Sometimes, people who just happen to be teenagers do bad things. But they don’t do those bad things because they’re teenagers. Plenty of other teenagers don’t do bad things! Plus, adults do bad things too.
Kristen Gelineau, Associated Press:
A teenager was charged with plotting a terrorist attack on an Australian Veteran’s Day ceremony, police said Monday, the second year in a row authorities say they have thwarted an attack linked to the national holiday.
The 16-year-old boy was charged with one count of planning a terrorist act after being arrested at his home in western Sydney on Sunday… The annual holiday commemorates the April 25, 1915, Gallipoli landings in Turkey — the first major military action fought by the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps during World War I.
Last year, police in Melbourne arrested five teenagers on suspicion of plotting an Islamic State group-inspired attack intended to coincide with the city’s ANZAC service.
Wait, what? Islamic State?
Hold on a minute.
Okay, forget everything I said above. Clearly, these would-be terrorists are doing this because they’re teenagers and for no other reason. They’re too young to know any better. It’s just youthful exuberance. We all did stupid things when we were kids, didn’t we?
It has nothing to do with any particular religion, or any particular historical grievance. All thoughts and suspicions to that effect will be punished.
As always, my condolences to the Muslim community for the hardship you’re about to suffer. Please don’t judge us too harshly. #NOH8 #illridewithyou