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U.S. Soldiers Told to Ignore Afghan Allies’ Abuse of Boys

nytimes.com

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Re: U.S. Soldiers Told to Ignore Afghan Allies’ Abuse of Boys

#31

Post by crpatino »

sahreeg wrote: post #13
erikb wrote: post #7

"Afghan soldiers told to ignore American Allies' eating pork" Well, reading this you might think "how can that compare to raping boys? Boys are human beings and human beings have rights, just like you and me? But at the same time a Muslim may consider refusing to eat pork a law by god which is way higher than anything considering humans. The point I try to make is this: In an intercultural environment you need to acc…

Correct me if I am wrong, but while your argument might have some legitimacy, in this particular case it sounds as if you believe that rape is actually something culturally acceptable in these parts of the world. It is not, and FYI, Islam forbids 1- homosexuality, 2- rape. This phenomena SHOULD be fought against -because it is wrong, and the child is being abused here- especially by the people who are there to spread…

Not that I disagree with you on the morals of this comment, but a lot of confusion would be avoided if everybody just accepted that the US is a normal empire; an empire with geopolitical interest in the region and every reason to keep happy the cadre of monsters they got themselves as alleys.

It is not that they hate the local population, but they don't gain anything by defending them and may loose a lot by playing the role of Knight in the Shinning Armour.

Re: U.S. Soldiers Told to Ignore Afghan Allies’ Abuse of Boys

#32

Post by nivel »

erikb wrote: post #7

"Afghan soldiers told to ignore American Allies' eating pork" Well, reading this you might think "how can that compare to raping boys? Boys are human beings and human beings have rights, just like you and me? But at the same time a Muslim may consider refusing to eat pork a law by god which is way higher than anything considering humans. The point I try to make is this: In an intercultural environment you need to acc…

Your cowardly attempt at legitimizing an abhorrent practice that violates individual rights by attaching it to the mystical word "culture" is downright disgusting. If this is not a troll post, you are the most despicable human being I have ever personally encountered. To even debate the merits of your argument is an insult to humanity and only an ad hominem will suffice. Fuck you.

Re: U.S. Soldiers Told to Ignore Afghan Allies’ Abuse of Boys

#33

Post by cmdkeen »

crpatino wrote: post #29
cup wrote: post #23

The sad irony here is that the Taliban gained a lot of public support for abolishing this practice, and with the international communities diminishing engagement, the Taliban is set to return and gain more grass rooots support for putting this practice down again.

Has to make you wonder if the Taliban have not been the "good guys" from the very beginning?

Well except for their killing of homosexuals, repression of women and their purges of historical artefacts deemed un-Islamic.

Re: U.S. Soldiers Told to Ignore Afghan Allies’ Abuse of Boys

#34

Post by lawnchair_larry »

"The one American service member who was punished in the investigation that followed was Major Brezler, who had sent the email warning about Mr. Jan, his lawyers said. In one of Major Brezler’s hearings, Marine Corps lawyers warned that information about the police commander’s penchant for abusing boys might be classified."

We seem to have a classification problem.

Re: U.S. Soldiers Told to Ignore Afghan Allies’ Abuse of Boys

#35

Post by erikb »

MichaelApproved wrote: post #14
erikb wrote: post #7

"Afghan soldiers told to ignore American Allies' eating pork" Well, reading this you might think "how can that compare to raping boys? Boys are human beings and human beings have rights, just like you and me? But at the same time a Muslim may consider refusing to eat pork a law by god which is way higher than anything considering humans. The point I try to make is this: In an intercultural environment you need to acc…

I downvoted because that's a bad analogy. Here's why: Animal rights aside (because that has nothing to do with the restriction of pork), only the person eating pork is harmed . When Americans consume pork, it doesn't harm the Afghans who don't consume pork. Meaning, everyone eating pork is freely volunteering to do so. No one involved in eating of pork is involved against their will. Whatever the punishment might be…

Thanks for giving the reasoning for your downvote. But your argument is exactly the point of view that I already responded to in my initial comment. Not a single line shows that you try to accept that other people follow another moral codex. You say "No, because in my moral codex that's a really bad thing, therefore I can't be tolerant." and that is exactly what Muslims argue if we talk about eating pork, dressing of women, joking about religion, etc. And that's why it's actually a good analogy.

