Imagine yourself at the age of 12 or 13 being forcibly drafted into a conflict in your country to fight in a civil war or against another country. The men that have kidnapped you take you far away from home, give you guns, and test your courage by asking to kill unarmed prisoners. You can't run away b/c you don't know where to go. You might have your brothers with you, so they'll have to come too. The people who hold you captive are armed and very dangerous and do not want to let you go, and may have even threatened to kill some of the boys from your village if any one of you runs away. Here's a quote from an article about child soldiers in Sierra Leone:
"In fact, Sierra Leone has one of the worst records for using child soldiers in its civil war. Since the war began in 1991, it has been estimated that at least 4,500 children were used as soldiers to fight for either side, the government or the rebel group- the Revolutionary United Front (RUF). The war caused many orphans as well as separations, which therefore made children more vulnerable for recruitment. Children who joined out of their own free will were usually enticed with material possession, such as shoes and clothes, as well as the basic essentials as food and shelter. The rebel group, the RUF, also provided a form of education whereas the government had not been able to provide any kind of education to children. Whilst other children were abducted and forced to torture and murder their own family members as part of their recruitment process. Once recruited these children were trained and militarised in captured villages, youth military camps were set up, where training usually took place in schools. Since the war began, it was estimated that half of the RUF soldiers were under the age of 14.[21] The majority of the children that freely joined the government military forces did so because they wished to avenge the death of their loved ones, whereas others who were orphaned and living on the streets saw it as a guarantee in food, shelter, clothes and acceptance in a kind of ‘family’ environment with their comrades.[22]"
This situation is very similar to the one described in the book, A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah. The RUF tore through his home town while he and his brother were away and then they were captured soon afterwards. Ishmael was only 12 when he was forced to be a soldier.
The questions for you vary: PICK ONE
1. If one of these young men were rescued or escaped and brought to America, what kinds of issues might he have with adjusting to American life? Why?
2. Imagine yourself an African child (boy or girl) and kidnapped into a rebel army at your current age; try to describe the emotions, thoughts, and images going through your mind as you underwent this traumatic experience.
3. What can you do as an American teenager to highlight or raise the awareness of child soldiers?
Your blog is due by Tuesday, December 16th. 150 words minimum.
Article by Sandra Rocha quoted - http://socsci.flinders.edu.au/global/africa/sandrarocha/childsoldiers/ChildSoldiers.htm
International Rescue Committee - http://www.theirc.org/index2.html
Update on Zimbabwe - http://theelders-news.blogspot.com/2008/11/elders-zimbabwe-is-failing-its-people.html This press release goes into more detail about how Mugabe's policies have just made the country's problems get even worse.
28 comments:
If I were an African child being kidnapped into a rebel army, I would be in complete shock. I wouldn’t know what to do. So many things would be running through my mind at once; what’s going on? , where are they taking me? , is my family ok? , am I going die? I would be extremely horrified, just at the thought of being kidnapped, let alone being recruited against my will. I would be weeping, just imagining what they would have me do- kill innocent people, torture my friends and family, possibly. I’m sure, eventually, I would go into a state of depression, having been put in that traumatizing position. I’d be angry and outraged that I’m letting them do this to me. I’d want to run away but-with their weapons and the size difference between us-I would be too scared to take a chance. If I ran away, it’d most likely mean my life or even someone close to me. I wouldn’t risk hurting anyone. It’s terrible, the things these kids must go through. The horrific experiences being embedded in their memories, is something I just can’t seem to comprehend. It's a terrible ordeal that should be dealt with so these children won't have to suffer with the burdens of killing and torturing.
~Allison Levine 2nd hour.
If I was an African child being kidnapped by a rebel army, thousands of thoughts would be flying throw my mind at once; what is happing? , who are these people? , where are they taking me? , where is my family? , are they ok? , what should I do? , are they going to kill me? I would be extremely scared and angry if I was kidnapped by an African rebel army. I would be crying because I would have to kill innocent people, torture my friends and family. I would eventually be in a state of panic. I would try to escape but what would probable happen is they would kill me or a close person to me. So, I believe that this is situation that should be dealt with eminently so no child should have to kill or torture any one especially a family member that they love.
