Piracy

I've just read that the somali pirate whose been flown to america to be tried for piracy has gotten a not guilty verdict. Firstly what is your opinion on piracy? and do you think the 'not guilty' verdict was fair?

These people become pirates because it the only way to survive because they cant fish the rivers are polluted its a fight to survive you cant hold that against them

So Deathsdarkness, if I happen to lose my job and I have no way of surviving, I suppose you wouldn't mind if I went to your house and robbed you, right? No hard feelings, I'm just trying to survive.

To foreverbeart

if you robbed me and i found out you were poor and doing it to survive i would not be angry as the saying goes:

is it wrong for a man to steal a loaf of bread to feed his starving family?

I think the world is messed up anyways,

maybe the whole reason why they became pirates was because no one is treated the same

rich get richer
poor gets poorer

if i was dying of starvation and didnt have money yea i would steal.

ive done it before wen i was homeless i have no shame in doing it again.

no for the samali pirates i dont know what ther intentions or ther background is but they most likely have a reason

And with that 4 million dollars you could:-

get food
build houses
set up a network of nessesitys eg: water electricity
send children to school
clean up the enviroment so the villagers can fish there
bring medical care

Somalia is one of the poorest, most violent, least stable countries anywhere on Earth. It suffers from severe drought and its people face hunger and violence on a daily basis. This is not a new situation, Somalia, especially the south, has been in this state for many years.

The risks associated with piracy can be seen as little worse than those faced every day

Somalis have learnt to live in circumstances under which many might be expected to give up.

and you can't critisise these people because you are provided with all of the human needs and they are not so your narrow minded veiw when you have no idea it is a fight to survive

and these are not bleeding heart words these ARE JUST THE FACTS!!!

If my memory serves me, did they not take an American captain hostage? kidnapping, goes beyond what is acceptable behavior to feed your family or any other reason. You have a right to take care of your family but not at the expense or the safety of others.

For my family, no i wouldnt steal a car or a movie. i would just go to the grocery store and stuff potatoes in my pants

I'd go to my friend's house and steal their food. But I'm sure that if I told them my situation they'd give it to me anyway. ;)

I don't know about all cultures but in the US there are programs you can turn to if you need food or shelter...I think the pirates were after money...which is why most people steal.

America should not be policing waters, further more trying someone that is not even part of their country. Happily, the way your economy is going you're going to have to reform something eventually, merchant ships or civilian ships know the risk of those waters if they continue to use them. Then it is their obligation to defend themselves, not call america to do it for them. It's sad that people are always looking for big daddy government to save them. Learn to think for yourself and defend yourself, if you do not want to do that get into another business or go around Africa.

I hate americaand i live here. they think they can control all the countries and the oceans. trust me we are all talk.. most of the time

So what do you think of the goverment then?

I cant move.

the government takes control of everything. we may be a demacarcy but its slowly turning into a socialism thing and its stupid

free health care to evveryone is gonna kill more people then save them.

Democracy is a waste of time, I don't care if 98% of the people voted for something 2% don't agree :). I'm not a socialist so I don't believe in majority rule. People own their property it is up to them to make their rules on that property if you violate those rules or aggress that person than it is up to that person to take a course of action to get restitution for your actions. The government makes people irresponsible and lazy. I'd know I was in the military for four years. And I saw all that crap that goes in with bureaucrats. Yes, I advocate the Free Market and let it rein.

If someone was robbing my house, or if they tried to kidnap me and hold me at gunpoint in a raft, they won't have time to tell me how poor they are. Seriously, if they rob you, or hurt you to get money, then they are no better than anyone else doing it to them. I would probably steal food for my fmaily to eat, but I wouldn't steal a human, or a ship.

This seems like a pretty intense discussion, so I post this response completely in a light-hearted tone.

"what is your opinion on piracy?"

Argggggggh!! Avaste ye, gimme adventarrrrrre on the high seas!

I think pirates shouldn't be prosecuted. It's their lifestyle. that's like prosecuting me for working at macys [though they deserve to be prosecuted for neglect very harshley].

and to the person who said that like most men, they spend all their money they earn? men? don't you mean EVERYONE? I for one live on next to nothing and have to support two people on a 15 hour job at minimum wage. i don't give one cent away. does that make me "like most men"? selfish? yes, i know we're talking large sums of money. but regardless, i don't see many lotto winners giving away money.

and what's more, why aren't beggers prosecuted? i dont know about where you live, but the people who beg on the street and get hundreds upon hundreds a day around here have houses yet claim they don't on their signs.

that is all.
i apologize for going off on tangents.

If america and britain alone would spend half theres arms budget on helping countries like that instead of making better bombs and more interesting ways to kill people then there wouldn't be such a problem. i feel people like that only turn to a life of crime bacause they have very little other choices available to them. before judging them we should walk a mile in there shoes. for people who dissagree with me i say you should go live a few years in somalia before condeming them outright

The western countries have poured billions in aid into the poor countries in Africa and Asia. They get no thanks for it, only more hands demanding more money in aid.

^^ Yes, government stole my money. Gave it to bigger thieves to solve a problem. Hmm, awesome.