Teenage boy slashed to death in Sabah an awakening lesson for parents

On the fourth week of Advent in 2016, people of Sabah and Malaysia are abuzz with the news of a teenage boy being slashed outside a pub at 4am for his group of friends intervened in a domestic fight between a divorced couple. 

Despite the 18-year-old boy's heroic act in shielding the girl from getting hurt during the attack, Netizens are still lambasting nasty comments on the social media that the group should never be at that "dangerous" place in the first place.

 

I was irked by the public's comments until a conversation with my parent recently. 

"It is his parents' fault for letting them out there in the wee hours, some more it is a dangerous place".

My dad, who is the infamous parent among my siblings, has been a strict guardian for us that we keep on wondering why God gives us such a conservative dad. 

Our duty as a young child was just to stay at home and study academic books as well as pass the exam with flying colors. When I was 17, curfew is at 5pm. No boyfriend is allowed until we graduated from University.

Looking back on his military parenting approach, I think he did well and protect us from all the harmful thing in the world. Although, his restrictions have stopped me from exploring the world more as compared to my peers who have a more open-minded fathers. 

IF....

If the boy's parents have a choice to turn back the time, would he take the initiative to impose curfew for his children? Perhaps to be back home by midnight?

Some say it is not right to carry weapon around and etc. But, danger and evil people are everywhere. The rule of thumb is always to stay out of dangerous place unless one has superpower or a good martial fighter. 

FIGHT OR FLIGHT?

Moral teachers at school or adults will have to make it clear on whether it is the RIGHT thing to help other people on distress?

This is the best example of case for children or anyone to learn when is the right time and right place to offer help.

Children should be taught to assess their capability in handling the situation? Who are the people? Are they going to turn hostile? Is it possible to get help from the cops, or more crowd?