How old is a girl at 13?

Subject: How old is a girl at 13? Mon Apr 13, 2009 10:58 am

We have our own problems with immigration laws. This story about those laws in Japan really tugged at me.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/04/13/japan.philippines.calderon/index.html?eref=rss_mostpopular#cnnSTCText

Is a 13-year-old girl ready to live without her parents?

Ann

Subject: Re: How old is a girl at 13? Mon Apr 13, 2009 11:17 am

An interesting story Ann.
The girl will suffer.

Subject: Re: How old is a girl at 13? Mon Apr 13, 2009 11:46 am

It's unfortunate for her, but the parents broke the law by using fake credentials. If having children becomes an accepted way to mock the law, what's next?

Subject: Re: How old is a girl at 13? Mon Apr 13, 2009 2:54 pm

Interesting-and heartbreaking-story from a family perspective. We run in to this problem here too, and the questions becomes a case of who is right - the government, or the family? If you have set rules up for immigration and they can be circumvented by the birth of a child, then what is the point of the rules? It's a sad situation, but a large issue. Seems to be a big problem for Phillipine citizens, whose families are often separated for many years as they try to establish themselves in a new country.

Subject: Re: How old is a girl at 13? Mon Apr 13, 2009 5:07 pm

But one must also ask the questions like: Didn't they know that what they were doing was illegal? If you have laws but don't enforce them, what is the purpose in having them in the first place?

Subject: Re: How old is a girl at 13? Fri Apr 17, 2009 3:14 pm

Good point.