Shown above are young child soldier's who were probably forced into their positions. The use of child soldiers in a poor country with many opposing rebel groups is almost inevitable. It is sad and wrong that rebel groups, and political opposers turn to the use of child soldiers. They completely ignore moral and ethical code as well as human rights. The desperate state of these third world countries (such as Congo) makes being a child soldier a job that creates some kind escape. The fact that children see this “job” as a way to food and shelter is devastating. Instead of putting money into fighting the rebel groups (such as FDLR) it should be put into aiding the children of the country with food and education.
My main problem with using children as soldiers is that they’re not physically built to carry the weapon of a man (or grown woman). The guns they carry are pretty powerful weapons and therefore, they might be taken aback by the power of the gun when using it. An adult enemy could easily take the gun from them and shoot them in the blink of any eye. The child isn’t tactful enough to know not to stand too close to a victim for fear of them knocking the gun out of their hand and they also might not be emotionally ready to kill a person. If the child does hesitate, that could be their own life in the situation.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing how desperate people can be. Putting a child in a situation like that, wielding a gun in a war, and making them believe that is the norm is horrific. These people are now willingly offering the future of their people, their children, to the genocide. I couldn't imagine being ten, eleven, or even fifteen for that matter, and going off to war. Images of the dead, and possibly even the memory of taking another person's mind will forever be imprinted on these children's consciences. That blows my mind.
ReplyDeleteThis image is completly distrubing. The idea of children used as a tool for a horrible thing like genocide is sad. The children, ages varying from seven to fifteen, going to kill people to sustain themselves and their families is unhummane. This takes away from their childhood and scars them with horrible experiences and images of what they did. I for one, could never get over the idea of ending another person's life. Not only is this a violation of rights, but its also unthoughtful and ruining generations and generations of the country. If the children of the country are raised like this, what will their world become? Willingly offering lives, the future, and eveything acountry worked for is unfathomable. This is depressing and i wish it could be stopped.
ReplyDeleteAlong with child labor, using children in military, as Nene said, is really disturbing. I am not able to imagine a child kill people using gun. Killing people will be a great disaster for a child to experience.
ReplyDeleteHowever, it is reasonable to understand the existence of the use of children in military. There is great poverty in Congo, so for people to search for living, they are willing to try all kinds of job.
The United Nations should be seriously opposed to child soldiers by taking actions. Children are the future of Congo. If the minds of a country’s future are polluted, terrible consequences will be inevitable.
I don't know how they can allow children to use such powerful weapons. I think that children should be in school and playing outside with their friends, not in the military killing adults and other children who are fighting over issues they can't possibly understand completely. I think children shouldn’t have to deal with the horrors of the world. The kids in the picture are still little and they shouldn’t have to witness that kind of violence. That kind of fighting shouldn’t even have to be witnessed by adults.
ReplyDeleteI like how you organized your information into different posts. It made it easier to read and follow. The pictures really show a good visual on what is happening. Good blog!
I am personally not worried about if the child could fight, I am more worried about why they are fighting and the dangers they face while doing this. I know that when a child is brought up in a more violent area, that they now how to use a weapon. I know they can have an attitude that can be far more extreme than an adult. But these things can make them think irrationally in battle, thus possibly costing their life. Overall, I think they should learn to fight but only use it on a need to bases.
ReplyDeleteChildren soldiers are a clear sign that an army is near pathetic. That their willing to put a child on the front line shows no dignity, and no honor.
ReplyDeleteNot to mention the mental trauma that will forever be a part of the child, it's just wrong to put children on Military lines. They have a life to live, and the military have no right to even chance their mortality.