Shocking US Marine Video

The shocking images of 4 US Marine troops urinating on dead Afghans was released yesterday to outcries of disrespect, injustice and downright dishonour. A US military investigation followed and they have been identified. 2 of these men have been interviewed and are believed to be from a battalion from North Carolina.

At the very least, these men should be given dishonourable discharges and have charges placed against them. Surely this is a war crime. They are meant to be protecting and training Afghans, not killing and peeing on them. It is not known whether these men were Taliban or not but regardless, this kind of behaviour is not acceptable. When will they realise that the more they disrespect other cultures and individuals, the worse they look in the public eye? The American military has a great deal to do in appeasing the Afghanistan people after an act like this.

What the hell is happening in America?

I just read the paper today and saw something that shocked the hell out of me. A new report states that 20% of women in America – that’s the USA, not a South American country, have been raped at least once!!! That is 1 in 5 women! I know more than 5 American women and this report means that there is a good chance that at least one of them has been raped! So I’m sitting here thinking what the f**k is going on in America that this could be so?

This report also states that of these 20%, 1 in 4 were severely assaulted by a partner! Almost 80% of the victims were raped (their first rape that is) under the age of 25. 1 in 8 of the women surveyed said that they were raped by a member of their family.

This is horrific. The thing that makes this really scary is that this is a report from the CDC, the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention in the US.
My heart goes out to all those affected by these horrific statistics

http://www.cdc.gov/features/NISVS/

Osama Dead and Gone

This is such an odd and negative start to a usually cheerful month.

While I do believe in justice and I do think that criminals need to be brought to justice, the thought of celebrating the dead of anyone is not only revolting, it is amoral, regardless of the person. When we celebrate killing someone we become as bad as we perceive them to be.

A legal, sanctioned trial and (where believed necessary) execution is something that should be solemn, an ending to a nightmare for the victims and their families. None of this occurred when America killed Osama bin Laden. Regardless of whether this is a justified killing (that really isn’t the issue here), celebrating the death of another human being is just wrong.

I am so shocked that people who call themselves Christian can do this. Christianity is about forgiveness and acceptance (much like Islam), not about celebrating when hearing of someone’s death.

My heart goes out to the families of those lost on the 11th of September, I hope this may bring you some peace. I hope you can find closure and that something good may come of this.

I urge the US to show a little caution here. The situation with America –v- the Middle East/Islam is a precarious one. Rubbing salt in what must at the moment be a wound will merely provoke retaliation. I truly hope this is not the case, there have been enough lives lost already. I hope President Obama takes this into account.

http://writing.wikinut.com/Questioning-the-Celebrations-of-Osama-bin-Laden-s-Death/25qsnfly/

Peace be upon you (literally).