Widow Testifies at a Military Court

[--Pete]

Hi,

While it is possible that he could have rejected the constraints of his religion, culture and upbringing, I think is not at all likely.

I agree. Highly improbable. But not impossible. It's that difference that lets me keep buying lottery tickets.

We are both speculating, though. Or do you have stats on this topic that you can share?

Nope. No stats. Just gut feel and the fact that the story is newsworthy. More unexpected than 'dog bites man'.

What started this little sideshow contretemps was Occhi's assertion that the kid deserves 'no sympathy', regardless of his age.

I happen to agree with him. If Achilles deserves eternal fame for what he did at about the same age, I think sympathy in this case is a double standard. I regret the situation, the culture that fosters that kind of behavior, but I have no sympathy for those who embrace that culture. And 15 is two years past 'adulthood' in many cultures and religions. The present tendency to consider people 'children' until the age of retirement may comfort parents, but it does do damned all to instill self discipline and responsibility in those 'children'.

--Pete