Imagine a five old child being kidnapped from the local playground, their parents worried that they’ll never see their child again. In America, that would be devastating, but in other countries, it gets worse. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, five year old Michel Chikwanine was taken from the local soccer field by rebel militiamen. He was captured to become a child soldier. Not only was he taken away from his family, he was forced to kill his best friend. Children forced to be soldiers is a very real problem occurring in our world. There are many different perspectives on whether or not the children are responsible for the horrendous acts they’ve committed. Some people believe they are perpetrators because of their crimes, others believe they’re victims. The child soldiers do not have control over their actions and are forced to murder in order to save their own lives. There are over 200,000 innocent children who have been taken away from their homes and forced to fight. Due to the commanders brainwashing the children and their immaturity, child soldiers should not be held accountable for their actions. Most importantly, child soldiers are being held in a cage of captivity, not given a voice. First, they are taken from their families, then they are brainwashed into doing what their commanders demand. It’s like the commanders and leaders of these rebellions have no sympathy for the families that they are destroying. “More often than not children have no say in whether they enlist or not and once recruited the children become brainwashed through the use of drugs and alcohol.” This demonstrates how children should not be held accountable for their indescribable acts because they do not have the freedoms or rights to continue to live their lives. They have no freedom. Michelle Steel explains, “Children who refuse to take the drugs are beaten or killed, according to Amnesty International.” Reflecting on this, it’s seen that these children are forced against their will, and exposed to dangerous scenarios. Not only is it bad that they are being forced to take drugs, but their effects can have outrageous long-term consequences. The unacceptable exposure to violence, drugs, and alcohol have an even greater effect on the children because of their immaturity. In particular, the Human Rights Watch mentions, “Children are uniquely vulnerable to military recruitment because of their emotional and physical immaturity. They are easily manipulated and can be drawn into violence that they are too young to resist or understand.” This evidence points to how the child soldiers are being taken advantage of because of their inferior age, yet another reason why they are victims. The less noted reason why the child soldiers are victims is because they are too young to be responsible for the decisions they make. The Human Rights Watch says, “Many children join armed groups because of economic or social pressure, or because children believe that the group will offer food or security. Others are forcibly recruited, ‘press-ganged’ or abducted by armed groups.” These facts help to illustrate the conclusion that children are not old or mature enough to consider the consequences of their actions and there is the possibility that they could be forcibly enslaved into battles, taking away their childhood. There are cases where the children do know what they are getting themselves into, but that is very rare. In addition, because of how young these children are, they can develop trauma that will haunt them for the rest of their lives, bringing flashbacks of their unforgettable pasts. Former child soldier, Dominic Ongwen, is going on trial at the International Criminal Court. Author Gregory Warner explains, “the traumatized psychology of the child soldier will be part of Ongwen’s defense.” No person would choose a life of pain and regret, so for these reasons, the children should be seen as victims. Child soldiers are also thought to be perpetrators. In some ways, yes, but for most of the children, their life as a soldier begins with manipulation. Former child soldier, Omar Khadr, is on trial at Guantanamo. Andrea Prasow states, “Two former interrogators testified that Khadr had bragged about killing a U.S. soldier and that he claimed the day he planted land mines to kill U.S. and coalition forces was the happiest day of his life.” This quote makes Khadr seem like a perpetrator, but he can also be seen as a victim. The interrogators who reported that information haven’t talk to him since 2002 and he was still medicated from surgery after his life threatening injuries. That can be partly to blame for his impolite input. Prasow also reveals Khadr’s serious injuries, “Khadr was also seriously wounded in the firefight half-blinded in one eye and with two bullet wounds to his chest.” This evidence suggests that not only was he forced to harm U.S. soldiers, but he was wounded as well. Khadr’s trial is not fair because the testimony leaves out important evidence in favor of letting Khadr go. For example, "The jury will never hear testimony about how Khadr was strung up like a pig over the air vent to his cell in Bagram, or that interrogators told him a fictional story of a young man sent to an American prison was gang-raped and died of related injuries-implying that Khadr might face a similar fate if he failed to cooperate," (Prasow). Taken as a whole, many child soldiers aren’t given a fair chance to be seen as a victim. They are tortured from the moment they become a soldier, all the way through their trials. Khadr’s trial is not fair because it only shows him as a killer, but he only did what he was told, as all child soldiers must do. Although child soldiers have committed awful crimes, crimes would be committed against them if they did not follow orders. All the alcohol, drugs, brainwashing, deceiving, kidnapping, and abuse proves that child soldiers are victims. Being forced to kill people you love, like Chikwanine was forced to kill his friend, is torture in itself. They have no choice but to fight, unless they want to be further punished by their commander. The soldiers are too young and vulnerable to stand up to the adult commanders, therefore, they should not be held against their actions. Luckily, Michel Chikwanine was able to escape his captures and was reunited with his family. Now, at the age of 27, he has written a graphic novel to educate people about the truth of children being used in war.
