Child Soldiers

strawberry22 · 29-05-12, 16:31

I was in Modern Studies today and my teacher showed me the most shocking video I think I've ever seen in there (and trust me, they show us some disturbing stuff). They showed us this video about Child Soldiers in Africa

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBcNMzQvvhU

It was horrible. I found it so sickening that 6 million children had died because they had been forced into the army, some as young as 7 years old. 7 YEARS OLD?

I'n 2005, thousands of boys were recruited into the Lords Army, and that's not all, young girls were used as sex slaves to much older men. It was so sickening. Please share your opinion on it

Cochrane · 29-05-12, 20:42

Yes.

...and what do you expect us to do about it? It's easy to think that child soldiers are a bad thing. I hope everyone reading this thread does. But without some idea of how to change it, this thread is kind of pointless.

strawberry22 · 29-05-12, 21:25

Well that was....Nice. I changed the quote at the end. Isn't this place about discussion. I find posts that have "This thread is pointless" are pointless themselves.

Anyway...

Cochrane · 29-05-12, 21:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by strawberry22

Well that was....Nice. I changed the quote at the end. Isn't this place about discussion. I find posts that have "This thread is pointless" are pointless themselves.

Anyway...

Okay, sorry, I was a bit harsh there. My point is: I'm sure nobody here says "actually, I think child soldiers are a great idea!" (note to everyone who wants to post this as a joke: If you do, you are a horrible person). The interesting question is how to stop children being abused as soldiers.

Sadly, I can't think of any right now. The people who use child soldiers don't do so because they don't know it's bad. We could kill or imprison them, but others would take their place. What really needs to happen is to reform the area, create democratic governments strong enough to deal with the warlords and protect children from this fate. I don't think that this is impossible, but it is not easy either.

Draco · 29-05-12, 22:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cochrane

"actually, I think child soldiers are a great idea!" (note to everyone who wants to post this as a joke: If you do, you are a horrible person)

Actually, it is a great idea... from an objective social engineering perspective. Children are malleable and can be changed from anything into anything you want them to be... which is why proactive parenting is so crucial to development.

But I am sure I'm preaching to the choir here

strawberry22 · 30-05-12, 16:10

What I think is that people use the children because they are easier to manipulate and they don't turn down orders, especially with military leaders

Catapharact · 30-05-12, 16:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by strawberry22

What I think is that people use the children because they are easier to manipulate and they don't turn down orders, especially with military leaders

Wrong.

The main point of using child soldiers in combat is psychological purposes. A humane being will always think twice about shooting a kid (if you won't... You have basically lost your humanity.) But it only takes a few seconds of self doubt by a seasoned vet to be caught off-guard by a child soldier (who has been thrown into battle after being drugged up) who will just pull the trigger without a second thought.

And those soldiers who do manage to shoot and kill the kid... Well... Most of them are mentally scarred for the rest of their lives (considering quite a few of them are married and they have kids of their own.)

Its one of many reasons why I hate the God forsaken AK-47... Damned rifle... Worst thing made by human hands.

strawberry22 · 30-05-12, 19:09

And that's another thing... The AK-47 was about $12 per magazine for these kids, yet sometimes they report going back to their camps and finding that there is no food at all.

octopus · 31-05-12, 21:28

Charles Taylor (Ex-President of Liberia) was very recently sentenced to 50 years imprisonment for his alleged involvement in the Sierra Leone civil war. If his appeal fails, he will be serving his sentence in a UK prison, as part of a deal with both the Netherlands (Who hosted the trial) and Sierra Leone.

One of the sticking-points of his UN-backed trial was the use of child soldiers during the conflict.

Anyway, another important point that can be made about child soldiers is that they are less likely to be confronted violently by members of the opposition's armed forces.

Few people would gladly shoot at a 10 year old (for example) even if that child was carrying a rifle...

29-05-12, 16:31	#1
strawberry22 Professor Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Scotland Posts: 3,034	Child Soldiers I was in Modern Studies today and my teacher showed me the most shocking video I think I've ever seen in there (and trust me, they show us some disturbing stuff). They showed us this video about Child Soldiers in Africa http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBcNMzQvvhU It was horrible. I found it so sickening that 6 million children had died because they had been forced into the army, some as young as 7 years old. 7 YEARS OLD? I'n 2005, thousands of boys were recruited into the Lords Army, and that's not all, young girls were used as sex slaves to much older men. It was so sickening. Please share your opinion on it __________________ Disrespect is the route to carelessness. Last edited by strawberry22; 29-05-12 at 21:24.

29-05-12, 20:42	#2
Cochrane Tomb Raider Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: In Germany Gender: I'm male Classification: Evil Posts: 11,931	Yes. ...and what do you expect us to do about it? It's easy to think that child soldiers are a bad thing. I hope everyone reading this thread does. But without some idea of how to change it, this thread is kind of pointless. __________________ Güter auf die Bahn!

29-05-12, 21:25	#3
strawberry22 Professor Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Scotland Posts: 3,034	Well that was....Nice. I changed the quote at the end. Isn't this place about discussion. I find posts that have "This thread is pointless" are pointless themselves. Anyway... __________________ Disrespect is the route to carelessness.

30-05-12, 16:10	#6
strawberry22 Professor Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Scotland Posts: 3,034	What I think is that people use the children because they are easier to manipulate and they don't turn down orders, especially with military leaders __________________ Disrespect is the route to carelessness.

30-05-12, 19:09	#8
strawberry22 Professor Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Scotland Posts: 3,034	And that's another thing... The AK-47 was about $12 per magazine for these kids, yet sometimes they report going back to their camps and finding that there is no food at all. __________________ Disrespect is the route to carelessness.

31-05-12, 21:28	#9
octopus Hobbyist Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 71	Charles Taylor (Ex-President of Liberia) was very recently sentenced to 50 years imprisonment for his alleged involvement in the Sierra Leone civil war. If his appeal fails, he will be serving his sentence in a UK prison, as part of a deal with both the Netherlands (Who hosted the trial) and Sierra Leone. One of the sticking-points of his UN-backed trial was the use of child soldiers during the conflict. Anyway, another important point that can be made about child soldiers is that they are less likely to be confronted violently by members of the opposition's armed forces. Few people would gladly shoot at a 10 year old (for example) even if that child was carrying a rifle...