Why do the acacias weep?

(ES)

The acacia is a tough and strong tree that lives in extreme conditions in the most dry and arid lands. Its branches are covered with thorns, and when in flower it is filled with bright yellow clusters. Where the acacia lives rarely grow other plants, so acacias always thought that thorns of its branches, lashed by the sun and wind, were common to all plants. They also thought that the injuries caused in its trunk by man to extract the sap were something natural. The cut on the branch was painful, but suffered in silence, because to every acacia men were doing the same thing every so often. Sometimes a bad blow with the ax has broken off a branch and the tree has died. The rest of acacias thought that fate was that way and that nothing could be done, had always been so.
The acacias never felt different or complained about his harsh existence until the time the rains came. Emerging out of nowhere, like a miracle, slender stemmed plants, neither a single thorn and brightly colored petals; and the acacias wept because their scars and their thorns were no longer seemed natural. Wept knowing that their appearance is different from other plants, and wept to find that their suffering only was useful to man satisfaction, and above all, wept when knowing that their thorns have condemned millions of girls and women to a fate similar to theirs.

Every year, three million girls and women suffer some form of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).

The most severe form of FGM is infibulation, which involves the partial or total removal of the clitoris and the inner labia, and excision of the outer labia, which once cut are drilled with acacia thorns and stitched up to the healing in order to seal the vagina, leaving a small hole to allow passage of urine and menstrual flow. After the mutilation, the girl should remain with their legs tied to the knees until the wound heals. The age at which FGM is usually performed is between four and fourteen, although the operation of stitching the vagina can be repeated after each childbirth.
The first sexual act of infibulated women generally requires a previous incision usually done by the husband, thus ensuring his wife's virginity. Also during childbirth is necessary an incision to allow the baby out. Otherwise there is danger of tears or even death for mother and baby.

The lack of asepsis during the practice of FGM favors the occurrence of infections, which in the worst cases can end the life of the girl. Also the heavy bleeding during surgery can cause death. Women who have undergone FGM face physical and psychological scars for the rest of their lives, and every birth is a risk to themselves and their babies.

Nobody should die to fulfill a tradition. No one should suffer for a custom. The honor of a man or a family should not depend on the suffering of their daughters and wives.

It is true that acacias will go on weeping and only a few will dare to challenge the men, they do not want more injuries and more scars. But now I know that acacias are not alone in the desert, and somehow, those who know their pain, will do their best to make their thorns help them to fend off those who attack them, and not to hurt women and girls, strong and resilient themselves as acacias.

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