Child Soldier Persuasive Essay
“In the last ten years, two million child soldiers have been killed, more than one million orphaned, more than six million left injured or permanently disabled, and more than 10 million diagnosed with psychological trauma” (Invisible Children). But that is only the beginning of this problem and it could get worse. Many young children find themselves in the army for various reasons. They commit many acts that are deemed as crimes. Some people think that they should be pardoned and some think otherwise. Even if people think that child soldiers should not receive amnesty, the child soldiers must be given amnesty because they are not responsible for their actions, they do not always have a choice, and because they have suffered a lot of pain and need help.
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Child soldiers are not responsible for their actions.
Debatewise.org states, “the recruiters of child soldiers also use drugs and alcohol to make children more compliant and to enable them to commit acts they would not ordinarily commit.” No right-minded child without the influence of drugs would commit these treacherous acts. If an adult cannot withstand drugs and alcohol given on a daily basis, then, how are little kids supposed to handle them? To be clear, the symptoms of a child taking drugs and alcohol would be worse than adults. Ishmael Beah, a former child soldier gives an interview on The Hour and describes his experience being a soldier. He says, “The life of a child soldier is, basically, you go out, you shoot people, and you do whatever the commanders want you to do. If not, they will kill you.” Many children would have the fear of being killed. Imagine a brute looking adult threatening an 8-year-old with a pistol. The children do not have a choice, nor do they know any better since they do not have a family to teach them the difference between what is wrong and right. Their brains are still far from being fully
developed.
Next, Child soldiers normally do not have an informed say with being recruited. Debatewise.org claims, “Most children are forcibly recruited and even when they enlist they may not have thought carefully about their decision or made an informed choice.” The children do not have a twenty-page document that has an overview of what will happen once they enlist in the army. They just enlist thinking that they will be safe and sound. Instead, the opposite occurs. Jeffrey Gettleman explains, “In some countries, hunger and poverty drive parents to sell their children into service” (Gettleman). The best that these families hope for is money to survive, but the child may not come home with money. In fact, they may not come home at all. Children, having great respect for their parents, would do whatever they say. For a child, there is no one to trust but one’s own parents.
Finally, child soldiers have suffered a lot of pain and are in dire need of help. The Guardian states, “Almost one in five children across the region – 28 million in all – now need immediate humanitarian assistance. More than 90% of these children live in countries affected by conflict, and in some cases, families are sending their children to fight.” 90% is a big number especially if it is 90% of 28 million. Also, when child soldiers return to their society, it is really hard for them to adjust because they are used to being in such a violent atmosphere. An essay by Invisible Children states, “ I do think children such as Lionel should be prosecuted, whereas child soldiers who are forcibly recruited should not be. I believe they should be taken to rehabilitation center[s] in order for them to be reintegrated into society.” Point taken. By giving the children the help they need, they have another shot at a normal life.
Some may say that child soldiers should not be given amnesty, but they are wrong to think so. First, certainly it could be said that many children are seen occupying positions in their armed military; while this is an exceptional point, it fails to account for the fact that they are unwillingly trained for this and that their life is at stake. If they refuse to occupy positions, their life ends right then and there. Next, while some might argue that they have been responsible for rape, mutilation, and mass murder of many people, they forget that those children have been drugged and fed alcohol and cannot think right. Last, critics argue that if the child is not prosecuted, it denies the victims justice. Debatewise.org contends, “It is unfair to victims that will have to live side-by-side with their attacker and see them walk free without any punishment.” To be fair, it truly is immoral that the attackers go unharmed leaving the victim to be. But, the ones who should be prosecuted and jailed should be the recruiters and the militaries that allow such things. Instead of prosecuting the children, they should be rehabilitated, get taken care of, and understand how to live in a peaceful society without hurting anyone. Oppositionists should know that prosecuting the children is not the right path. If the recruiters are not prosecuted, this problem may keep going on.
