It's a metaphor. Come on, Whooter. We've been through this before. Kidnapping is depriving a person of liberty without due process. A Gulag is a facility where such people are kept. They're descriptive terms that happen to fit. Gulags in russia were also used to "re-educate" people, which is more or less the same function which these programs provide.
Kidnapping is illegal and if the person is caught they will spend time in jail. The people who transport these children are not committing any crimes. Gulags are in Russia as you mentioned used for re-education.
Why not use the terms
program or
escort if the people are not trying to embellish their situation? It communicates much easier to both fornits and non-fornits people. Police officers can understand it better also. I think if the kids were not trying to seek attention or exaggerate then they would use the correct terms. That way if someone mentioned they were abused they may have some credibility. Do you see what I mean?
Actually, Ken Stettler used that exact term in the GAO hearings to describe what programs do. Sorry, Whooter, but whether you like it or not, that's what he said.
The issue isn't whether I like it or not. The issue is whether or not it is true. He may have used the term. But if they thought these places brainwashed kids then they would have been closed down that day. Do you realize what real brain washing entails? Even if a program tried to do this I couldnt possibly see how they could pull it off.
I was interested in this briefly when I was in highschool and I dont think the programs have an environment and personnel capable of achieving this level of thought control and re-education. (
I am sure you can site an example, but I am talking about this happening today)Maybe I am missing the point and brainwashing is being used as another metaphor. This is what I mean, its confusing to figure out what is a metaphor and what is not.
If the same kid says that he was abused should we take that as a metaphor for something else, say being forced to study?
I think my point is that communication is all mucked up and its hard to tell what is real and what isnt.
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