Please type your letter below. Make sure you address it to whomever you plan on sending it to, and make sure you put your “Sincerely” at the bottom. Please then copy and paste the text and post it in your blog to be added to the record of how your thinking has changed.
Dear NATO,
My name is Cyrus, and in Language Arts I have been learning about the difficult paths these child soldiers face post-war. I would like to represent a entirely new idea which can reshape many thoughts you may have. These child soldiers like it or not have pulled the trigger, and killed many innocent victims. They also have raped and have executed many people based on their belief. But, we still give empathy to these barbaric sociopaths forgiving them of their past, when victims need the revenge. And so, instead we are letting these individuals not knowing their backgrounds or hatred into our countries. How do we even know that the persons not a terrorist? This is why we need prosecution, to determine who are these people and if they need to be put on trial for what they have done. And it’s is not right to to easily say “ let's have all the child soldiers come into our countries.” Without any restrictions so in this letter I will explain to you my plan and introspection on what’s going on. And hopefully by the end, your organization can realize some of the flaws in the system and solutions to solve this problem.
Why I care? Are some strong words. The reason why I chose this side of the spectrum is because I want what's best for my country and yours. I want us to have a safer place, and one of the issues which can potentially backfire is the large masses of child soldiers coming into our countries for safe heaven. Without the identification and the necessary requirements to make sure these aliens are innocent; even if it means juvenile
Imagine, you as a 7 year old boy living in Sierra Leone living with one family member. Suddenly, you're only guardian killed by a child soldier. Why? Because he was at the wrong place, at the wrong time. This is unfortunately the reality in many countries in the world such as, Uganda. In rural places, where innocent villages get shot and killed every day. These cruel phenomenons also happens in rural Nigerian towns, where child soldiers (15 years old) rape and brutally murder young girls. In Syria, child soldiers often execute others because of their race and religion or even sect in religion. Many would start and point the figure on the group which forced them. But just think for a second, the child soldier pulled the trigger which killed the victim, the child soldier decided to rape and soon after kill the young girl and the child soldier was the one who sliced the throat of the victim. I’m just saying that we are the ones who give empathy to the child soldier. Just think of the boy who lost it’s only parent and how devastated he must feel. Instead of just think about the child soldier let’s think of the little boy who must feel injustice. Instead of this we can reinforce the system, because the child soldier pulled the trigger and we instead of prosecuting him. We instead nurture the gunman, when he was the one who pulled the trigger and may have cost more deaths along the way. My plan to stop this, is by giving the justice to the victim and depending on the scenario if he was indeed influenced, give out a trial with due process. But, the victims at the end of the day deserve some type of justice of what has been done.
Some of the reasons why you may disagree is there thought process. They have no family, drugged, sold by their parents, have no to some education or are forced into doing this like Ishmael Baeh. On top of this the environment and surroundings pay a big toll on what side you're on. You maybe fighting for Al Qaeda, and be thinking that it is the right side while the others are infidels. So we should not jail tem because they did not know any better or have been brainwashed or beaten into doing this.
One of the issues, which I can present to you is. That if a 15 year old, right now went on a killing spree. He would be arrested and put in jail for manslaughter. But because of a child soldier like Ishmael Baeh we say “oh, it’s alright he was brainwashed.” No, who ever pulled the trigger needs to go to jail or elsewise and any associates in the crime. If we don’t implement this system we are breaking society and by society standards he should be put in jail. If we implement this rule we could see a hopeful decrease in child soldiers, since we are arresting any associates in the crime as well. This will most definitely frighten the commander who make children fight wars. But we will have a trial which has due process meaning if the child was forced he would spend less time.
Many people will say that, by punishing kids we will get nothing out of it. They have lived a tough life and because of where they're from they will have to pay a price. For something they never even wanted to do, but most of all they are just kids. Who have been mistreated there whole life. All they want is love and comfort not a box to sit in all day.
One of the main reasons why child soldiers deserve no amnesty is because of the threat. These children are coming into our country without checks. And may still be under the influence of their previous life still cold blooded. A example of this is Omar Khandr a boy who was a child soldier, but was rescued and brought to the U.S. But he instead was very happy and filled with pride about his killing spree. Saying that he planted mines and blew up armed forces. This behaviour led him to Guantanamo, which could have turned out worse if he was not as extrovert of his accomplishments. Imagine a boy who was rescued, but because of him being a child soldier people would show empathy, but inside he is planning destruction. How do we know if he is still with his old group? All these questions lead to prosecution of these soldiers to make sure they do not commit harm. Because we want to do things for the greater good there is 300,000 child soldier, each one of them are not going to be like Ishmael Baeh.
Still you may say that, these kids are not like this. Because the estimate of child soldiers will come up with a plot like this is very skeptical and doubtful. We are dealing with teens and children not a mastermind criminal. Because of this the threat to National security is very low; also the kids need trust in their life to succeed not hatred.
But if we never send them to jail, they will never learn. This experience is a learning process for them and should be used. If we don’t use this t we are missing out on a opportunity because ultimately we want these minors to be safe and to not choice or consider these choices again. By sending them to jail for some time will make them reflect on their actions and will make them a better person. Because these kids have been living with a ideology to kill, so by us giving an opportunity for them to learn. Will most likely make them think again, before choosing a bad decision. Bceuase without this they may never learn, and think it’s acceptable to do this type of behavior.
But still many people may not like the idea of jail. Instead of jail we can put them in rehab, so that we are teaching and comforting the kid. Instead of locking him up in jail, which may be cruel to some people.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I hope your organization rethinks Its policy of Child soldiers. I also would like to thank you for reading this plea. Because, overall I think there can be many benefits in the long run using this type of plan. I sincerely hope you think of the victim's family and how they are suffering due to the child soldier.
Sincerely,
Cyrus
(Student at TAISM)
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