Or let me put it that way: The analogy is bad if you apply your moral codex. The analogy is good if you consider it a statement that is as bad as the headline in our moral codex, but from their point of view. This is the thinking step you should apply. And that's where the analogy comes from.

Re: U.S. Soldiers Told to Ignore Afghan Allies’ Abuse of Boys

#37

Post by erikb »

cm2187 wrote: post #25
inDigiNeous wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How can you say this when you very well know, eating pork means killing innocent animals, keeping them locked down, in the same way these people are holding small children locked down and abusing them. Eating pork is as much abuse as is abusing little children, or even more, as the animal is brutally killed, a thinking, living being. You cannot just put animal rights aside like that, this is probably along the lines…

Islam doesn't ban eating pork to protect the life of these innocent creatures.

But saving animals is another, third, moral point of view in which eating another living, breathing being is just as bad or worse than raping one. Just as with Islam you can say "no, my moral codex is more important" or you can try to accept it.

Re: U.S. Soldiers Told to Ignore Afghan Allies’ Abuse of Boys

#38

Post by erikb »

yardie wrote: post #27
inDigiNeous wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How can you say this when you very well know, eating pork means killing innocent animals, keeping them locked down, in the same way these people are holding small children locked down and abusing them. Eating pork is as much abuse as is abusing little children, or even more, as the animal is brutally killed, a thinking, living being. You cannot just put animal rights aside like that, this is probably along the lines…

This is literally the stupidest thing I've read on HN in a very long time. Bravo intrepid commenter for declaring the consumption of meat to be worse than the sexual abuse of small children. You've done a disservice to vegans and vegetarians, everywhere.

That's not what I did. You read it incorrectly. But I have to say I aimed to achieve that misinterpretation. Now either you just ignore everything and think all the world is a simple happy place, or you get a step closer to that "aha" effect, realising there are people that really have that point of view and that it is as valid as yours. While for your personal life it might never matter, it certainly matters for cooperation on an international level.

Re: U.S. Soldiers Told to Ignore Afghan Allies’ Abuse of Boys

#39

Post by lotsofcows »

nivel wrote: post #32
erikb wrote: post #7

"Afghan soldiers told to ignore American Allies' eating pork" Well, reading this you might think "how can that compare to raping boys? Boys are human beings and human beings have rights, just like you and me? But at the same time a Muslim may consider refusing to eat pork a law by god which is way higher than anything considering humans. The point I try to make is this: In an intercultural environment you need to acc…

Your cowardly attempt at legitimizing an abhorrent practice that violates individual rights by attaching it to the mystical word "culture" is downright disgusting. If this is not a troll post, you are the most despicable human being I have ever personally encountered. To even debate the merits of your argument is an insult to humanity and only an ad hominem will suffice. Fuck you.

Are you American? Do you support the mass imprisonment of your (mainly black, male) poor? Do you support the death penalty? Are you anti "ObamaCare"? Do you suppory the casual ownership of guns? Is the death of children as a direct result of pointlessly having a gun in the house an "acceptable risk"? Different cultures have different values. You can dislike it and work to correct it but your attitude makes you look like a child.

Re: U.S. Soldiers Told to Ignore Afghan Allies’ Abuse of Boys

#40

Post by [deleted] »

nivel wrote: post #32
erikb wrote: post #7

"Afghan soldiers told to ignore American Allies' eating pork" Well, reading this you might think "how can that compare to raping boys? Boys are human beings and human beings have rights, just like you and me? But at the same time a Muslim may consider refusing to eat pork a law by god which is way higher than anything considering humans. The point I try to make is this: In an intercultural environment you need to acc…

Your cowardly attempt at legitimizing an abhorrent practice that violates individual rights by attaching it to the mystical word "culture" is downright disgusting. If this is not a troll post, you are the most despicable human being I have ever personally encountered. To even debate the merits of your argument is an insult to humanity and only an ad hominem will suffice. Fuck you.

[deleted]
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