart turns into hatred?
We adults are responsible for everything we say. It is not for nothing that they say, "A spoken word is a fired bullet." A child's heart is as delicate as a flower. Let's not break the glass of his heart with our thoughtless words, then it is difficult to idolize him. Let's always remember that each of us has a child.
We must understand one thing. The child of the prisoner is also a child first. He also has dreams, hopes, honor and pride. He needs love, not a label. He needs encouragement, not scolding. Let's not hurt the child's heart. Justice is decided in court, but mercy is in society.
Khadija O'TAYEVA,
captain