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British civillian killed fighting in Syria.


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Old 03-01-2017, 08:52
roverboy1965
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In news that a 20yr old has been killed fighing IS with rebels in Syria.

The young man had no military experiance, never been in a warzone and was only 20yrs old.

What a tragic waste of a young life. Parents said he was "loving and caring boy" who would "help anyone"

So,

A selfless act of heroism ?

A reckless act with no thought for family and friends of the consequences ?

Personally i think the parents are somewhat to blame here, after all who lets a barely out of his teens young man go off to a warzone with no experiance of fighting or military experiance in a civil war.

Its a tradgedy, but i struggle to sympathise.
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Old 03-01-2017, 08:55
Girth
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after all who lets a barely out of his teens young man go off to a warzone with no experiance of fighting or military experiance in a civil war.
Not these parents. They thought he was going to Turkey.
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Old 03-01-2017, 08:59
tim59
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In news that a 20yr old has been killed fighing IS with rebels in Syria.

The young man had no military experiance, never been in a warzone and was only 20yrs old.

What a tragic waste of a young life. Parents said he was "loving and caring boy" who would "help anyone"

So,

A selfless act of heroism ?

A reckless act with no thought for family and friends of the consequences ?

Personally i think the parents are somewhat to blame here, after all who lets a barely out of his teens young man go off to a warzone with no experiance of fighting or military experiance in a civil war.

Its a tradgedy, but i struggle to sympathise.
The young man was 20 years old, not alot his parents could do he is legally a adult and can do what he likes the parents could not stop him. So he made a choice himself so no blame on the parents at all. His parents cannot stop him smoking or drinking going on holiday, buying a house driving gambling joining the army or anything else at 20 years old
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Old 03-01-2017, 09:10
anne_666
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A brave man. My sympathy to his loved ones.
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Old 03-01-2017, 09:19
roverboy1965
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The young man was 20 years old, not alot his parents could do he is legally a adult and can do what he likes the parents could not stop him. So he made a choice himself so no blame on the parents at all
Sorry but lots the parents could have done in my mind.

He must have talked about it, not neccecerrily about going but sympathies etc but should have rung alarm bells and they could have talked to him about the real horrors of war and not like an Xbox game as most that age think war is.

If slightest suspician, tell the police, as is the advice by the govt for anyone suspecting someone is going to Syria to fight.

If gone, tell the police or even contact the YPG or their representatives and express your concern, they should then do the right thing and send him home.

As a parent, in that situation id move hell or high water to get my child back, if it meant going out there myself and dragging him back !!!!!! He may not thank me for it, but he'd be home safe and id know i'd done all i could.
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Old 03-01-2017, 09:22
Girth
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As a parent, in that situation id move hell or high water to get my child back, if it meant going out there myself and dragging him back !!!!!! He may not thank me for it, but he'd be home safe and id know i'd done all i could.
Of course you would, dear.
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Old 03-01-2017, 09:27
Elyan
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He was fighting on the side of good - against evil. Not for money, or fame, or fortune.

I'm sure he will be honoured by the Kurdish people.
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Old 03-01-2017, 09:28
tim59
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Sorry but lots the parents could have done in my mind.

He must have talked about it, not neccecerrily about going but sympathies etc but should have rung alarm bells and they could have talked to him about the real horrors of war and not like an Xbox game as most that age think war is.

If slightest suspician, tell the police, as is the advice by the govt for anyone suspecting someone is going to Syria to fight.

If gone, tell the police or even contact the YPG or their representatives and express your concern, they should then do the right thing and send him home.

As a parent, in that situation id move hell or high water to get my child back, if it meant going out there myself and dragging him back !!!!!! He may not thank me for it, but he'd be home safe and id know i'd done all i could.
And its normal for a 20 year old to go on holiday without his parents ( The former chef, from Chichester, West Sussex, had no previous military experience and had joined Kurdish militia after telling his family he was going on holiday to Turkey in August. )
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Old 03-01-2017, 09:30
anne_666
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Sorry but lots the parents could have done in my mind.

He must have talked about it, not neccecerrily about going but sympathies etc but should have rung alarm bells and they could have talked to him about the real horrors of war and not like an Xbox game as most that age think war is.

If slightest suspician, tell the police, as is the advice by the govt for anyone suspecting someone is going to Syria to fight.

If gone, tell the police or even contact the YPG or their representatives and express your concern, they should then do the right thing and send him home.