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Over time, the Black Minority has been concealed, hidden, and mistreated since the start of slavery. The day that one of our most historical presidents, Abraham Lincoln, signed the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring the freedom of those that have been suffering the long, harsh days on the plantain, was a day that changed the fate of the United States. Cue, one hundred years later, the African Americans still have been stolen from their rightful status, especially those living in the Southern states. Among the crowd of African Americans, stood two important men, Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. Michael King, Jr. was born in Atlanta, Georgia. When Michael was a boy, his father changed both their names to Martin Luther. Martin Luther King Jr. graduated from college, completed his residency, and earned his degree for a doctorate. It was his education that shaped him into a gifted and talented activist. Before his career started a movement, Dr. King was a pastor in Montgomery, Alabama. Throughout his church involvement, Dr. King learned the need to work hard for the civil rights of the ‘colored’ people. He accepted a leadership role partaking in peace and non-violent demonstrations to support the advancement of colored people. He joined several organizations, and soon was looked upon by many African Americans struggling to find their place in a white-dominated society. All of his work for civil rights, led him to speak in front of the whole country. Malcolm X was born as Malcolm Little in Omaha, Nebraska. Growing up, Malcolm’s father, Earl Little, was threatened by white supremacist groups because of his civil rights movements. When Malcolm X was young, he abused drugs and spent time in prison. In jail, Malcolm reflected on the past and tried to further his education. Also, his brother, Reginald, visited him and discussed the Muslim religion. Due to his brother, Malcolm X became interested in the Nation of Islam (NOI) and its leader, Elijah Muhammad. After becoming a follower of NOI, he was appointed a minister and spokesman for the group. Malcolm spoke for the Black Minority and their civil rights. During the time period of the civil rights movements, it was Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X that gave light to the African Americans. Although these two men acted in a different way, it was their point of view that made them similar. They both spoke out not only for oppressed people in America, but all over the world. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X are known for two very famous speeches, “I Have A Dream” and Malcolm’s “Address to a Meeting in New York, 1964.” The common cause of gaining rights is represented in Dr. King’s speech where he states, “But one hundred years later, the Negro is still not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination,” (Free At Last 84). His idea of finally embracing the fact that this problem needs to be changed is also shown in Malcolm X’s speech. “...to me this means that the political philosophy for black nationalism is that which is designed to encourage our people, the black people, and gain control over the politics and the politicians of our own people,” (Free At Last 116). No two men in history are exactly alike, but through the eyes of African American’s, these two men both worked prominently to gain civil rights in a way no one else had before. Although the ideas of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X were similar, their approaches towards a solution were quite different. It was Dr. King’s, “weapons of love,” that gave him his amicable personality. This is represented in his speech where he states, “Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline,” (Free At Last 86.) To come together in unity, rather than live in segregation was the dream of Martin Luther King Jr. On the contrary, Malcolm disagreed with some of King’s, “I Have A Dream,” speech. This was no dream to Malcolm, but rather a need to take violent, but ‘necessary,’ actions in order to gain equality. Malcolm explained in his speech, “There are 22,000,000 African Americans who are ready to fight for independence right here. When I say fight for independence right here, I don’t mean any non-violent fight, or turn-the-other-cheek fight. Those days are gone. Those days are over,” (Free At Last 117). Malcolm was willing to go as far as needed to ensure the blacks’ civil rights. The idea of a white man helping a black woman cross the street did not settle well in Malcolm’s mind. However, integration was