I was utterly sickened by the picture of a boy aiming a machine-gun during the recent army open-day in Hal Far (October 2) and by the insignificant reaction to such a disgusting exercise.

Did the Rambo instructing the boy as to the suitable posture inform him about the number of innocent people killed by similar devices or how many children have lost their parents because of similar weapons? Did he explain that most people who die in wars wherein such arms are used are innocent? Did he inform him that a good number of armies use such devices against their own people, rather than protect them against foreign enemies, to the extent that some are forced to run away from their country of birth?

In a country where education as to the use of condoms is taboo, a belligerent and chauvinist activity involving kids evokes too little protest or disapproval.

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