-Damien Dorre/ 2nd hour World History/12-15-08
If a kid was rescued from being a child solder he would have many problems. They would face a language barrier so they would not understand what we are saying. They would not be able to get a job. They would be too young to work. The kid would be traumatized from war. They would have seen thing that most people don’t see in their entire life. They would not have a family to go home to since they came alone. Also they would not have a proper education. They have been in Africa where they don’t get as good of an education and they have dropped out of school so that they could go into the army. Most likely they would not be able to go back to school since they would not have the same curriculum. Saving them may cause many problems but it does not always cause a problem because it would save the Childs life if you did save him.
Cheyenne S.- first hour
As an American Teenager, there are many things I could do to raise Awareness of child soldiers. One thing I could do is find pictures and quotes from child soldiers, and make a video about it. The video could be posted on a website such as youtube, where friends could watch it, and get involved themselves. Another thing to do is write an article or letter to the editor to the school newspaper. When people read it, they may realize how horrible the situation is, and once again want to get involved and take action themselves. Another thing to raise awareness or highlight the horrible situation would be to organize an assembly at school or another public event place, and show teenagers the same age as the soldiers, what a day would be like if they were a child soldier. I would do research and find details about how the children were unfortunately kidnapped, and trained, and the people at the assembly would play out the day to see what it would really be like. This again may urge people to take action on the situation.
African children being kidnapped and being used as soldiers is wrong. Why would they do such a thing? If Sierra Leone has adults in their country, then only the people at an adult age should be fighting. If I were one of the children taking part in the civil war, I honestly wouldn't know what to do. I would be confused, and homesick. I would be wondering where my family is, and why I was pulled into the war. I would be in panic mode, and I would seriously consider running away from the horrifying situation. ? But, if I ran away, this would mean that possibly my life or many other lives were in danger. People that can solve this situation are the Sierra Leone government. Why aren’t they doing anything about this? Do they encourage this? I'm glad that I am not in a circumstance that I would have to consider a life or death situation.
Annie La.
1st hour
Maria Schweiss
If I were a child soldier in the midst of war Africa I would have many emotions running wild in my head. I would feel scared for I wouldn’t know where I was or what I was doing. But I would also feel a sort of guilt from killing innocent prisoners; they could have family like me or children fighting in the war as well. I would also feel sad and afraid from wondering if my own family had been killed or taken captive. I don’t think I could deal with all these emotions at one time. That is why I think that we should raise awareness for the children soldiers, there are many things going on in Africa that are being overlooked by bigger problems and this is one of them. By informing others of this situation many eyes would be opened and more people would be willing to help. This cause needs much more attention than it is getting.
Question number 3:
The issue of child soldiers needs to end. First the world must be told and forced to acknowledge this issue. Second we need to form allies who will help us stop it. And finally action must be taken. To stop the issue of child soldiers the world must be alerted, we must create allies to help us, and then take action as a team.
The world must be alerted of the issue of child soldiers. To do so America needs to start publicizing the issue. Then it will spread through the internet. The president must meet with world leaders and talk about it. We as citizens need to write letters to our governors and inform our fellow neighbors. To stop this issue we need to make a team effort in telling the world.
We must gain allies to help us stop this. We need to create well thought out plans and present them to the world leaders and ask them to help us stop this issue. If we have more countries on our side then it will create more pressure on the governments to stop this.
Then we must take action. We will use our well developed plan and threaten to over through the government if they do not stop. Position soldiers all over the country and place sanctions on them by not letting them trade with neighboring countries.
To stop the issue of child soldiers all these aspects must be taken into affect and we must prepare for the worst. But this is something that needs to happen. Plus this make a statement to anyone else who wants to or is using child soldiers.
