[morgancmartin]

Agreed. The line ought to be drawn at personal attacks against her. She's 16, a child, personally attacking her is disgusting behavior.

By that same token, I also don't care what a 16 y.o. has to say about the state of the world. I just turned 25 a few months ago. Over the past 9 years, since I was 16, I've watched my cognitive abilities continually expand and now have a good feeling for just how ignorant I was when I was 16. I have no idea why this girl was let on stage to begin with and even less of an idea why it's news.

Almost as disgusting as the personal attacks are the people whose decision it was to prop up a child on the global stage, for all the world to attack and criticize her, all to advance their political agenda. Gross.

[morgancmartin]

Ugh, you're right, compassion gets the better of me yet again. To be honest, her brave stance has really made me feel so lucky for the way I was able to live my 16th year. Hard manual labor for low pay during the summers, social anxiety about my social status and the mind-numbing tedium of school were the absolute best. I can't imagine where she finds the strength to give all of that up.