People commonly argue whether child soldiers are victims or perpetrators. Some say that child soldiers are just like child criminals. Others say that child soldiers were forced to become soldiers. Many groups around the world use child soldiers to fight, anyone from terrorists to national governments. They serve as soldiers in ongoing, hazardous wars. Not only do they get tortured, but they are also blamed for all the crimes they were forced to do. However, child soldiers are victims not perpetrators. They are kidnapped, drugged, and abused. They are forced to fight and kill people. When they don't obey, they get punished by getting beaten or even killed. As a result from this, most kids end up losing a leg or arm or even get disabled. These kids are orphaned later on or given very poor shelter and food. People argue that these kids are violent and cold-hearted murderers. This is what they are molded and unwillingly forced to be. This is no reason to be used against them. Children are supposed to be treated like children. Some kids have no chance of surviving this tragic life if they don’t act strong and brutal. Would you want your kid to be treated this way and then be taken to jail afterwards? Would you blame your child for the decisions he or she made at such a young age? I know I wouldn’t. Most of these kids are younger than ten years old. They don’t know the difference between good and bad at this age. Their minds are still developing and they can easily be manipulated (Debatewise). This is wrong. Not many people around the world know about child soldiers. This occurs in small countries, but that doesn’t mean we should ignore it. Although people have said that child soldiers have caused great pain and thousands of deaths, most of them had to go against their will and do this in order to simply stay alive. Children join thinking it will lead them to a safer life since they can defend themselves. Children just don't have the same understanding as an adult (Child Soldiers). Their minds can easily be manipulated at a young age. These kids are lied to at interrogations and become brainwashed through the use of drugs and alcohol. And punishing them would be like punishing them for trying to stay alive. No matter what they do, they are manipulated and punished whether they try to do the right thing or the wrong thing. When they follow their commanders, courts punish them and the kids go to jail, if they do the right thing by not killing people, their commanders punish them usually by beating them. The goal should be to work on rehabilitation for the child and not punish them (Debatewise). It would help the child better in the future instead of sitting in a cell with iron bars. In addition, child soldiers also get severely injured or lose an arm or leg most times. Despite this, in the last ten years over two million children have been killed, over one million orphaned, over six million have been left seriously injured or permanently disabled and over 10 million have been diagnosed with psychological trauma (Child Soldiers). Not only are child soldiers used to kill, but they are also used as cooks, guards, messengers, or spies, especially girls. They are also used as suicide bombs and human shields. For example in the Middle East, Palestinian children in the West Bank and Gaza have been sent into Israel as suicide bombers (Gettleman) .This is out rageful. Children are ripped away from their families. They are brought up in a violent, vicious, and vile environment. Taken as a whole, child soldiers are basically used as personal slaves. In conclusion, child soldiers are victims and their contaminated commanders are perpetrators. They are kidnapped, drugged, and abused. In addition to this, they get taken away from their families and most of them get severely injured. They are falsely promised a good life with food, shelter and money. Once you step foot into war as a child soldier, all those promises are broken in a split second.
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By Amber Pietz and Sreya Immadisetty Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X had different points of view when it came to equal rights. They both agreed that everyone should be treated equal and everyone should have equal rights. During the mid 1900’s, equality was a huge problem. In this time period African Americans were not treated equally and didn’t have many Civil Rights. Although they had the same goal, they achieved it in different ways. Malcolm X was a more violent and negative thinker, while Martin Luther King Jr. focused more on the bright side and peaceful protests. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X may have disagreed on the way to solve equality, but they had the same goal. In Martin Luther King’s Speech, it states, “ One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. "In this line from Martin’s speech, it shows how civil rights has not changed over those hundred years (1860’s to 1960’s). In Malcolm X’s speech, it states, “So today, when the black man starts reaching out for what America says are his rights, the black man feels that he is within his rights-when he becomes the victim of brutality by those who are depriving him of his rights-to do whatever necessary to protect himself...” These two quotes from the speeches show how both of them have proved their point which achieved their common goal of equality. Martin Luther King Jr. focused more on peaceful equality and going against what the government had to say. He didn’t think that people should use violence to get what they wanted. “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. I have a dream today! I have a dream that one day down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification, one day right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.” This helps explain that Martin Luther King Jr. looks on the bright side and focuses on equality of everyone. He thinks that people of all races should be equal and have equal rights. Malcolm X focused more on defending yourself. This caused him to be a negative and more violent thinker. He portrayed whites as devils and told blacks to be proud of their race. In the text, it states, “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.” This quote from Malcolm X’s speech shows how he believed that using peaceful protests and nonviolence was not going to get him any where. It showed how he believed that they had to really fight and defend themselves for what they wanted. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X were two different people from two different backgrounds, and two different religions, but they wanted the same thing. Although they disagreed with each other they helped everyone have equal rights. Delaney ran home from the bus as fast as she could. She was relieved that school was over and the weekend had come. But, another thing was on her mind that bothered her. She kept on thinking about how her mom was doing alone at home.
She opens the door and sets her backpack down. She saw her mom laying down on the couch with three blankets and a few bottles of pills next to her. “How are you feeling?” “Not any better than yesterday,” she replied. “Call grandma, we might need to go to the hospital.” *** Kim Marie Battle was an agent. She was not supposed to be on a couch. She was supposed to be out there saving people. *** In the hospital, everyone was frantically running. Doctors and nurses were running around and shouting commands at each other. Delaney, Kim’s daughter, realized that everything was happening so quickly. One minute her mother’s small fever which turned into cancer. And now they were at the hospital. *** A person who was so dedicated to helping citizens, an ATF Agent is now suffering. She was going to have to save herself before saving others. 47 year old Kim Marie Battle, ATF Agent, single mother of 12 year old Delaney Marie Battle, battles through breast cancer. Her last name is true to her as she battled through a lot of tough times. Kim grew up in southwest Detroit and attended Wayne State University. Kim’s father, Richard, was also an agent. He has been an agent for over 32 years, he is now retired. Kim’s father heavily influenced Kim to join law enforcement as well. Growing up in Detroit, she was a huge fan of all the Detroit sports teams. Some of her favorite sports teams were the Michigan Wolverines, Detroit Tigers, and the Detroit Red Wings. She enjoyed going to their games with family and friends. *** After the doctors had told them that Delaney would have to leave the room for this, she started to get really worried. She sat down in the waiting room slouched down with tears in her eyes. “Everything is going to be ok, “ her grandma said walking in. *** Kim’s 15 year old daughter, Delaney Marie Battle was always by her side throughout her journey. She comforted and gave Kim the love and support she needed. She never gave up on Kim. Kim was very strong throughout her whole entire journey. Those that were close to Kim say that they are happy that God has taken her out of the battle. She was a single mother who was suffering, but she still managed to put on a brave face. Her motto was: “Courage is being afraid, but going on anyhow.” Delaney was a huge part of Kim’s journey. She did not realize that you could lose someone so close to you in such a short period of time. Delaney started to appreciate everything she had more often. When Delaney grows up, she hopes have a job in the medical field and specialize in cancer. She wants to help other people that are going through rough times in their life. She hopes that no one else goes through the same thing she and her mother did. |
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