I suggest the best guidepost for any topic regarding human rights: IF any cultural custom physically or emotionally harms anyone, man, woman or child, then the culture should be overruled in favor of the individual who is being harmed. Every man, woman and child in the world should have the right to live in dignity, and without fear or physical harm. If a man's desire to marry a child harms that child, then the marriage should not occur. IF you are living in a country where cultural customs brings harm to anyone, you should stand up and fight against that custom. If enough people stand up for what is right, then change WILL come. If any person has any empathy for others, then you should stand up for the one being harmed. It's as simple as that. For one moment imagine any child being given to a stranger to do with her as he will. If you don't believe that these young girls hate what is being done to them, then one only has to look at the statistics. Females of all ages in Afghanistan are setting themselves on fire! They are perferring the flaming agony of death to the cruel and bitter lives they are living. Wake up and smell the smoke that is roiling from the bodies of your helpless women, and you might rethink this cruel custom of child brides! I do not make these statements as an American, but as a citizen of the world who weeps bitter tears at the thought of the lives so many women live. Jean Sasson