Should Child Soldiers Be Forgive Essay

Should Child Soldiers be Forgiven?
Before it can be decided whether or not to forgive child soldiers, the question, “What is a child soldier?” must be asked. A child soldier, is a person under the age of 18 who is being used, and most often being forced, to fight other people. Some may ask, “How can you force a child to fight if they do not want to?” A better question to ask would be, “Who wants to?” you may think that no child would want to fight, but in their shoes it might be a different story. They have probably lost everything; their homes, food, water, and their safety, so when they see the opportunity to have these things again- they are going to take it. Which is my first reason child soldiers should be forgiven and given amnesty on certain levels. Also, after

they make this choice, they are drugged and dragged into fighting without a say. Then they establish a bond with their commanders, not only as a new family, but as their only way to get the drugs they are now addicted to. This means they will listen to them, and they don’t have to think twice about it.
These kids do not mean to do anything harmful.

They are just kids. Only, they are not normal, they have lost everything they love and need to feel safe. Their family, a reliable food source, and their shelter- all gone. These kids are left completely stranded. Searching for the things that were taken from them. This is terrible because when these kids see others around their age fighting with these commanders, that are around the age of their parents or older siblings… the kids must think that now they have a chance getting the things they are searching for. Although now they are trapped, they are going to fight with these people no matter what, and some of these commanders have children as young as nine years old fighting for on their front lines. As told in the article “Armed and Underage” by Jeffrey Gettleman. Also, it is not just boys who are joining and fighting. Girls will join too, because they are looking for the same thing. But it is even worse for them. They are forced to be cooks, messengers, spies, and sexual slaves. This comes with sexual abuse, and rape. The sad thing is, this is only my first reason as to why child soldiers should be given amnesty, and a guided path to

rehabilitation.
These kids are lured into the chaos after being given false promises, drugs, and what they thought would be a safe place to stay. Before joining these children are given drugs and alcohol. (The drugs usually being a mix of cocaine and gunpowder.) Then forced to watch people be killed, this is a way of brainwashing and desensitizing the children tricked into joining. Now these children rely on their new “big brothers” to get more of the drugs they are addicted to. It does not stop there either. A military commander from the Chad, Africa said child soldiers are ideal because, “They don’t complain, they don’t expect to be paid-and if you tell them to kill, they kill.” These children are being taken advantage of, and in ways most people would not imagine others would be willing to.