My heart and hopes go out to you and your son. And as for the inhumane scum who did this to him, i sincerely hope their karma comes round and gives them a big kick in the arse.

I agree that youth and a troubled background cannot in any way excuse their actions- hell, we've all had a hard life, we don't go around committing random acts of violence toward innocent victims.

However- "It's sad to see youth so disaffected and devoid of compassion--let's hope they all straighten up soon. "?
Tarring all young people with the same brush is not only ill-informed and discriminatory, but serves to increase the void of misunderstanding between the generations and confirm the erronious conception present in so many youthful minds that it's case of 'us versus them'

I am 17 and abbhor violence, whoever is perpetrating it, and have myself been a victim of a similar assault; however, i am not prepared to condemn the entire body of my peers. Niether am i prepared to adhere to the aforementioned 'us versus them ' mentality. There is a silent majority of young people who are not thugs, do not rebel purely for the sake of rebelling, and are willing and able to find some common ground, and discuss these matters openly; and possibly find some solutions :)

Again, my thoughts are with you and your son, FB, and i'm sorry if this seemed undermined by the point i felt i had to make- i didn't intend it that way! :) best of luck, and a speedy recovery!