Dear Journal,
Today is my fifteenth birthday. Wait, no. It is my fourteenth birthday. Actually, I am not sure how old I am. I have spent what seems and eternity of years in this army since I was seven years old. All I know is that I am one of the oldest kids here. Many of the children that were my age have died of diseases or thirst. I watched my best friend die before my own very two feet. It makes me sad that there is no way out of this corrupt type of living. Despite being one of the oldest kids here, I don’t feel awkward because there is too much else to worry about such as surviving and avoiding pain whenever possible. As I spend more days, months and years with this army I have become friends with more of the children. Like me, most of the children want to escape this wretched captivity. I keep telling them everyday that these conditions can’t get much worse and that there is still hope that a new day will come where kids are free to be who ever they want.
Mark Gastinea, 2nd hour
As an American teenager there is very little I can do to help those children soldiers, because we are half a world away. Although we can help bring awareness to people who live near us about what is going on in Africa. It is our role to indirectly help with the problem in Sierra Leone, because we are unable to physically, or directly help them. We can put up signs or flyers in our communities the give a short summary, explaining about the children who are being used as soldiers. We can bring up debates, or other school activities devoted to the problem. I would feel devastated if I was taken from my family and forced to fight in a war, and I’m sure the children in Sierra Leone feel the same way. I believe that it should be our responsibility to help others that are in need, and are threatened by war, and that is why I believe that we should spread awareness here in America.
Alyssa Loskill
December 15, 2008
Blog Question #2
If I was a girl in Africa and I was recruited against my own will to be in a rebel army, the first thing that would go through my head is, would if I would ever see my family again. It said in the quote that maybe your brothers would be with you, if this were the case I would stay with my brothers for as long as possible because we wouldn’t know what the ultimate ending would be. Along with sadness I would feel frightened and nervous. I would be frightful about what would end up happening to me, and what would become of my family once I am gone. I would also be very nervous because I don’t know what I will have to do while I am being held hostage. If I knew about what happened in this rebel group at least I would be able to prepare myself for what was next. After reading the quote, the thing I would be most afraid of would be killing my own family. Even if I was forced to do this by the army, I would do as much as I could to not go through with it. I would not be able to live with the guilt and heart ache of killing one of my closest relatives. Though even if I did escape under extreme circumstances the traumatic experiences I endured throughout the time I was kept hostage, would haunt me for the rest of my life.
-Question #2-
My name is Ayo. I live in what is left of my village in the Congo with my little brother—the village was burned to the ground. The rebels killed both my parents. I have learned to survive on the berries and plants that are found in the jungle. We have little water-so when it rains I collect it in an old container.
In order to stay alive, and be able to keep both my hands, I go out and collect rubber from the vines every day. The rebel officers come by and get whatever rubber I have. Each day they threaten to kill my brother and cut off one of my hands—they tell me that I did not gather enough rubber—now I have to get more. I am very tired and hungry-sometimes my stomach aches from no food.
My brother and I were out in the jungle-the rebels came by—they started screaming and shooting at us. We ran as fast as we could. They caught us and threw us in the back of the truck—my brother started to cry—the rebels turned and shot him –he died in my arms. What am I going to do?? I am by myself with these horrible men. We reached their camp-they chained me to a tree and left me outside. It started to rain. I was really cold. They kept going by me and laughing at me—they said I was stupid.
In the morning they took the chain off and sent me out in the jungle. I was out there trying to get the rubber vines—the rebels were chasing me firing bullets at my head. I was so scared—my legs were hurting because I was running. I knew if they caught me this time, they would kill me. They said I was not a good soldier-that I was afraid to kill. They are right. I cannot kill.
