Quote:My point is that they did so of their own free will, and the fact that they would have faced hardship for refusing doesn't really wash by the same reasoning that has been used to condemn the pirate
You are right. Though I would make a distinction between those who are ordered to do something and those who due to circumstances do something. If you rob a bank because someone told you to and will kill your family if you don't it's quite different than robbing a bank because you are out on the street and starving.
if the pirates hijacked a few ships and demanded that the UN fixes Somalia for their return or something like that I would be a lot more sympathetic. Sure it would be decried as terrorism, but at least they would be trying to fix the situation.
Quote:Therefore I do not think a purely military solution is a morally justified one, especially in light of the culpability of many European and Asian countries in the situation.
A purely military solution won't work, and finding a solution that will work will be very hard. yes the world is obligated to fix the situation but they needs to find a viable solution first.
Quote:Which is why I sympathise with them more than the people who lead the Pirate Party,
The people in Somalia are in a far worse situation, granted. That said I have far more sympathy of the people who try to eke out a living in somalia without hijacking other peoples ships.
Okay lets close the Somalia debate since it probably does not belong in this topic. The pirate party is not running on a platform related to somalia, they are running on a platform of copyright and patent reform.
The current copyright regime is just wrong, it's alleged original purpuse was to encourage creators to make more stuff, but if what you create will keep paying for you and your kids and grandkids then there is not much incetive to make more than one thing. If copyright expires after 5 years then you have a lot of incentive to make more stuff so that you will keep earning money.
E: "Did they... did they just endorse the combination of the JSDF and US Army by showing them as two lesbian lolicons moving in together and holding hands and talking about how 'intimate' they were?"
B: "Have you forgotten so soon? They're phasing out Don't Ask, Don't Tell."