The child soldiers of Sierra Leone
Al-haji Sawaneh, a boy of Sierra Leone, was abducted by Seirra Leonean rebels. He then was forced to fight as a soldier and obey the commands of them. When he took part in tactical ambushes, people saw the talent of him. He was actually good at those and the potential made the commanders to involve him in the fighting and he became a member of the infamous S.B.U., Small Boys Unit. Deliberately, they provided light weighted guns to the young children who cannot carry heavy weapons well. As a result of the hard training and the infamous rumors, thousands of children who were actually engaged in the program gained negative reputation for being an unquestioning obedience and their cruelty. They took part in Sierra Leone's civil war that took about 10years and committed numerous violence and crimes. The children force act out violence such as opening a woman's belly half just to check if the baby is male or female. According to Sawaneh, the weapons that the SBU owned are captured and gathered from the government troops. Also, they put great effort to get the weapons such as using the method of trading the weapons with diamonds. The availability of the weapons after all resulted in the transformation of one of the Africa's most resource-rich nations to a country with the lowest life expectancy.
The article shows several of aspects about the child soldier and the bigger picture of the effect of the child soldier in the country. Child Soldier is most of the time presented as the severe case of violence and cruelty. Through the real life experience that a boy as a child was kidnapped by one of the commanders of the SBU and later on scouted as a fighter of the war. A young child was forced to fight and murder people without the free will to refuse. They were too young and weak to stand up: they would have died if they did.
To add, the issues of the weapons, their use, and the influence of the availability of weapons are shown. Through observation and analysis of the general issue, the writer comes up with an educated prediction and commentary.
Since the medium is newspaper article, it is a report on the issue that the reporter did investigation on and what he or she has pretty much information about. Therefore, it is more credible to believe in what the author says and the content seems more reliable than any other words. Thus, the interview and the information that the article carries on to present are persuasive. Also, it attaches the readers emotionally to sympathize the child soldier while they have offensive mind toward the S.B.U.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
child soldier Emily (book)
http://www.amazon.com/Innocents-Lost-When-Child-Soldiers/dp/0465007988
Books are very useful media which contributes to our understanding and further education. Through the written language, books oftentimes cause people to become emotional and inspired at the same time. In other words, one of the advantages of books is that readers are able to encounter various emotions through the gripping stories and develop their sensitivity as well. Also, books are good sources for us to educate ourselves in many areas. This particular book I have chosen to discuss about meets both aspects as well. The author of the book ‘Innocents Lost: When Child Soldiers Go To War (Hardcover)’ examines and analyzes the conflicts caused by the practice of using children as soldiers. Jimmie Briggs, the author of the book, attempts to discuss the problem of child soldiers and deepen our knowledge and understanding of this phenomenon through many personal stories of the children who were engaged in these issues.
Through the gruesome incidents of the child soldiers, the author was successful in having the readers to really experience what it is like to be a child soldier. The author mainly focuses on the conflicts in Columbia and how the economics and power have caused many children to be the victims of violence. By mentioning many different areas around the world where people recruit children, I was really convinced by the fact that the child soldiers are being used worldwide. One of the biggest strengths of this book I found is that the author does not directly inform the casualties and the hardships of the child soldiers. Instead, through the strong voice and colorful stories, Briggs exposes the seriousness of this problem and lets the readers to observe and evaluate. In addition, because the short stories of the different child soldiers are very detailed and well researched, the book gives no doubts about the stories and is able to successfully communicate with the readers. As I was reading some of the key paragraphs, I was so attached to the stories that the writings were all reasonable and true.
By using enchanting verbal language, the author was successful in giving out its message through this book. Even though Jimmie Briggs is a writer and a journalist, his delicate research of the formal child soldiers and his interpretation of their stories give the authority to speak and express the heartbreaking stories. Furthermore, the author goes beyond his perspective as a journalist but also looks at the child soldier issue globally including girls as well. Therefore, regarding that there are some personal reflections in this book, this book is somewhat considered more towards objective. The examination of the journalist’s view point about the world and the people who were engaged deeply in this area child may alert the readers to really acknowledge the problem.
I believe that this book depicts the characteristics of the books very well. To be honest, I was not informed about the life of child soldiers very well. However, as I am finding more and more books about the child soldiers, I believe that I am becoming more and more attached to the issue and starting to acknowledge the problem. This book is able to educate the readers and at the same time bring out people’s emotions. Therefore, the effect of this media form is that it can really revive people’s thoughts and sensitivity through the exquisite writings and descriptions in the book.
