Steeler

Nice to see more liberal thinking expressed in the Sandbox, leejo.

We're getting into the core paradox of American foreign relations, which expresses itself in a variety of ways. At our core, we have a set of progressive priciples that guide our society and legal system. We also have a (sometimes healthy, sometimes not) evangelical nature borne largely of the Cold War era to spread our values to our allies and potential allies.

In that effort, however, we are stymied by the basic stubbornness of humanity to cling to tradition. Cases in point - China's willingness to slowly open up to capitalist principles, while using the profits from such industrialization to continue the government opression of the populace. Or Suadi Arabia - which produces energy, wealth, and even great academic achievements while maintaining a social order that frankly disgusts most American sensibilities. The list goes on.

"Cultural relativism" does not necessarily excuse the behaviour of these peoples, but it recognizes that in certain ways we have neither ability nor the right to change them.

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leejo

I think we have both the ability and the right to stomp sharia law out of existence when and where we decide to do it. Watch. In 20 years it'll be gone and the Islamic world will look at Sharia law as a weird and embarrassing relic.

Wulfyn

I've never liked the french eating snails. Let's stop that too.

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leejo

That's the spirit!

Switchcraft

Really funny that you mentioned them, what with the fact that even with their failing economy they still spend millions trying to stop the spread of the English language around the world.

TheFeniX

Our justice system needs some major overhaul, but it does something to address the problem. That's because the American Justice System leans towards rehabilitation rather than just throwing "undesirables" in the garbage. You can argue about it's effectiveness by itself, but when compared to many other systems: we're far ahead of the curve.

I can't respect any aspect of a nation that demotes 52% of their population to nothing more than walking birth machines for more sons.

I wasn't aware of that. Do you happen to have a link to the actual law?

I'm not going to argue that our justice system is perfect, but we've got one of the best in the world considering the multitude of problems we face as a nation. Don't cheapen what we've got by comparing it to the barbarity of nations so back-water, they even use the term "honor-killing." You want to stack us up against Canada, the UK, or other nations who actually attempt to rehabilitate: be my guest.

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CingularDuality

I do not.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,198931,00.html

http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0908/p02s02-usju.html

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TheFeniX

Thanks for the links.

I'm so torn on this issue.

One side of me wants them to pay the ultimate price for repeatedly destroying (not taking) children's lives.

The other side wants to let them live so they can suffer the horrific treament child molesters receive in prison.

Such is the problem with sexual perversions like this: they are almost always repeat offenders. I think it's something like 80% will rape again if given the opportunity. There's just no easy answer for these people.

But that's a far cry from being forced into prostitution at an early age. Many pedophiles and rapists had attrocities commited to them in the past, but in a first world country, they have options (many options) to help themselves. The girl in the original article had very few, and they were all pretty poor choices.

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