All of a sudden a rebel came out of the bush-he raised his gun and fired. I was hit in the chest. It was burning as blood was coming out. I could not breathe. The rebel kept kicking me. I am dying-I am glad. I feel at peace now – no more killings, or beatings, or being starved to death. Everything went black…
Alex Victor
2nd Hour
December 15, 2008
Matthew Brodley
2nd hour
If I were an African Child being kidnapped into the rebel army, I would be very, very scared. I wouldn’t know what to even do, I would be completely lost in every way sort of form. Many thoughts would be running through my head like; Where am I? How do I use a gun? Why am I here? And where is my family? I would be extremely horrified, just along the thought of going to war, and from being kidnapped. I would be in a very nervous state of mind, and probably torture my self from being so nervous. I’m very sure that sooner or later, I would just become a much different person that I am now from being in front of all of the military/army stuff. I can even imagine what it would be like for me going around, and killing all of these innocent people. It would just be a very horrible thing, and pretty much the one main emotion that would be running through me is probably fear.
If I were an African child that was being abducted by the men who may have killed my family, friends or relatives I would be in a deep moral conflict because I wouldn’t know how to handle a situation like that because if I try to rebel then I probably will be killed or maimed for life. If I do decide to fight I am fighting for a cause that helped to destroy my way of life. If I was an African boy of the street I would gladly join because I would have food, shelter and a group of people who would be a sort o family to me. I would have accesses to material good that were promised things that most Africans couldn’t get. Things like television, guns things that are impossible to obtain as a 13 year old boy. My feelings for being kidnapped for uses in an army would be fear, outrage and sadness. I would in the middle of nowhere to being trained to become a solider I cannot run for there is nowhere to run to besides I would be risking more than my own life.
1)
I think it would be very overwhelming to be a young man coming to America after fighting in a war in Africa. America is nothing like what he has known. Instead of the forests, small cities, and small populations, there are many, many people, and large cities with homes abundant. From being in wars, this man might think it customary to have a gun with him at all times for protection. Here in America, it is not only illegal to carry a gun without permission, but very out of the ordinary. Here we have a police system that is based on justice, and that would probably be very comforting to a young man. We also take for granted all that we have. We don’t think about getting into a warm bed at night, or just grabbing some food out of the refrigerator. He would also have to get used to having to buy everything with the American dollar at stores, instead of bartering with a seller at a small village market in Africa. Among these many things, I think that overall, America would have a lot to offer to a young man coming from America to Africa after fighting a war.
Emma Salter, 2nd hour
Blog 2
If I were a young child, being kidnapped and forced to participate in the army as soldier, the thoughts, emotions, and images in my head would be absolutely traumatizing. I can hardly imagine what it would be like to undergo the events that are being told to us. First of all, being kidnapped would create fear and confusion. First, the confusion would come from being suddenly swept up and taken off to an unknown area, and not knowing what was about to happen to me. After realizing the situation at hand, fear would strike me when I realized that I might not see my family again, and am unsure of their status and safety. Finally, I would have a feeling of sadness, once I realize that my life would be changing for the worse, and that all these terrible things are happening.
The events that were told to us are more than horrible. Having to kill defenseless soldiers. Having to kill FAMILY members. I would find it difficult to live my life after this happens. These images and thoughts would go through my head over and over again, day by day, and would make it hard to make it through my life any longer.
This issue is a major problem that should be dealt with quickly and effectively to avoid having to put these young children through any horrific experiences such as these.
Brad Benghiat- 2nd Hour
If I were kidnapped to be a soldier as a mere child, I would be overwhelmed and bombarded by several emotions. But first I would hope that I wouldn’t have to hurt anyone I know or anyone innocent against my will, and if so I would try forcibly not to. I would also feel shock, stress, and even prisoner. This is because I would have to be trained brutally, and fight people whom I know little about. I would also feel trapped because even if I desperately wanted to escape, I couldn’t because I would risk the high chance of getting killed or tortured. Confusion would also take over me because I would know little about what is going on around me until I’d actually do something horrifying. Also if this happened to me I would hate to think what would be happening to my siblings and family, and what they are going through, whether it is worrying about me, going through cruel punishment and torture, or even going through the same thing as me. I would feel brutal pain physically (from the training) and mentally. Just thinking about being in such a situation makes me feel sympathy for these poor children.