Books are very useful media which contributes to our understanding and further education. Through the written language, books oftentimes cause people to become emotional and inspired at the same time. In other words, one of the advantages of books is that readers are able to encounter various emotions through the gripping stories and develop their sensitivity as well. Also, books are good sources for us to educate ourselves in many areas. This particular book I have chosen to discuss about meets both aspects as well. The author of the book ‘Innocents Lost: When Child Soldiers Go To War (Hardcover)’ examines and analyzes the conflicts caused by the practice of using children as soldiers. Jimmie Briggs, the author of the book, attempts to discuss the problem of child soldiers and deepen our knowledge and understanding of this phenomenon through many personal stories of the children who were engaged in these issues.
Through the gruesome incidents of the child soldiers, the author was successful in having the readers to really experience what it is like to be a child soldier. The author mainly focuses on the conflicts in Columbia and how the economics and power have caused many children to be the victims of violence. By mentioning many different areas around the world where people recruit children, I was really convinced by the fact that the child soldiers are being used worldwide. One of the biggest strengths of this book I found is that the author does not directly inform the casualties and the hardships of the child soldiers. Instead, through the strong voice and colorful stories, Briggs exposes the seriousness of this problem and lets the readers to observe and evaluate. In addition, because the short stories of the different child soldiers are very detailed and well researched, the book gives no doubts about the stories and is able to successfully communicate with the readers. As I was reading some of the key paragraphs, I was so attached to the stories that the writings were all reasonable and true.
By using enchanting verbal language, the author was successful in giving out its message through this book. Even though Jimmie Briggs is a writer and a journalist, his delicate research of the formal child soldiers and his interpretation of their stories give the authority to speak and express the heartbreaking stories. Furthermore, the author goes beyond his perspective as a journalist but also looks at the child soldier issue globally including girls as well. Therefore, regarding that there are some personal reflections in this book, this book is somewhat considered more towards objective. The examination of the journalist’s view point about the world and the people who were engaged deeply in this area child may alert the readers to really acknowledge the problem.
I believe that this book depicts the characteristics of the books very well. To be honest, I was not informed about the life of child soldiers very well. However, as I am finding more and more books about the child soldiers, I believe that I am becoming more and more attached to the issue and starting to acknowledge the problem. This book is able to educate the readers and at the same time bring out people’s emotions. Therefore, the effect of this media form is that it can really revive people’s thoughts and sensitivity through the exquisite writings and descriptions in the book.
child soldiers - TV
http://kr.youtube.com/watch?v=gUcVZXxGvXk
The characteristic of TV is that it delivers information to audience in the world. Especially, TV news makes the audience to realize the issues that are going around the world, and when they are delivering the issue, they are not biased or prejudiced. They are not the ones who judge the issue. It’s the audience who make a decision whether the issue right or wrong. TV news is just helping the audience to recognize the news in different categories such as government, weather or scientific.
The child soldiers issue is also delivered to different age groups of audience by TV news. This CNN news talks about the issue by interviewing a kid from Africa who were actually one of the child soldiers. He talks about the story how he became a child soldiers and how the other soldiers treated him. One of the shocking things he said is that soldiers gave him a choice either to stay or to leave. However, when his friends decided to leave, the soldiers killed them and showed their dead bodies to other kids. They said this is how they will end up if they decide to leave. The soldiers also sexually abused little girls who are only aged under 15. By his interview, people get to know the situation of child soldiers in Africa. This interview is more realistic and trustful than just showing the videos of child soldiers because the boy who actually experienced everything is telling the information.
By watching this video, I recognized the current situation in Africa. I realized how child soldiers are being used as weapons of government. They learn how to shoot people before they learn how to write and read. They were shooting people without knowing who they are. The children are aged under 15. They don’t even go to school in that age. They are supposed to in the classroom and learn different kinds of subjects, and not in the war to kill others. In Amnesty International, I and other students wrote letters to the government in order to release the children. At that time, I didn’t know how serious this issue was, but now, I know its seriousness, and I know that people should recognize the issue and come up with the solutions. I should be more active in Amnesty activity so people in the world can help the children.
The characteristic of TV is that it delivers information to audience in the world. Especially, TV news makes the audience to realize the issues that are going around the world, and when they are delivering the issue, they are not biased or prejudiced. They are not the ones who judge the issue. It’s the audience who make a decision whether the issue right or wrong. TV news is just helping the audience to recognize the news in different categories such as government, weather or scientific.
The child soldiers issue is also delivered to different age groups of audience by TV news. This CNN news talks about the issue by interviewing a kid from Africa who were actually one of the child soldiers. He talks about the story how he became a child soldiers and how the other soldiers treated him. One of the shocking things he said is that soldiers gave him a choice either to stay or to leave. However, when his friends decided to leave, the soldiers killed them and showed their dead bodies to other kids. They said this is how they will end up if they decide to leave. The soldiers also sexually abused little girls who are only aged under 15. By his interview, people get to know the situation of child soldiers in Africa. This interview is more realistic and trustful than just showing the videos of child soldiers because the boy who actually experienced everything is telling the information.
