Ten American Baptists were arrested in Haiti for trying to take 33 children out of the country, to get the children away from the earthquake that took place. They were caught crossing the border, heading to Dominican Republic. Most of the U.S. citizens that were involved in this were members of an Idaho-based church group. However, nine of ten Americans did not understand the situations they were in. One leader, Laura Silsby, knew everything about the plan. She knew that crossing the border was needed some paperwork, yet she still attempted to take children to Dominican Republic. Edwin Coq, the lawyer of those Americans, says, "I'm going to do everything I can to get the nine out. They were naive. They had no idea what was going on..." Kidnapping children carries 5 to 15 years in prison. It depends on the judge's decision, and the verdict might take 3 months.
The goal of this action by 10 American baptists was to help the children and provide them better life out of the country. Some parents even handed their children to them, so that their children would have better life and education out of Haiti. Therefore, I believe that they should not be charged for their actions. For sure, they did this to save the children that suffered from the earthquake in Haiti. Even though the action they did was against the law, this was done by Christians in churches to do the right thing. If Laura Silsby, the leader of the ten Americans, has to be punished by the law, I think the punishment should be minimized. In my opinion, the law isn't everything. Some people can get by the law and committ cruel actions, while some can try to help others but can be caught by the law. Regarding the goal of their actions, I think they are justified for taking 33 children out of Haiti.
The goal of this action by 10 American baptists was to help the children and provide them better life out of the country. Some parents even handed their children to them, so that their children would have better life and education out of Haiti. Therefore, I believe that they should not be charged for their actions. For sure, they did this to save the children that suffered from the earthquake in Haiti. Even though the action they did was against the law, this was done by Christians in churches to do the right thing. If Laura Silsby, the leader of the ten Americans, has to be punished by the law, I think the punishment should be minimized. In my opinion, the law isn't everything. Some people can get by the law and committ cruel actions, while some can try to help others but can be caught by the law. Regarding the goal of their actions, I think they are justified for taking 33 children out of Haiti.
I honestly think that they should receive any punishment in fact. It is a completely unfavorable decision if the judge has to make one. I feel that they were doing the right thing. And sometimes that is the case. It happens unfortunately in the world that the right people get punished for the wrong things.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you. Although legally it is incorrect to kidnap kids, it is definitely bypassed in this case as it is for the kids' own goods to not starve and die like many of the other Haitian kids did. Hence they did survive, they would live a better life in America with the people who "kidnapped" them than if they lived as an orphan with no education and job.
ReplyDeleteI am a Christian myself and I don't believe that this is an act of Christianity at all. Taking 33 children and trying to sneak them back into America is a federal crime and the excuse of trying to help the children and give them a better place to stay is just idiotic. Stealing a child or taking a child under thir will is the crime of kidnapping and these ten American Baptists should be penalized. Just because they are Christians doesn't mean they can take 33 children.
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