




Its a shame when your enemy who is pointing a gun at you is a kid.
The bullet that kills you doesnt care if the person who fired the weapon was underage,your still dead.
My guess is,in a locked jail cell was the safest place in the entire country a young man could be during the fighting.
Big GreenMnM,
I haven't accesed the link related to this topic so i speak without any pretence at the specific case but when a child, any child is pointing a gun be it in the far away middle east or in an American high school we have to question what ills we as a society have commited in order for this to occur. In order for a child to harbour this sort of hatred or cappacity for this level of anger, be it real or imagined on their behalf, the fundamental inadequcies of our global society become a far more potent threat than the singular actions of any one person, espcially a minor. Maybe that's what we should be focusing our efforts on...?





Yes thats all well and good,and we agree 100%.Originally Posted by xtina20
But in many countries,11 years old is "expendible front line infantry".
Until your in the sights of an AK47,held by a child of only 11 years,you wont really know how you will feel about the topic.
I can tell you what the standard response is from the police and military viewpoint,it doesnt take into account the age,only the fact someone is pointing a gun.
And what if said child was not holding a fire arm ? Why is it still ok to treat them as if they were ? I don't understand that thought process and I'm thankful for that.
And really what message are we sending out to the world when we commit, approve of or simple just not object to the same or similar crimes and activities that we "offically" condem ?
Last edited by AmericanDreams; 03-13-2005 at 04:27 AM.





You should be thankful your protected by a military and police force that has looked past the emotions,and are dealing with the front line enemy thats often times,Kids.Originally Posted by AmericanDreams

A child with a gun can kill you just as easily as an adult with one. Blame the assholes who recruit and/or force children into their causes, it happens all over the world.
But at the same time when we take them into custody we have a responsibility to keep them seperate and safe, and there's definitely some debate over whether that was done. At least a couple were assaulted by other inmates, and that should not have happened, obviously. The real question is whether it was systematic or isolated, or assaults were even ignored.
But that is just it. I do not want a military that looks past emotion and human decency. I want a military and President that can balance out emotion and action not be all one or the other.Originally Posted by BigGreenMnM
Like I said last night I am glad that I am not a person who deems abuses as acceptable. I don't ever want to be devoid of compassion which is what I see alot of Americans are like today. It's become so much more of a "me,me,me" culture in the Untited States. It makes me sad.
And Jocelyn made a very good point when she wrote "when we take them into custody we have a responsibility to keep them seperate and safe"
I just don't see or undestand why so many war and President supporters are taking little to no issue with the fact that little kids , including the innocent ones are often being treated the same and held in the same place as the adults. They pretend to care so much and use slogans like "compasionate conservatism" when it really compassion is the minority of the "offical" agenda that many conservative voters supported with their vote. I don't know but often wonder about these things because it just seems like either alot of them are hypocrites. Or maybe just mislead ? Or maybe a little of both
Actually, I think I'll just quit posting in here. I just read alot of things in this area that made my blood boil.





If the thought of adult conversation and debate brings your blood to a boil,kewl!!Maybe you can add to the conversation.Originally Posted by AmericanDreams
If not,
here,
lemmie get the door for ya.
(tips hat)





Interesting story on HBO's Real Sports about a boxer who was a child fighter in Africa.
They interviewed some guy from the United Nations who said in africa alone they estimate a quarter of a million kids under the age of 14 are currently serving in military roles,many as young as 6 years old.
They showed a few kids carrying AK47's that were bigger then them.
Anyone know how to link the UN reports or where to find them??
BigGreenMnM,
You can find alot of information on child soliders doing a basic Google search. Another good resource for this issue and other human rights abuses is Human Rights Watch.





So with all this information,how can anyone not expect a few kids to be in jails in Iraq,a country known to have many children in the military forces.
We send in the special forces first when we go to war,not the child protective services.
My basic point is,these are american military over there,our brothers and sisters,mothers and fathers,they are looking out as best as possible for the innocent and that includes the innocent children.
Its not like we sent Michael Jackson or catholic priests over there,then i would tend to agree more with your stance.
Even from that point of view, shouldn't the kids be in a differnt facility than the adults ?
I also have to disagree that they are looking out for the innocents when there have been orders not to free any more innocents.





I would agree with you on that,but i would also understand a combat situation where the first step is to round up all the bad guys or suspected bad guys,then start to seperate them as things subside.Originally Posted by AmericanDreams
Well it's been several years now, that should be more than enough time, IMO.
I think it's really just more of an example of how poorly this war was planned and continues to be carried out.
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