讀書筆記

 I read the article "Sunrise at Juhu" in the book "The Good Deed". The article tells the story of an American woman who encountered a family who committed suicide due to poverty while she and her husband on vacation in India.
1) An America woman, she and her husband Benjamin are on vacation in the small town of Juhu in Bombay, India, near the sea, staying at a big new hotel. She met Philip and she was attracted by him, but felt embarrassed and conflicted internally. Last night she danced with Philip, and this morning she made an appointment with him to go swimming at the beach, after swimming, they walked hand in hand by the beach. Although the seaside is beautiful, the nearby residents are very poor. She didn't know Philip much, but later Philip hugged her together.
2) In this moment, she saw a girl not far away, sitting tightly by the beach, motionless. She told Philip, but Philip believed that this was an Indian and had nothing to do with him, and wanted to drag her to swim in the sea again. And she saw a few other people there,  she broke free from Philip and walked towards the people. She saw that everyone was already dead, and she called out to Philip. However, Philip decided not to mind this matter and left her. But she still walked towards the girl, who looked up at her. The four deceased people were a man, a woman, and two children, dressed in clothes. There is a sari on the beach. She asked the girl, but the girl couldn't understand her words. She took the girl back to the hotel and told Ben. Ben find the assistant manager of the hotel, who knew English.
3)The manager inquired the girl and learned that her father stole 120 rupees (about $30) from his company to participate in a horse race gamble and lost. Her father came back yesterday evening and after dinner, he told everyone that he work every day but didn't earn enough money to support his family and pay rent . so he went to gamble and hoped to win money to buy a house, but he lost. He will lose his job and lower his place, and without finding a new job. His father tied them with two saris and threw themselves into the sea. Waves are strong, but she didn't want to die, she was twelve years old, she could swim, and she struggled to get ashore. And pulled her family's body ashore!
4) She thought the girl is too pitiful and wants to take her to the United States. But the girl is unwilling. The girl said she could find a job and still live in the room in her shack. She and Ben went to see the room, which was a slum. When asked  the girl why didn't want to go to the United States, the girl said, 'She still has to bury her family and there are many things to do.'. Ben said he will paid the room rent for the girl.
They returned to the hotel and saw Philip in the lobby . Philip just nodded and didn't ask. He did not care about anything unrelated. She felt that Philip was no longer important, she and Philip were over. And her vacation with Benjamin is over too.
5)  I think:
A) This is a story of family suicide due to poverty and despair, and it is a very tragic story. In that era, India and China were economically backward. Even now, there are still some people in China living in poverty, and there are still some who commit suicide due to poverty.  Society should care for these people and provide assistance.
B) This America woman and Philip have a sharp contrast in their attitude towards caring for the girl. There are many people in society who do not care about things unrelated to themselves. This social atmosphere is not good. After I coming to the United States, I deeply felt the help of my friends and neighbors, and also I am willing to do something for them. This feeling was not present in China. Only when everyone cares about each other, society can develop and progress. The woman broke up with Philip at last, because she thought Philip very indifferent to society.