Yes, that is truly the topic of the article linked. It seems if you are an Afghan you should hope a German guns you down, and the worst is a British bullet. All my life I have been of the impression that a human life's value exceeds any amount of wealth. What have we come to when we place a dollar figure on the life of a person? If you are looking for something to be offended by, this is a good choice.

Where's the link, Marlowe??

AC

That's an easy question to answer, it's 18 cents. Next question please.

Thomas

http://news.yahoo.com/price-life-afghanist...-111521184.html

It was in the subject line but I see it didn't work that way. Live and learn.

To understand this better Marlowe, you have to look at Islamic sharia.

In Islamic sharia it's the victim's family that has the right to decide the fate of the person who committed the killing, whether it's manslaughter or murder.

In any case the victim's family can take reparations (money) for the lives lost or they can ask for the killer to forfeit their own life.

Either or but not both.

It cuts down on vendetta type deaths.

Of course when it's an occupying force doing the killing, then they have no choice but to take the blood money. But $210! That's an insult!

That shows just how sick Sharia Law is and it's practice should be wiped from the face of the earth. It's as barbaric as you can get. I remember seeing a video of the Taliban enforcing Sharia Law. The uncle of a slain man cut the throat of the man who killed him.

If it weren't so tragic it would laughable when Muslims talk about our being blood thirsty when their religion craves blood and revenge.

Thomas

What's so tragic about a man cutting the throat of the man who killed his uncle?

I think this society puts way too much emphasis on the rights of the killer.

It certainly seems barbaric to me, but then I don't know the rest of the story. Was there sufficient due process to be sure the "killer" was guilty? Did he commit the deed with malice and aforethought? Was the victim innocent, or did he really deserve it? There's usually more to the story than meets the eye, or ear. In either case there does seem to be too many in society that enjoy blood and suffering, even if the victim may be guilty.

If you understood any of the principals you claim we don't live by you would know the reason is very simple; it is better to let ten guilty men go free than to wrongly convict one innocent man. You talk a lot about how just Islam is, but for some reason it is perfectly acceptable to use the most brutal methods of punishment. All the compassion you talk is totally invalidated when you believe in that monstrous, disgustingly evil Sharia Law.

You know, it's so easy to feel compassion for the weak and vulnerable, but the true test of compassion is to feel it for the worst of humanity. Though I totally despise Islam and everything it stands for, I would never fail to show compassion for even the worst of Muslims. You know why? Because I actually get it with the teaching of Jesus.

Thomas

Well put buddy. I especially like the part about showing compassion for the worst among us. Now that's a test!

Compassion's all fine and good, but what I don't get is how blase you are about all the bombing and indiscriminate killing the army does.

Okay, so we're supposed to care about a guy who's been convicted of a heinous crime, show him compassion but we don't care about all the civilians that get blown to bits by drones and other weapons because we need to get those damn pesky terrorists and who cares who blows up alongside them in the process.

You're completely contradictory Thomas.

I think what really bugs you is when killing is not accompanied with high passion.

If it's done under passion, then it's understandable.

But if it's an execution--then it's barbaric.

Weird.

Are you competing with Aunty for fairy tales? Not one thing you said is even close to the truth. I figure you need to believe this, not necessarily about me, but more about those you consider the enemies of Muslims and your God. If you humanize them, things get too confusing and you can't stoke the fire of righteous Jihad.

The soldier who killed those innocent people didn't kill with passion. Matter of fact, his mind was so fried that he was totally void of emotion and he didn't even know what he was doing. He was so confused and irrational that he went to two different villages. He could have killed a lot more people but he walked back to his base and surrendered. Why? Because that's the sort of thing insanity does when the mind gives up on life. Some people kill themselves and some kill others and there are distinct reasons for each. We don't understand it because our society, all societies, don't care to learn. The human mind is the greatest thing we have and we make no real effort to understand it. You're like most everyone, too lazy to give a damn to understand. You want easy answers and Kill IT is the easiest. BTW, I feel the same about Muslims like the Shoe Bomber, but you won't remember I said that, you never do.

In all these years you just don't listen. Yes, I care about a soldier who was pushed too far by our military and government who doesn't give a damn about anything but themselves. But to say we don't care about the civilians is feeding a delusion that can only result in hate. For nearly a decade I have been arguing that the terrorist claim is the biggest joke going and only a cowardly mindless idiot would fall for all the fear mongering. Tactics like air attacks in populated areas I consider severe offenses where those who at the highest level should receive the death penalty. Bush invading Iraq, along with other crimes, should be put on trial for treason and if found guilty, executed (how many times have I mentioned this one?). The only time I believe in the death penalty is with those in powerful positions.

But you will go on simplistically believing in good and evil, of course you being the good and we being the evil, and the killing will go on. Governments and powerful people will go on controlling our lives and keep us killing each other. The dignity of Man will go on being trampled with no true champions to defend it. Yes, I'm angry and say angry things because I need to or my sadness will overwhelm me of absorbing the death of innocence.

Thomas

From the apparent response, an Afghan life - or 16 of them - is worth far less than a few bits of paper at 451 degrees Fahrenheit.

If you go by the slavering response when a few books are burned compared to the deaths of 16 civilians where it seems the aftermath is business as usual, an Afghan life is worth about as much as an Afghan hound...or less.

Best, Josh.

That is very strange that there was such a violent reaction over burning the Koran (which wasn't even done maliciously) and none over this. Islam is exactly like communism in it's total disregard for human life. Repeatedly sending our troops into that kind of insane environment is going to have very bad effects and the majority of those effects the news media will never tell.

I do wonder though, how much the US is paying the families, villagers and Afghan government. Apparently it's enough to calm their outrage.

Thomas

Good point, Tom. And likely very true.

Best, Josh.