Quote:
Originally Posted by powderjunkie
No. Just because it had to happen then doesn't mean it should continue to happen now. A few key differences:
- Most of those 16 year olds had lived 16 normal years (for their time period)
- Many of them were signing up under their own 'free will' - making the 'choice' at the age of 16 (albeit with peer pressure and it was considered what they were supposed to do)
- If they really didn't want to go, their ability to not do so was far 'easier' than in Khadr's case (though still not 'easy')
- The same conditions applied to pretty much everyone of the age, in that era. I'm in Khadr's age range - I don't know a single person that faced any pressure in their entire life to enter a fight (let alone be forced to do so).
But ya, bashing gays also wasn't a problem fifty years ago - not sure why everyone is up in arms about it happening today!
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I'd argue yes, they were in a very similar situation. They were brainwashed in nationalism to sign up to go die. At the age of 16 this likely wasn't a self determined choice. They were sold the glory and honour of war and believed what they were told.