I really think all the arguments about freedom, such as yours, are equating minors with adults. There is a difference.
As you posted, some 16 year olds LIED to get into the military.
First of all they had to lie.
Second of all you think that was a good thing?
How young do you want soldiers to be?
I think 18 is the legal consensus in this country, and I’m comfortable. I don’t want the “freedom” to have 16 year olds or for that matter 10 year olds in the military.
And if it’s “freedom” to send your kid out on the open ocean for months all by herself -
why not a 15? 14? 13? 12? 11? At what age would you say: “Those parents are wrong?”
It is not about freedom, in my opinion, when you are talking about minors.
What about this boy? Are any of your thoughts the same about this as they are about the girl? Pray tell, what’s the difference if your thoughts aren’t the same?
What about all the other teenagers and pre-teens who fly? Are they any different or is it just that this girl had a turn of bad luck and now that we can armchair quarterback, we can say how stupid it was?
Freedom is not about some arbitary age - at least to me. There are mature teenagers with excellent judgement that is superior to many “adults” and others who lack common sense. There are people in the 30s or 40s who have excellent judgement and many how do not.
At 16, a person is allowed to get a drivers license and go where and when they please. At 16, I could qualify for a pilot’s license - fly a plane solo whenever and where ever I want. A boat is no different to me. I could fly a plane within my home state or across the country, and why not across the world? Same with a boat - just need advanced skills. I applaud this young lady.
Where did all these FR wackos come from??? Child labor laws? Are you serious?? Assume you think it is same when a 16 year takes the family car to the grocery or on a date?