In the Sudan, an eight-year-old girl is given by her family to a priest in a neighboring village. She is told to serve him and obey all his wishes. Someone in the girl’s family has offended someone in his family, and she is part of the reparation. When she reaches puberty, she will become his sex slave as well. She understands none of this. In this cultural context, individual freedom must take a back seat to respect for tradition. Neither the young girl nor her family share the Western assumption that individuals have “inalienable rights” that must be protected. In honoring an ancient tradition, the wishes of the young girl play no role at all. Excesses of individualism in our own society have caused some to fear that we are losing touch with valuable traditions. Where does the balance lie? At what point must the rights of the individual be protected against the power of the state, and when must they bow to the enduring value of respected tradition?