04-24-2009, 08:01 PM
Quote:What is the difference between an eighteen year old Somali pirate and an eighteen year old drug dealer in any urban US city?
The US citizen really does have more options even if they don't choose to follow them. They may have chosen the path of least resistance, but they had a lot more options to follow to get food in their mouth. Many of the 18 year old (and younger) drug dealers aren't doing it for subsistence either.
The better question may have been "What is the difference between an 18 year old Somali pirate and an 18 year old gang member in any US city".
I still don't think it's a fully valid question. I actually think less of the urban gang member in this country than the Somali pirate. As bad as things can be in the inner city and as oppressive and unfair as our culture can be there are options. There are people that can and will provide education to that youth if they put forth any effort to get it. The Somali pirate didn't have that option.
Most of humanity takes the path of least resistance though. Heck I tend to go that way as well, but I'm aware that I'm turning down other options and that I can make other choices. I don't live in country that hasn't really had a government for 20+ years.
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It's all just zeroes and ones and duct tape in the end.
It's all just zeroes and ones and duct tape in the end.