King’s dream. The Emancipation Proclamation finally brought about the abolition of slavery, but African Americans were still being seized from their proper place in society. That was until two men embraced their intelligence and willingness to fight for their beliefs to make change that will forever affect the lives of the Black people. Though the men had differing approaches, they had one common goal, to gain equality for the lost voices. To gain equality for those that were stripped from their homes and forced to work endless hours on a rough field. For those that were given less education, told to live in a home where fear is keeping them up all throughout the night, and those that have been kicked, yelled and screamed at that they will always be a step down from the average white man. It was those two men that opened a door for others to walk through. 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“Cheers for Papa Jerry officially being a Hoosier!” Michelle says as her family raises their glasses. “It has been a stressful move but it was well worth it. I love you Dad.” Now her family gets her dad at all of their family dinners rather that just for about 5 weeks of the year. Jerry can tell that his family is happy that he is back in Indiana but he isn't sure if he'll be happy.
* * * It was 1976 when Jerome Yale left Indiana for New Jersey to pursue a new job opportunity. He was recently divorced and was now going to be on his own for the first time in 26 years. Despite having many girlfriends, he never remarried. After many successful years with the Brown Shoe Company, he retired. In 1994, Jerry rented a one room studio in the basement of a house in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Over the years, the landlord, Ann, and Jerry became very close. As time went on, Ann began to be short tempered with him. Occasionally, she would find reasons to extort more money from him or threaten to kick him out. Just about 5 months ago, in March, Jerry was mentioning to Ann, “I'm thinking about moving to the Salzman House.” The Salzman House is a popular retirement home near by. Let’s just say Ann wasn’t thrilled to hear that, “Fine. You better move fast because if you aren't out of here in two months then I'm kicking you out!” Instantly, Jerry frantically called his daughters, “Ann is mad at me and I don’t know what I should do,” he explained. His daughter, Michelle, looked into the Salzman House for him, “You probably won’t be able to move in for about two years because there is a long waiting list,” she reported to Jerry. He is nearly 92 years old and has lived in New Jersey for 40 years. His doctor notices mental changes and has him take a written and skills driving test. As a result of not doing so well on the written portion, he decides that he is going to give up his license. With an interest in moving already in mind, this just made the decision easier. Due to the fact that his two daughters live in Indiana and he frequently visits them, it made sense that he moves closer to them. He flies to Indianapolis so Michelle and Nancy can help him find him a new place to live. After looking into many places, they decided that he should move to the independent living retirement home, Morningside. Jerry was a little unsure about the idea of living in a retirement home but Michelle said, “This is perfect for you, Dad, they serve three meals a day, have many activities daily, and it’s close to us! “You are going to love it Dad! You will meet so many new friends,” Nancy agreed. He stays at Michelle’s house for around 3 weeks while they figure out details and paperwork. Jerry is very concerned about all the changes that are happening. He had a very set routine in New Jersey and he is sad that it’s coming to an end. * * * Jerry sits at a table with his family. He looks around the room and notices big smiles on his family's faces. He hopes he made the right choice. Things feel different for Jerry. He has lost some of his freedom. He can’t go wherever he wants, whenever he wants. Not anymore. Jerome Yale is officially a resident in Morningside. He’s slowly adjusting to this new lifestyle. He quickly realizes that he really enjoys the food and activities. Jerry has even made a few new friends and is looking forward to meeting more. Even though he misses his home back in New Jersey, things are okay. The best part is that he gets to see his family almost every single day. That is what makes the move worth it. |
AuthorMy name is Jenna Himelstein. I'm 14 years old. I enjoy shopping and watching Netflix. Archives
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