U.S. Soldiers Told to Ignore Afghan Allies’ Abuse of Boys

[Barrister]

Well at least Grallon found something about Muslims he likes.

That's not fair.

[alfred russel]

Who are we to judge their culture?

Don't forget one thing on this discussion:

One point is the Afghan culture

Another is the fact that the US military lets this happen inside US military bases.

And another is that the US military actively punishes US servicemen that try to do something about it.

(not to mention that this child abuse practices piss off the locals who are the victims. This probably cost the Coalition a LOT of goodwill against the Taliban)

God Damn America.

[viper37]

I still don't get how they justify it under Islam, though.

Are you an expert on Islam? 

Do we need to be an expert on any religion to try and understand them?

[The Brain]

Why would they have to justify it under Islam?

[Malthus]

My understanding (from Iranians, admittedly  ) is that Afganis are basically the hillbillies of the Islamic world.

[Barrister]

Why would they have to justify it under Islam?

The Brain makes a fair point.  These guys aren't the Taliban.  They're the guys fighting the Taliban.

[viper37]

My understanding (from Iranians, admittedly  ) is that Afganis are basically the hillbillies of the Islamic world.

It's not just the Afghans, it's all over central asia, including areas of Iran and Pakistan, presumably.

[viper37]

Why would they have to justify it under Islam?

The Brain makes a fair point.  These guys aren't the Taliban.  They're the guys fighting the Taliban.

It's not like they're atheist.  For most of them, their version of Islam is still pretty rigorist.

[Martinus]

I still don't get how they justify it under Islam, though.

Are you an expert on Islam? 

Do we need to be an expert on any religion to try and understand them?

Well, I do not know Islam well enough to know if this can be justified under Islam easily or not. Many primitive Middle Eastern cultures have this weird thing about gay sex and pedophilia, and from that perspective abusing little boys could in fact be easily justifiable - but as I said I am not an expert on Islam so cannot pass judgement.

[Josquius]

The whole thing developed because of the strict cultural separation between women and men. Young boys have a lot of freedom to walk the streets and do what they want, women..don't.
I guess they probably view it in the standard primitive culture view of homosexuality- its only gay if you're taking it.

[Malthus]

My understanding (from Iranians, admittedly  ) is that Afganis are basically the hillbillies of the Islamic world.

It's not just the Afghans, it's all over central asia, including areas of Iran and Pakistan, presumably.

Hillbillies are not specific to any one country, no.

The point, though, is that it is similar to the excesses of hillbillies elsewhere - only on a large scale, as the whole country is basically composed of hillbilly tribes. Like hillbillies everywhere, some of them deal in drugs, have violent feuds with each other, and commit sexual acts with children. Like hillbillies everywhere, these nasty habits doen't stop them from being religious.

For example, in Nova Scotia there was a big scandal about hillbillies in a small community committing incest with young kids, and it went on for a century. The "normal" folks in the nearby town knew it was happening, but turned a blind eye - yet everyone in rural Nova Scotia is Christian. How did they reconcile the two? 

https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2194&dat=19860313&id=Vq8yAAAAIBAJ&sjid=qu8FAAAAIBAJ&pg=4487,1413808&hl=en

[Martinus]

Yeah, and kids are somehow exempt.

Incidentally, it's not the only culture where severe homophobia is linked with sexual abuse of young boys. Just look at the RCC.

[garbon]

Well at least Grallon found something about Muslims he likes.

That's not fair.

Indeed. I've seen no indication that G would chain up/have sex with unwilling boys.

[garbon]

https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2194&dat=19860313&id=Vq8yAAAAIBAJ&sjid=qu8FAAAAIBAJ&pg=4487,1413808&hl=en

What a bizarre article. First column mostly about abuse, then a column and a half about public housing efforts then half a column back on abuse.

[Razgovory]

Well at least Grallon found something about Muslims he likes.

That's not fair.

Indeed. I've seen no indication that G would chain up/have sex with unwilling boys.

Underage boys can't consent and thus are by definition unwilling.