Laura Dekker: Let Her Go
There has been a lot of controversy surrounding Laura Dekker's desire to try sailing around the world. Everybody seems to have some opinion on this matter, from the media to social services to the courts.
I believe that the people who are best suited to judge whether Laura is ready are Laura and her parents. It is simply wrong for anyone else to sit in judgment of her capabilities and stop her from reaching for her dreams.
Does anyone remember William F Buckley ripping into Jim Dickson for attempting to sail across the Atlantic?
http://articles.latimes.com/1987-08-18/news/mn-2290_1_blind-sailor
Of course now there are many blind sailors not only enjoying sailing (I will avoid saying what I think about Buckley here since he has passed away), but actually competing and racing. I think Jim Dickson said it best, "Mr. Buckley, you are a lot more blind than I am because you can't see what a person can do in my circumstances,".
How different is this really? Sure Laura is young, and that poses obstacles, but overcoming obstacles is how we make progress.
I don't think it is any government's business telling people what they can't accomplish. What kind of lesson is the government teaching it's young people by it's actions here?
If she wants to go, and her parents think it is ok, then she should go.
Thoreau once said "Do not lose hold of your dreams or aspirations. For if you do, you may still exist but you have ceased to live."
What is the greater danger to Laura's ability to really live? The sea or the courts?
What are your thoughts? Share them with us in the comments below.
Your point is good, but i
Your point is good, but i don't get this statement?
"I don't think it is any government's business telling people what they can't accomplish. "
I assume you aren't suggesting the removal of all laws that protect kids from their parents. Just this particular one? Should a 6 or 7 year old be allowed to dream this big. What if the kids dram was to be the youngest girl in playboy.
Society has decided that "MOST" 13 year olds don't have the mental facilitates to do something like this. If we lowered the age kids could be independent form 18, 16 21 depending on you Country to 13 she would be good to go. But we would also have to be ok with 13 year old driving, porn, smoking and drinking.
Or what i assume you are suggesting an exception in this case.
There is a big difference
There is a big difference between the government restricting your ability to attempt an otherwise legal activity based on the government's assessment of whether you are capable. I am not an anarchist or opposed to laws of any kind, however there is no law that states at what age a person may attempt a circumnavigation. What you have instead is the government stepping into the role of parent, and deciding whether or not she is being too ambitious. That is not a role any government should have.
Laura Dekker
What the previous commenter fails to separate out is that all of the instances that he/she lists are, in fact, illegal.
It is illegal for a 13 year old to engage in smoking, drinking, creating porn, and driving.
It is NOT illegal for a 13 year old to sail a boat.
Huge difference, and an invalid comparison.
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