Harshita Pinnamaneni
If I was an African child being kidnapped by a rebel army, I wouldn’t know what to do with myself. The thought of just being taken away from my home, my family is devastating. What would I do? As a loner without brothers or sisters alone somewhere far away from home, no clue where I am, the thought of me possibly never seeing my family again would race through my mind every second of the day. Being told to take guns, and shoot prisoners to test my courage, would be right out impossible for me. Or the thought of seeing my family again, but instead of being told to stay with them and live on through my life, I am told to shoot them. The last thing I would ever want to do is to look my own fleshing blood in the eyes, and think “once I pull this trigger they’ll be gone”. I wouldn’t know how to live as a child being kidnapped into a rebel army. Crying is how I would probably spend most of the day, thinking will I ever be able to see my family? Will I ever make it out of here alive? What’s going to happen to me? Will I die? What’s going to happen to my family?
Heather Robinson
2nd hr
12-15-08
As an American teenager I can raise awareness in so many different ways about the child soldiers in Africa. The first thing I would do would be sending out a letter or flyer giving specific and accurate information as to what is going on Sierra Leone and other African nations. Then I would talk about the kids who went in freely and willingly to the rebel group just because of the education, food, and shelter is being provided. Next I would talk about the recruitment process in which some children are kidnapped and forced to torture and murder their own family members as part of the process. After being recruited these children were trained and supplied with the military material needed to capture villages, then camps would be set up, where training usually took place in the schools. As an American teenager I have so many opportunities that many other teenagers wished they had and I should use these opportunity’s to raise awareness of causes I believe in like the cause of the child soldiers.
Annie Li.
1st hour
If I were taken away from my family at my current age, 15, and forced to fight in a rebel army, I would be very scared. I tried to imagine what it must feel like to be one of those African children, being ripped away from your family without warning. I would be completely devastated. I guess I would follow my capturer’s orders, just out of fear for my life. I also wouldn’t want my family to be attacked or punished if I didn’t obey. The moment the men captured me and started taking me away to the camp, I would be planning my escape. I would do everything in my power to get my family, my friends, and I out of the rebel army. Some of the kids might try to stop me because some of them joined voluntarily, but I would do my best to avoid them and maybe even resort to force to escape. The poor children in Africa must be ten times more scared than I can put into words, but if there were some way I could help them, I would do it in a heartbeat.
Angela Mercier, 2nd hour
I think that if a child soldier from africa came to america he would find it very hard to adjust to life in america. Firstly I believe that because they were forced to join the army at such a young age they might find it difficult to interact with american kids the same age as them because of the expiriences they had joining the army at such a young age. Also there ability to function normally in sociaty with other children there age may be effected because they were put into the army at a much to young age. I think they would also be very violent and aggressive toward kids there own age because that is what they were taught . They also might have a hard time trusting adult or they might even be violent towards them. In all i feel that putting these kids in the army at such a young age may have drastic impacts on a kids life such as destroying there ability to function normally in sociaty or making it impossible for them to interact with kids there own age
Andrew Gordner
1st Hour
If a child was to be rescued or had happened to escaped and came or was brought to the united states, than some of the children would have a difficult time adjusting to American life but others would have it easier. Those who would have an issue with adapting to American ways would because they most likely would have been in the military for a while and killing and just not caring about other peoples emotions is what they were trained to do. Another child might adapt rather easily because of the trauma that he went through, and because he remembers it so well he would be more sensitive to others and how they feel because he remembers the people that he was being forced to kill and does not want to recreate the events in his past life, thus, he is actually more sensitive to others than a normal American boy would be.
Eric Bruning-Hour 1
Meredith Starkman
1st hour
As an American Teenager there are many things I can do to help raise awareness of child soldiers. Currently, one of the most popular online sites for kids my age is Facebook. On the site I could make a group that provides correct information about the problem and invite all of my friends to join the group. This could help to get the word out about the issue to my age group. Another way to inform people about the issue at hand could be to write to the local newspapers in our area and provide accurate information about the soldiers. Getting any kind of editorial or article published could raise awareness greatly. Obviously, as a teenager living so far away from the actual problem, there is not much I can directly do to stop the hardship. However, by getting people informed and opening eyes to the mistreatment happening to the innocent children of Africa, the problem will have a better chance of eventually getting resolved.
