this is so amazingly painful

[hogey11]

I think those that are making any sort of assumption of sacrifice wouldn't argue for a conscious decision, except on a 'higher self' level. I don't think the kids were lined up and eager or anything; just that their deaths were not a random event in which their higher self did not plan for. I think there is a 'plan' in place, even if it was just to impress onto us how to better evolve as a society or as a species.