By watching this video, I recognized the current situation in Africa. I realized how child soldiers are being used as weapons of government. They learn how to shoot people before they learn how to write and read. They were shooting people without knowing who they are. The children are aged under 15. They don’t even go to school in that age. They are supposed to in the classroom and learn different kinds of subjects, and not in the war to kill others. In Amnesty International, I and other students wrote letters to the government in order to release the children. At that time, I didn’t know how serious this issue was, but now, I know its seriousness, and I know that people should recognize the issue and come up with the solutions. I should be more active in Amnesty activity so people in the world can help the children.
Child soldier (internet)
Child soldiers trained by the Taliban to kill British soldiers
At an al-Qaeda training camp in Pakistan, the warlord are training boys into killers. The boy soldiers as young as five are in line before being handed rifles in which to teach to fire rocket-propelled grenades. The bemused children are forced to carry heavy ammunition to build their strength. They live in the tents in poor condition with weapons lying next to them. The author of this passage got shocked by seeing an 11-year-old boy walking into a warzone with all the weapons around his body. The author was in angry about the use of children as suicide bombers and as human shields during firefights. Author said “it was one of the most disturbing [scenes] he had seen. It is child abuse of the worst kind and shows the kind of sick tactics al-Qaeda use” (Nick Owens.) From this quote, I can feel that author fall into disgust of acquiring child soldier in Afghanistan. He strongly explained the condition and the hardship of each soldiers; therefore he has solid point of view towards boys who are brainwashed to kill rather than the Taliban. The author didn’t mention any point of view of British soldiers. From this message, I realized the seriousness of this problem thus I should take action.
Owens, Nick. "Child soldiers trained by the Taliban to kill British soldiers." Mirror.co.uk News 8 February 2008 14 Sep 2008. <http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/2008/08/02/child-soldiers-trained-by-the-taliban-to-kill-british-soldiers-115875-20681500/.>
At an al-Qaeda training camp in Pakistan, the warlord are training boys into killers. The boy soldiers as young as five are in line before being handed rifles in which to teach to fire rocket-propelled grenades. The bemused children are forced to carry heavy ammunition to build their strength. They live in the tents in poor condition with weapons lying next to them. The author of this passage got shocked by seeing an 11-year-old boy walking into a warzone with all the weapons around his body. The author was in angry about the use of children as suicide bombers and as human shields during firefights. Author said “it was one of the most disturbing [scenes] he had seen. It is child abuse of the worst kind and shows the kind of sick tactics al-Qaeda use” (Nick Owens.) From this quote, I can feel that author fall into disgust of acquiring child soldier in Afghanistan. He strongly explained the condition and the hardship of each soldiers; therefore he has solid point of view towards boys who are brainwashed to kill rather than the Taliban. The author didn’t mention any point of view of British soldiers. From this message, I realized the seriousness of this problem thus I should take action.
Owens, Nick. "Child soldiers trained by the Taliban to kill British soldiers." Mirror.co.uk News 8 February 2008 14 Sep 2008
Monday, September 8, 2008
Newspaper Child Soldier- Alice
Newspaper 2
Straight Out of Sudan: A Child Soldier Raps
The article on the child soldier in Sudan is certainly neutral because most of the times, articles on this kind of issue don’t carry any of the opinions, because they should deliver the righteous information for those who are not well informed. The purpose of all this information being written is for society that is not involved in such matter, who needs to be informed about the affair.Until any governmental related articles are publicized, these types of articles must not carry any opinion. The effects would be something that will provoke non-related people in the world to be involved in such activities to help promote these circumstances in Sudan and in other African countries. This issue in Africa is putting out future leaders in world into a major disadvantage. The more youngsters we have in world, the better and innovative the world will become for the future. Putting immature and inexperienced kids out on the battle field will do no good for both country and for the children themselves.
Straight Out of Sudan: A Child Soldier Raps
The article on the child soldier in Sudan is certainly neutral because most of the times, articles on this kind of issue don’t carry any of the opinions, because they should deliver the righteous information for those who are not well informed. The purpose of all this information being written is for society that is not involved in such matter, who needs to be informed about the affair.Until any governmental related articles are publicized, these types of articles must not carry any opinion. The effects would be something that will provoke non-related people in the world to be involved in such activities to help promote these circumstances in Sudan and in other African countries. This issue in Africa is putting out future leaders in world into a major disadvantage. The more youngsters we have in world, the better and innovative the world will become for the future. Putting immature and inexperienced kids out on the battle field will do no good for both country and for the children themselves.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Stereotypes - Jennifer Oh
When people look at me, they think I am mad so almost everyone says that it was hard for them to talk to me at first. Even my elementary school teacher told my mom that she thinks I am always mad at her. I am not mad or angry at anything. I am just not making any facial expressions. Whenever I don’t smile or put any emotions on my face, I look very serious, and fierce. This is why people say my first impression was not good. Another stereotype about me is that I never study. Every time when my friends didn’t do their homework, they come up to me and ask did I do the homework or not, and if I say I did, they get frustrated. Maybe they were sure about me not doing my homework, and the fact that I actually did was not the answer they wanted to hear. They wanted to console themselves that they are not the only one who didn’t do the homework. Moreover, whenever I study or read book, most of friends say what is wrong with me. Since I am usually loud and like to laugh, I guess it’s weird for them to see myself being quiet. Using the fact that I look mad if I don’t smile, people make connection between me studying and get angry. They think I study whenever I get mad at something or someone. This really gets annoying. I am not mad at anything and I do study.
