Dear Leocube:

You make a lot of sense to me in a whole lot of what you wrote to all your respondents.

I understand that the beating, teasing and other mistreatments by your parents are normal, and indeed they are, not only in your particular culture. By “normal” I mean common, widespread. You saw those mistreatments in other homes because they are indeed common.

The fact that mistreatment of children is so very common doesn’t take away from the harm it causes. The mistreatment is so very common worldwide, the harm done so massive, that you can see the affects and effects everywhere you look: world dysfunction, massive loss of life and quality of life to wars, crime, political and economic corruption and waste, so much waste of natural resources, of human potential.

I understand that you are conflicted somewhat about the idea of not having your family in your life. It is clear to me that you are better off not having them in your life, having no contact with them. I think it is not only your legal right but your ethical right, it is okay to not have contact with your parents, siblings, and other more distant family members.

anita