Oman Khadr is a child of hate, fear and war. During WW II there was a German teenager who was part of the Hitler youth. This man is now Pope. The previous Pope was Polish! Remember that Americans, Canadians, British and other nations have killed in Afghanistan, Iraq, etc. too. All should learn to have respect for all life.
As a child who lived during WW II, I was so very small in size. People wondered then how I knew what I knew, as they wonder today too. During the war young German soldiers, ages 14 through 19, and some even younger, stole, tortured, killed, murdered, etc. not in their own country, but in mine – Holland.
Then there was a Canadian soldier (about 21 to 23 years old) who came to our home the day after peace was declared. He stole my grandfather’s pipe and was murdering my Papa when I walked in. There was blood dripping from my Papa’s mouth and nose.
There were Canadian soldiers stealing dogs and whatever else they liked too. American and other soldiers went after the Dutch girls and artefacts left by the Germans. These were actions of the “liberators,” something that is seldom spoken about for normally only the good is mentioned. Many times I have been told not to think back on the war, but when you lose your family, home and little friends you played with, can it be forgotten?
How many in Africa and Indonesia were tortured and murdered? Today all say that it was in the name of war. Everything goes in war, they say. When they say it was for self-survival, they say it is okay. Or when you say it for self, then it is okay. But when it is a child soldier, it is not? Whether he did or did not commit a crime, whether he was or was not subjected to torture and abuse to coerce a confession, he is condemned because he was part of the opposing warriors. Don’t be cruel. Omar Kadhr was a child, just like the Pope was. Give him a chance to start a life now.
How many Omar Khadrs are out there – from every nation and every race around the world where war rages and atrocities occur?
I am the peacemaker and I did survive losing my family as a young Dutch girl.
