hitchhiker  +  24042 Sun, 29 Feb 04 06:48 PM Plain and simple, your duty as a human overrides your duty as a reporter. Absolutely - but journalists will disagree for a variety of (somewhat) valid reasons. I think I'd go for option three - no idea where I'd leave them though - i'd probably try and get a good solution from them or from some human rights organisation. hitchhiker Joined on Mon, Nov 18 2002 Richmond, UK Senior Member 4,034 Usenet is like a herd of performing elephants with diarrhea - massive, difficult to redirect, awe-inspiring, entertaining, and a source of mind-boggling amounts of excrement...

	hitchhiker  +  24314 Tue, 02 Mar 04 06:16 PM I've heard them speak about it; something to do with not interfering with the local politics - much like the Prime Directive in Star Trek: "As the right of each sentient species to live in accordance with its normal cultural evolution is considered sacred, no Star Fleet personnel may interfere with the healthy development of alien life and culture. Such interference includes the introduction of superior knowledge, strength, or technology to a world whose society is incapable of handling such advantages wisely. Star Fleet personnel may not violate this Prime Directive, even to save their lives and/or their ship unless they are acting to right an earlier violation or an accidental contamination of said culture. This directive takes precedence over any and all other considerations, and carries with it the highest moral obligation." Sorry! Had to quote it. hitchhiker

	Chameleon  +  24351 Wed, 03 Mar 04 01:20 AM I'd have two qualms with that statement. First, what defines "local politics"? Is what happens in my house "local politics?" If so, I should be allowed to abuse my children, kill my wife, and torture my dog. This boundary is arbitrary. Second, I would suggest that cultures and societies have few (if any) rights beyond the right to exist. Only the people in a culture have rights. If some people violate the rights of others in a culture that values the rights being denied, the wrongdoing transcends any cultural respect that the actions might be given. In other words, if the behavior is not self-consistent with the cultural values, humanity is obligated to act to preserve and/or restore the rights being violated. Chameleon

	myalpha4beta  +  35807 Sun, 04 Jul 04 08:44 PM I think journalist did not think whether he was doing right or wrong at that time. As soon as he realized there was something he could do, he did whatever he could. So in this prospect, he did the right thing. myalpha4beta Joined on Sun, Jul 4 2004 Istanbul/Turkiye New Member 10 "Conformity of the thoughts and actions is the sole honor of a man."

	job44  +  42019 Fri, 13 Aug 04 09:11 AM He did not do the right thing because he contributed to the demand of sex slaves. I heard the interpol org. kills those people who sell and trade sex slaves and I am all for it. Kill them all! job44 Joined on Mon, Jul 26 2004 New Member 30

	rahul_mcsd  +  43216 Tue, 24 Aug 04 11:05 AM I think he would have done worse thing by not setting the two girls free. We should look at this from a wider perpective. The sickening thing would have been if the journalist had brought the girls for pleasure. He returned the girls to their village. That IS a nobel deed. rahul_mcsd Joined on Sat, Jul 3 2004 Indore, India Junior Member 68 An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.

	dan_brit_abroad  +  106129 Mon, 06 Jun 05 07:34 PM Firstly let me say I applaud the reporter for doing what he did. I hope if any of us were put in the same situation, and had the means to do something; we would do the same thing. But let me put forward a hypothetical question: If the reporter had bought them. But, as they were so afraid of being recaptured, (maybe) reprimanded and resold, the reporter took them back to the US and accommodated them until they were able to successfully seek asylum. 1> Are they technically his property? 2> Would any work they did for him in his house (e.g. washing their own dishes, tidying up thier own mess, making him breakfast), constitute slavery? dan_brit_abroad Joined on Sun, Jun 5 2005 New Member 37