Given these points, child soldiers do deserve a pardoning. The pain that they must have gone through is unimaginable. Despite the fact that some people believe that child soldiers should not be given amnesty, per contra, the most logical and mindful position is that they should be given amnesty. They are not responsible for their actions nor do they have a choice when a recruiter knocks on their door and then dragging them off to the army base. They are also in need of help and rehabilitation. If the child soldiers are being prosecuted, the recruiters will not stop because they are not the ones getting in trouble. Instead of prosecuting children, it is time to hunt after the ones who are behind these concepts and forever put an end to it.
Child soldiers are not responsible for their actions.
Debatewise.org states, “the recruiters of child soldiers also use drugs and alcohol to make children more compliant and to enable them to commit acts they would not ordinarily commit.” No right-minded child without the influence of drugs would commit these treacherous acts. If an adult cannot withstand drugs and alcohol given on a daily basis, then, how are little kids supposed to handle them? To be clear, the symptoms of a child taking drugs and alcohol would be worse than adults. Ishmael Beah, a former child soldier gives an interview on The Hour and describes his experience being a soldier. He says, “The life of a child soldier is, basically, you go out, you shoot people, and you do whatever the commanders want you to do. If not, they will kill you.” Many children would have the fear of being killed. Imagine a brute looking adult threatening an 8-year-old with a pistol. The children do not have a choice, nor do they know any better since they do not have a family to teach them the difference between what is wrong and right. Their brains are still far from being fully
developed.
Next, Child soldiers normally do not have an informed say with being recruited. Debatewise.org claims, “Most children are forcibly recruited and even when they enlist they may not have thought carefully about their decision or made an informed choice.” The children do not have a twenty-page document that has an overview of what will happen once they enlist in the army. They just enlist thinking that they will be safe and sound. Instead, the opposite occurs. Jeffrey Gettleman explains, “In some countries, hunger and poverty drive parents to sell their children into service” (Gettleman). The best that these families hope for is money to survive, but the child may not come home with money. In fact, they may not come home at all. Children, having great respect for their parents, would do whatever they say. For a child, there is no one to trust but one’s own parents.
Finally, child soldiers have suffered a lot of pain and are in dire need of help. The Guardian states, “Almost one in five children across the region – 28 million in all – now need immediate humanitarian assistance. More than 90% of these children live in countries affected by conflict, and in some cases, families are sending their children to fight.” 90% is a big number especially if it is 90% of 28 million. Also, when child soldiers return to their society, it is really hard for them to adjust because they are used to being in such a violent atmosphere. An essay by Invisible Children states, “ I do think children such as Lionel should be prosecuted, whereas child soldiers who are forcibly recruited should not be. I believe they should be taken to rehabilitation center[s] in order for them to be reintegrated into society.” Point taken. By giving the children the help they need, they have another shot at a normal life.
Some may say that child soldiers should not be given amnesty, but they are wrong to think so. First, certainly it could be said that many children are seen occupying positions in their armed military; while this is an exceptional point, it fails to account for the fact that they are unwillingly trained for this and that their life is at stake. If they refuse to occupy positions, their life ends right then and there. Next, while some might argue that they have been responsible for rape, mutilation, and mass murder of many people, they forget that those children have been drugged and fed alcohol and cannot think right. Last, critics argue that if the child is not prosecuted, it denies the victims justice. Debatewise.org contends, “It is unfair to victims that will have to live side-by-side with their attacker and see them walk free without any punishment.” To be fair, it truly is immoral that the attackers go unharmed leaving the victim to be. But, the ones who should be prosecuted and jailed should be the recruiters and the militaries that allow such things. Instead of prosecuting the children, they should be rehabilitated, get taken care of, and understand how to live in a peaceful society without hurting anyone. Oppositionists should know that prosecuting the children is not the right path. If the recruiters are not prosecuted, this problem may keep going on.
Given these points, child soldiers do deserve a pardoning. The pain that they must have gone through is unimaginable. Despite the fact that some people believe that child soldiers should not be given amnesty, per contra, the most logical and mindful position is that they should be given amnesty. They are not responsible for their actions nor do they have a choice when a recruiter knocks on their door and then dragging them off to the army base. They are also in need of help and rehabilitation. If the child soldiers are being prosecuted, the recruiters will not stop because they are not the ones getting in trouble. Instead of prosecuting children, it is time to hunt after the ones who are behind these concepts and forever put an end to it.