Leah Duncan
2nd hour
1) If one of the young men were brought to America they would most likely have many issues adjusting to American life. One of the issues they would experience would be the difference in language. They would have to learn English and doing would not be easy. Also they may have trouble adjusting to the time difference. In America the young man would have to face the cultural difference and try to fit in with it. Another issue they would face would be education. In Africa they probably didn’t receive a good education so they wouldn’t on the same level as everyone else. Also they may have to start at a lower grade than the normal for their age. One major issue they would have is adjusting to all of the technology and city life when all they have ever known is small rural towns. Another major issue would be fitting into society. Many American children find it funny when someone is different. So the young man would probably have trouble with being teased and made fun of. Overall I feel that a young African boy would have many troubles adjusting to American society and life.
If i was an African kid kidnapped and forced into an army I would be very scared but mad at the same time. I wouldnt want to die but i also dont want to kill anyone. To me i wouldnt want to be apart of anything but either way if i want to try to run away i would be killed and theres a chance i could be alive shooting people. I dont know if it would be better for me to be killed or go through the torture and seing people die everyday till I die. To me to force children to do things and see what they shouldnt be seeing till they are old enough to even know what is happending. All i am trying to say is that kids shouldnt see torturing of other people and they shouldnt be tortued either.
Adam P.
Question #2
If I was a teenage kid in Africa and got kidnapped to be a child solider I would feel scared. I wouldn’t know where I was and if I was going to live. The biggest thing on my mind would be where is my family and are they safe. If I was forced to kill someone I don’t think that I would be able to do it. I would feel scared, alone, depressed, and confused. I wouldn’t know what to do. Questions would be running through my head a 1000 miles per hour. Questions like should I run away?, why have I been picked?. If I was forced to torture anyone or kill anyone I wouldn’t do it and I would take the consequence for it. I would hope to find someone I knew.
Jordan Elliott
1st Hour
Billy Weinger
World History 1st hour
Answering #2:
If I was to be captured and forced to join a rebel army at this current moment I would most likely be in a state of fear and shock. The fact that I was simply probably never going home would be a thought in my mind to. I would hope, even if it would be horrible, that someone I knew would be kidnapped with me. This way I could confidently confine in them and comfort them also. It would be a scary thing and I hope that my side would win so that once we won I would not be persecuted and I could possibly be rewarded. I do not believe that I can fully answer this question because I have not gone through this; although I think that if someone did go through this I wouldn’t want to know the raw emotions that they experienced. I think that this is something that a person would never get over. It would be like a holocaust survivor, always there with some sort of memory scratching at you.
If I was an African child being kidnapped by a rebel army, I would be really scared and pissed off. Being taken away from my home, my family is a really bad thought to be in my head. Without sisters or brothers without a home, confused about where I am, and knowing I would never be with my family again is terrible. Being told to take guns, and shoot prisoners to test my courage, would be the hardest part. The most important thing going thru my mind would be how to get myself out of here. Also I would think about what would be happening to my brothers, sisters, parents. I would hope they aren’t going through cruel punishment and torture, or even going through the same thing as me. Overall being kidnapped to be used in a war is just one of the worst things that can happen to me or someone else.
Muhannad Al.
1st hour
If i was a african boy and was kidnapped into the rebel army i would like i was stabbed in the heart. I would also fell like i would have no one to turn to and that I wouldnt want to die and kill someone. Images that are going trough my head are kids shooting other kids and just having blood on their mind all the time. Thoughts i would have areviolence since they brainwashed ne and if i want to run away i can't because they might catch or i'm to scare to run away.
Quinton Furman
2nd Hour
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