6 Teens Drown in Louisiana

[Dan T.]

Here's an interesting article - ironically dated just a week before this tragedy - about black Olympic swimmer Cullen Jones' work to teach more African American children to swim:

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-07-24/news/ct-met-minority-swimming-20100724_1_swim-chicago-park-district-pools-pool-s-edge

He's working with USA Swimming and Conoco Phillips on the Make a Splash series that promotes water safety among minority youth.

[Fergasun]

I'm disgusted by the lack of empathy in this thread.

[KingGibbs]

I grew up with a giant pool in my backyard when I lived in NOVA plus most of my extended family lives on the Patuxent River in Maryland. Needless to say I 've spent easily 50%(if not much more) of my life in water. Everyone should know how to swim though. About 75% of the world is covered by it after all.

Dude. You have not spent 50% or more of your life in water. Think about it Aquaman.

[Dan T.]

Dude. You have not spent 50% or more of your life in water. Think about it Aquaman.

Somebody had to call him on that one.

[Kosher Ham]

I'm disgusted by the lack of empathy in this thread.

Empathy is present in this thread. But I feel most of us think this is senseless.

We are sorry for the losses, but at the same time irritated by the poor judgement of the families.

[#98QBKiller]

Dude. You have not spent 50% or more of your life in water. Think about it Aquaman.

[Kosher Ham]

Perhaps he is a mermaid.

[Ryman of the North]

I read this story this morning and it makes me ANGRY. Its such a waste of life in such a stupid manner.

1- WHAT KIND OF RETARD TAKES CHILDREN TO A DEEP RIVER WHEN THEY THEMSELVES CANT SWIM? and the ones who paid for this stupidity? the kids.

2- what kind of moron lets the kids run around in the river without knowing how to swim? are you serious?

3- how the hell does anyone who lives near water not know how to swim or teach their kids or at least get them lessons?

I grew up on a ranch up a hill from the chinchaga river, I learned to swim at 3 years old. My fathers method of teaching me consisted of throwing me in the river after I was dancing around on the river bank yelling at him and my uncles and cousins and yelling because I wasnt allowed in the water. I admit that there were several people within arms reach but I was up and dog [paddling in about 5 minutes. by the end of the summer I was swimming breast strokes underwater. its not hard and its actually natural.

[TD_washingtonredskins]

Dude. You have not spent 50% or more of your life in water. Think about it Aquaman.

This cracked me up...

[TD_washingtonredskins]

I don't care, if you are a parent or adult, you try even if you can't swim. For instance, if my kid was being attacked by a grizzly bear, you can bet I'd jump right in its face (and probably get killed) so my kid could be saved. Same principle applies here.

Absolutely agree.

[Mickalino]

I'm disgusted by the lack of empathy in this thread.

Empathy is being expressed through justifiable outrage

[skinsfan07]

Exactly, from the parents and the teens. I saw it on the news this morning and just said, WTF ?

I learned to swim well at around 6-7 years old. It amazes me that people can't swim. Prior to that I could dog paddle and float at least.

Agreed. I've been able to swim since I was around that age too. But ya know, my dad can't swim, but he knows what to do if he goes underwater, he doesn't freak out. He said he never learned to swim b/c there were no pools were he grew up, so what could he do? It's not his fault. I guess that's the same case here.