Should Obama Have Pity On Teen Somali Pirate and Let Him Go?

[Dr. Shane]

If this be the case, why are we scratching our heads about what to do with captured pirates?

Secondly, "Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and in the South China Sea" do not prevent passage to the Suez Canal. The big issue with the Somalia pirates is that they are stopping traffic going through the Suez Canal which is the gateway to Europe from Asia.

[Kyran]

I'd hate to be born in Somalia. In the past the only real jobs were to do with fishing. Nowadays however, things are slightly different. Illegal mass fishing and the dumping of toxic chemicals has devastated the fishing villages. There are no fish anymore, so communities can't eat, and they can't make money, because they have nothing to sell. Even in the off chance someone was able to catch a fish, there's always the risk that they could get sick from it.

The only things they had were boats and rifles (left over from civil wars, which were funded by foreign interests who probably were involved in the illegal dumping).

Piracy is economy. Without it, the coastal Somalians would starve. They don't really have a choice.

[bonnie]

I'd hate to be born in Somalia. In the past the only real jobs were to do with fishing. Nowadays however, things are slightly different. Illegal mass fishing and the dumping of toxic chemicals has devastated the fishing villages. There are no fish anymore, so communities can't eat, and they can't make money, because they have nothing to sell. Even in the off chance someone was able to catch a fish, there's always the risk that they could get sick from it.

The only things they had were boats and rifles (left over from civil wars, which were funded by foreign interests who probably were involved in the illegal dumping).

Piracy is economy. Without it, the coastal Somalians would starve. They don't really have a choice.

Regardless of their circumstances you cannot condone the piracy and the very real potential for loss of life.

Nor can we change their economic status. That can only be done from within.

[Dr. Shane]

I haven't seen any evidence that money pirates receive as ransom is being funneled back into the communities in Somalia. Somalia needs assistance in establishing a coast guard to both stop piracy and illegal fishing and chemical dumping.

[phkrause]

I thought I heard that the money was going to fund the terrorist! Not sure if I heard that correctly though.

pk

[Kyran]

Somalia is one of the poorest countries in the entire world. The only decent industry was fishing, which was destroyed by international interests. It's all very well to say that it's up to them to fix the problem, but they didn't cause it.

I've lumped the pirates into two broad groups (originally I did this to help me understand the complexity of the situation). Independent pirates (pirates who are supported by their local community, and give back to it), and organized pirates (kinda run like a business, the grunts do all the work, and the bosses get all the money). I don't know of any specific examples of pirates funding terrorism, though if it were happening it would definitely be organized pirates (though I assume they'd be much likely to spend their anarchy budget on bribing government officials).

On the other hand, their are the social pirates. The majority are just normal fishermen, who are trying to scrap a living for their families. For theses ones, if they ever did get get a pay out they're entire village will be able to survive for many years to come (and they could quit piracy).

Piracy is bad, and I don't agree with it. However, most of these people don't have criminal natures. They wouldn't be doing what they are doing if they had a choice. They're just trying to survive.

The only way the situation can be improved is if there are other ways to make a living. I don't know if fishing will ever being viable industry again. Even if the illegal dumping and fishing stops, will the fish ever come back? Will the environmental damage go away?

[Kountzer]

A coast guard without a gov't is just another group of pirates.

[phkrause]

I understand your point. But at the same time I'm hearing you say that its OK to rob my next door neighbor if I need to survive. Because there are many people here even in the USA that are having a hard time surviving. So according to what you just said, its OK for them than to do the same as the pirates. Or did I miss understand what you said?

pk

[Key Guy]

Quote:

Piracy is bad, and I don't agree with it. However, most of these people don't have criminal natures. They wouldn't be doing what they are doing if they had a choice. They're just trying to survive.

I'm with pkrause on this.

What if God said, "False witness is bad, and I don't agree with it", "Taking the name of the Lord thy God in vain is bad, and I don't agree with it"?

No. He said "Thou shalt not steal", "Thou shalt not kill". Not much left for a pirate to do after that.

Robin Hood or a Somali pirate? Doesn't matter. They are both thieves and murderers. They DO have a choice. God wouldn't tell us not to steal if He didn't provide an alternative. Can you even imagine the chaos in this world if everyone felt they didn't have a choice and decided to start taking from someone else?

I don't know the answers, but I believe that breaking the moral laws are not excusable and should never be tolerated. Obeying the moral laws keeps order in our crazy world.

[Key Guy]

I'd hate to be born in Somalia.

[phkrause]

It seems to me that with all the money that they are getting from piracy, that they are doing nothing to improve there lives! If they were making there situation better that would be one thing (still not condonable though) but they are doing nothing with it, other than advancing terrorism around the world (again not sure how true this is).

pk

[carolaa]

Robin Hood or a Somali pirate? Doesn't matter. They are both thieves and murderers. They DO have a choice. God wouldn't tell us not to steal if He didn't provide an alternative. Can you even imagine the chaos in this world if everyone felt they didn't have a choice and decided to start taking from someone else?

I don't know the answers, but I believe that breaking the moral laws are not excusable and should never be tolerated. Obeying the moral laws keeps order in our crazy world.

Ah, but which moral laws should be punishable? The thieves? Or the ones doing the illegal dumping and fishing? It seems only one is being punished - the victims who are retaliating, but not the perpetrators of the problem.

[bonnie]

Originally Posted By: KeyGuy

Robin Hood or a Somali pirate? Doesn't matter. They are both thieves and murderers. They DO have a choice. God wouldn't tell us not to steal if He didn't provide an alternative. Can you even imagine the chaos in this world if everyone felt they didn't have a choice and decided to start taking from someone else?

I don't know the answers, but I believe that breaking the moral laws are not excusable and should never be tolerated. Obeying the moral laws keeps order in our crazy world.

Ah, but which moral laws should be punishable? The thieves? Or the ones doing the illegal dumping and fishing? It seems only one is being punished - the victims who are retaliating, but not the perpetrators of the problem.

It does not excuse putting the lives of innocent people at risk.

If the piracy was because of the poverty of the region a portion of the ransom money would have helped immeasurably.

If this is retaliation as you say,that should be directed at those causing the problem.

They threatened and appeared to be fully capable of taking the life of the innocent captain. That would have been murder of an inncoent man,not retaliation for wrongs done to them

[Kyran]

I understand your point. But at the same time I'm hearing you say that its OK to rob my next door neighbor if I need to survive. Because there are many people here even in the USA that are having a hard time surviving. So according to what you just said, its OK for them than to do the same as the pirates. Or did I miss understand what you said?