[Cerek the Barbaric]

Originally posted by Donut: quote: Originally posted by MagiK: Hot food, plenty of it, indoor plumbing, personal hygene supplies, education, and recreation..

I hardly need to tell you that none of this is more important than freedom. [/QUOTE]Is it really, Donut? Is it really better to be living in a run-down shack or perhaps even a cave, with no hope of being more than a common labourer for the rest of your life. Is it really better to get up every morning and go perform tedious manual laborer day in and day out, yet still not earn enough money to provide adequate food and clothing for yourself....let alone your family.

And what is the ultimate goal of such an existence? To hopefully - someday - have enough to provide the very things they are receiving now on a daily basis..and a lot more than they could ever hope to recieve in Afgahanistan through their own efforts.

Young kids don't become terrorists because they are happy and optimistic about their future, Donut. They seek the path of violence offered by terrorism because they see no hope for their future and the acts of terrorism give them a chance to lash out at those they feel are responsible for their lot in life.

I do not agree with them being held without representation from lawyers and being kept separated from their families. However, MagiK has a valid point that the conditions of their imprisonment are FAR better than anything they could hope for in Afghanistan.

And as Chewbacca mentioned, there is always the possibility (slim as it may be) that they may overcome their anger and decide to actually seek to come to the U.S. - where they can face a better potential future and actually use the skills and education they are recieve during their interment.

As for the concept that freedom is better than prison, no matter what conditions the person's freedom brings...our own justice system sees exceptions to this theory every day. I have a friend that works for the Police Department in Charlotte, NC and she has confirmed that they do have a certain group of people that are habitual offenders solely for the purpose of being caught and put in jail. Why? Because they have no job skills and many are homeless. After being out on the streets and having to survive on thier own for awhile, they will deliberately commit a misdemeanor for the sole purpose of being caught and taken back to jail....where they recieve regular meals, access to TV and recreation equipment, and a warm place to sleep at night. Their crimes will only keep them in jail for a few months at the most, then they are returned to the streets where the cycle starts over again.

I know it seems incomprehensible to you and I that the conditions of a prison would be better than having your personal freedom, but the fact is this is a hard cold reality to many people that have no other prospects.