have you heard of the child soldiers in africa ?
By joram328
@joram328 (503)
Philippines
May 13, 2010 9:52pm CST
Recently, I was able to do a writing assignment on the book "A Long Way Gone" by Ishmael Beah and so I got to read the book. It was very touching in a way because it tackled the life of a 12 year old boy who was forced to become a child soldier in Sierra Leone in Africa. The book goes into gory details of how much a child's life changes because of the civil war which took place there in the 1990s up to the early 2000s. There are still child soldiers in Africa today, and they are still being utilized by both the military and the rebels to further their respective causes.
I really pity these kids because they are brainwashed, made to watch violent films and given drugs to heighten their aggressive behaviors so they can be used for selfish ends by those in power. Their innocent minds are easily manipulated by those pretending to help them, but when these kids die, they are easily dispensed with and just forgotten. The UN is also helpless about the situation because powerful persons who control diamond cartels are said to be behind these practices.
What do you think of these kids? If you were in Africa, would you allow your child to be part of this practice?
2 people like this
6 responses
@EmilSpasov (152)
• Bulgaria
14 May 10
as far as i know there are child soldiers in many unstable parts of the world - not only in Africa, there were in middle east, in south America
there were definitely such kids in Vietnam war
and don't forget the Hitler's army of 14-years old boys and girls
Africa was always a place of vicious conflicts - when Europeans started to conquer the continent they found multiple tribes fighting till complete annihilation and no single organized country
i don't know what you mean "let my kids" - most of them are orphans or run-aways from home, they actually are eager to join army for a single reason - to feel the safety their homes couldn't provide - that's what they admit in interviews
and this sounds more like truth to me than the stories about "forced" kids - when you were born and grew up in a war at the age of 12 you don't consider yourself a child and it's not a nice match in the schoolyard you dream about
@joram328 (503)
• Philippines
14 May 10
Thanks for the enlightening response. However, despite their eagerness, the reply of these kids are not sufficient justification for them to be actually taken in as soldiers. Let me just explain that I was speaking from the point of view of a mother in an imaginary scenario of being in Africa.
Furthermore, the book itself is about a boy who was really forced to be a soldier because he had no other choice.
Regards and happy mylotting...
@Sarimsoq (1)
• Uzbekistan
14 May 10
as I know those kids in Africa help pirates along the shores of african continent. They say, children help pirates to get prepared for capturing of ship.
@ybong007 (6643)
• Philippines
14 May 10
You need not look farther. It's happening right in our very own backyard. There are child soldiers in the MILF and ASG down south and there are child soldiers used in the private armies in the northern part of this country. There had been several child soldiers featured on TV documentaries.
@OYGAK2005 (371)
• Saudi Arabia
14 May 10
hi...joram...honestly i don't know much of the child soldires in africa...but some times i randomly whatching in the tv and some movies related to the africans life about that children and i certainly not much pays attention for that sinam...may be it is becasue i have no more knowing in this field... also i hated that people ....
@maxyl12 (236)
• Philippines
14 May 10
I really feel bad for them but I cant blame them. They have been manipulated by the old guys. The children fought for their war and not for the rights of the children. I think its not only in Africa that happens, its very much alike here in the Philippines particulary here in Mindanao. They the children and us are the victims of war. There are no winners in their war but only us looser. Hope that one day when people finally understand one another and forgot about the land of which is which. Just try to help and share one another and hopefully we can find truelly peace.
@7thheaven (95)
• Indonesia
14 May 10
I'm very sorry and pity of them. At the age of 12 years old, they should have learn at school and play with their friend. This children should be protected and given special attention. The state government must not allow children to follow the war. What will happen with their future?? Remember, children is the successor of a nation. If future generation are not well developed or developed under impact of war, violence will happen everywhere. In addition, the state will not develop, because in their mind only war and war again.
