In Reply to: Response posted by family_of_five on Friday, 7. October 2011 at 07:33 Bali Time:
No way is saying what he did was OK.
You can sit up there on your high horse and say "Throw the book at him" but most of us here are showing a bit more empathy.
Of course he knew what he was buying.
Of course he knew it was wrong.
Of course he stuffed up.
BUT should he be left to his own devices with no help from the embassy and our govt?
No.
See that's the difference between our great country and Asian countries, we care what happens to our citizens and will help where we can.
Maybe you should spend sometime with Scott Rush's parents and get a feel of the parent's perspective. Parents who knew what their son was doing, tried to stop it, but have since watch him face the death penalty. Do you consider them bad parents too? Parents who have sold everything, re-mortgaged their house to finance their sons demise, moved to another country so they can make sure that he eats everyday?
You, of all people, being a parent of three so you keep sprouting, should be more sympathetic.
This kid made a mistake. He will pay for this as will his parents. Believe me, they will pay.
He is 14, not 4 and not 24.
I wonder when you were 14 if you were allowed to go to the shops on your own, ride your bike to school on your own and maybe go to the movies with friends ON YOUR OWN?
He was busted with 6g of pot. Do you know how much that is? About the same as a bottle top. Yeah that much.
In Australia he would get a slap on the hand if anything. Unfortunately he is not in Australia is he.
Maybe, just maybe, his 14yo brain may have been thinking, well this is not much so it will be ok. The guy he bought it off said he hadn't eaten for 2 days so maybe this 14yo thought if he bought it off him then he can go get himself a feed and leave him alone and he has done a good turn.
On the other hand maybe he said "Cool cheap weed, after my massage I'm going to go back to the hotel and have a smoke with my mate".
Either way this kid is in trouble, serious trouble and you want to have him hung. Shame on you.
He stuffed up, don't you think he knows that NOW.
It is OK for you in your perfect life to sit up there and pass judgment. You are so lucky that you have perfect kids and a perfect life, one with no worries of ever breaking the law.
You don't have a right to question the parenting of this boy UNLESS you personally know them.
I think it is time you stepped down off your soapbox. We have heard you.
God forbid if any of your children ride their bike without a helmet because you know what THAT TOO IS BREAKING THE LAW.
Today, I will be hoping to hear that this child does not have to spend another night in custody.
Would you like to hear that he is locked up with drug dealers, rapists, pedophiles in Kerokoban Jail? Because there is nowhere else for him to go you know.
I hope to god he is not set upon and sexually abused like so many others have been in that godforsaken place in Bali. This I know for a fact.
Maybe you should research Kerokoban Jail or perhaps pay them a visit to find out what he is really facing.
No parent in the world would want a child put at risk, guilty or not.
HE IS A CHILD.
Have a nice day in your perfect world today.