As a parent, in that situation id move hell or high water to get my child back, if it meant going out there myself and dragging him back !!!!!! He may not thank me for it, but he'd be home safe and id know i'd done all i could.
He was an adult. Why would the YPG "send" an adult home at the request of his parents? He could have joined the UK armed forces, would you have felt the same about that?
His parents statement to the Guardian.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/...-isis-in-syria
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Old 04-01-2017, 00:16
Sifter22
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There was a documentary about this about 6 months ago. There's been a few white males gone out to fight with the Kurds. Most of them died.
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Old 04-01-2017, 00:24
IJoinedInMay
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I view him more as daft rather than heroic.
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Old 04-01-2017, 00:25
swingaleg
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There was a documentary about this about 6 months ago. There's been a few white males gone out to fight with the Kurds. Most of them died.
If you look at it dispassionately they probably stand less chance of living than your average Kurdish fighter who knows the land, the language, the customs and who can tell who's who by looking at them
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Old 04-01-2017, 01:08
Sifter22
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If you look at it dispassionately they probably stand less chance of living than your average Kurdish fighter who knows the land, the language, the customs and who can tell who's who by looking at them
The Kurds were really brave but the guys that featured were right there with them. There was a bit at the end of the documentary where one guy they followed went back to England. The end clip was him looking over all the people he met over there who had died since he'd gone back. Even though they have no training or anything they have balls for going out there and helping.
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Old 04-01-2017, 06:35
eggchen
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Thrown his life away.
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Old 04-01-2017, 08:07
muggins14
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The Kurds were really brave but the guys that featured were right there with them. There was a bit at the end of the documentary where one guy they followed went back to England. The end clip was him looking over all the people he met over there who had died since he'd gone back. Even though they have no training or anything they have balls for going out there and helping.
I can't help but admire a young man wanting to actively do something to help, not just sit and say 'oh dear, the situation out there's terrible'. He at least had the courage of his convictions, I can't help but admire that no matter how misguided they may or may not have been. He wanted to make a difference.

I feel sadness for his family who obviously didn't know his plans, it must be so hard although I think they can also be very proud of a son who had a great deal of courage and conviction.
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Old 04-01-2017, 09:13
DMN1968
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Its a pity that these so called refugees and asylum seekers from that area of the world don't have the same fighting spirit and willingness to sort their country out.
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Old 04-01-2017, 10:30
Mark39London
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I've got mixed feelings on this. He had no training or previous military experience, so in reality had no idea what it would be like, and was at best naïve to go. That said, you certainly can't knock his spirit or desire to help.

As others have said, he was an adult and was free to do this, whatever the outcome. His parents have nothing to be blamed for, nor could they or had any right to stop him.
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Old 04-01-2017, 11:35
IJoinedInMay
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Its a pity that these so called refugees and asylum seekers from that area of the world don't have the same fighting spirit and willingness to sort their country out.
Perhaps it's because they don't want to suffer the same fate as the man the OP refers to? Bloody immigrants, coming over here with their survival instincts *shakes fist*
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Old 04-01-2017, 11:56
anne_666
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Its a pity that these so called refugees and asylum seekers from that area of the world don't have the same fighting spirit and willingness to sort their country out.
Syrians? Why, "so called" refugees and asylum seekers?
Willingness to fight them with what and who are they supposed to fight for?
Including their own Government, in a multi-assailant protracted civil war who would you be fighting for?
Hang around to be conscripted by the Government perhaps and be expected to randomly murder your innocent men, women and children fellow citizens.
Why do you think so many have fled the country or are displaced in any part of it which is only marginally safer and without the likelihood even that will last.
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Old 04-01-2017, 12:06
smooze
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A man with a passionate belief that he was helping the cause
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Old 04-01-2017, 12:37
muggins14
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Its a pity that these so called refugees and asylum seekers from that area of the world don't have the same fighting spirit and willingness to sort their country out.
I remember people saying the same thing during Apartheid - there are millions more black people than white people why don't they fight back. It's a lot more complex than that.
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Old 04-01-2017, 12:57
mcg3
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He was fighting on the side of good - against evil. Not for money, or fame, or fortune.

I'm sure he will be honoured by the Kurdish people.
As is the case in any war though, each side believe they are the good side, fighting against evil.

Its all relevant.
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Old 04-01-2017, 14:35
Laurel1ne
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In news that a 20yr old has been killed fighing IS with rebels in Syria.

The young man had no military experiance, never been in a warzone and was only 20yrs old.

What a tragic waste of a young life. Parents said he was "loving and caring boy" who would "help anyone"

So,

A selfless act of heroism ?

A reckless act with no thought for family and friends of the consequences ?

Personally i think the parents are somewhat to blame here, after all who lets a barely out of his teens young man go off to a warzone with no experiance of fighting or military experiance in a civil war.

Its a tradgedy, but i struggle to sympathise.
If he went of his own volition I don't see too much wrong with it

One of my great-grandfathers went to fight in the Spanish Civil War, did pretty much the same went to Spain with a couple of friends, joined the Communists until then all he'd known was working in a S. Wales Coal Mine. He was in his early 20's at the time

Amazingly survived that and then went off to WWII, he must have really hated Facists
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Old 04-01-2017, 16:07
Pink_Smurf
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As is the case in any war though, each side believe they are the good side, fighting against evil.

Its all relevant.
You don't think Islamic State are evil? Of course they're evil. He was a hero and I think he was very brave. As for his parents dragging their "child" back, he was an adult and free to decide for himself and to do what he wanted. To judge him and call him naive is to do him a disservice. He likely knew exactly what he was doing. RIP to a hero.
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Old 04-01-2017, 16:40
mcg3
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You don't think Islamic State are evil? Of course they're evil. He was a hero and I think he was very brave..
Of course i think ISIS are evil but what i think is irrelevant. Others will think ISIS are hero's, those who support that ideology.

All's fair in love and war. One man's terrorist is another mans hero.
That's why its dangerous to put labels on people.
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