I also have stereotypes on others. For example, when I see people who are skinny, have light-colored skin and wear glasses, they look like they can’t play any sports at all. Also, when I hear the name ‘Andrew’, it makes me think that person is weird and annoyed. Because all my friends who’s name is Andrew seem to be like that. Moreover, girls who are really skinny make me think that she is selfish and fastidious.
I think stereotypes are harmful in most of times. Everyone has different individuality, but the society is ignoring those individualities and making it unnecessary. In these days, many people are trying to fit themselves into certain stereotypes, and an example for this is going on a diet to loss weight, which is one of the most common stereotypes. The stereotypes are made by media, parents, teachers, or friends, and they are making people to become biased or prejudiced. Another example is stereotypes of models. When I say a model, most of people think someone who is tall and skinny. Yes, in most people’s minds, models are people who have perfect visual body and look. Therefore, many people try to loss weight to be a model, and in this process, some people die because of eating disorder. All these stereotypes that people get bring negative effects. It could be positive in some ways, but in many ways, it’s just a way of disrespecting individualities.
I also have stereotypes on others. For example, when I see people who are skinny, have light-colored skin and wear glasses, they look like they can’t play any sports at all. Also, when I hear the name ‘Andrew’, it makes me think that person is weird and annoyed. Because all my friends who’s name is Andrew seem to be like that. Moreover, girls who are really skinny make me think that she is selfish and fastidious.
I think stereotypes are harmful in most of times. Everyone has different individuality, but the society is ignoring those individualities and making it unnecessary. In these days, many people are trying to fit themselves into certain stereotypes, and an example for this is going on a diet to loss weight, which is one of the most common stereotypes. The stereotypes are made by media, parents, teachers, or friends, and they are making people to become biased or prejudiced. Another example is stereotypes of models. When I say a model, most of people think someone who is tall and skinny. Yes, in most people’s minds, models are people who have perfect visual body and look. Therefore, many people try to loss weight to be a model, and in this process, some people die because of eating disorder. All these stereotypes that people get bring negative effects. It could be positive in some ways, but in many ways, it’s just a way of disrespecting individualities.
Newspaper Child Soldier- Alice
Newspaper1
The article that I selected is from CNN and the title is “The Perfect Weapon for the Meanest War”. The content of the article is basically about the negativity on child soldiers in Africa. The adults in few countries are enforcing the youngsters to be involved in the vicarious crime, by enlisting them as ‘soldiers’. Therefore, at early age, young children are learning how to work with the destructive tools, weapons that eventually kill other humans or animals. This evidently exposes the children to devastating state of life and death at an early age. Although such countries are short on number with soldiers to guard their own territory or country, they shouldn’t be letting young kids to protect, because they have their own rights to explore their life more than given; they need to be educated at school, not about the wars. Eventually those young kids are the ones who die on behalf of other adults who are perhaps afraid to stand up for their countries. This article is directed for those who are out in the world that needs to know about the world affairs such as this. If not censured by the government, these articles are certainly not biased against anything. And since this article is released by the New York Times, it is certain that the article is standing in the neutral position. This act in any part of the world should stop due to such articles that continuously inform the audiences.
The article that I selected is from CNN and the title is “The Perfect Weapon for the Meanest War”. The content of the article is basically about the negativity on child soldiers in Africa. The adults in few countries are enforcing the youngsters to be involved in the vicarious crime, by enlisting them as ‘soldiers’. Therefore, at early age, young children are learning how to work with the destructive tools, weapons that eventually kill other humans or animals. This evidently exposes the children to devastating state of life and death at an early age. Although such countries are short on number with soldiers to guard their own territory or country, they shouldn’t be letting young kids to protect, because they have their own rights to explore their life more than given; they need to be educated at school, not about the wars. Eventually those young kids are the ones who die on behalf of other adults who are perhaps afraid to stand up for their countries. This article is directed for those who are out in the world that needs to know about the world affairs such as this. If not censured by the government, these articles are certainly not biased against anything. And since this article is released by the New York Times, it is certain that the article is standing in the neutral position. This act in any part of the world should stop due to such articles that continuously inform the audiences.
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