Olivia Goldblatt While on trial, during the testimony of Omar Khadr, interrogators testified that Khadr bragged about killing a U.S. soldier and that he claimed the day he planted land mines to explode over U.S. and coalition forces to kill them was the happiest day of his life. Child soldiers are defined as children under the age of 18 that are recruited to fight for a country's army in war. Children commit some of the worse acts of war such as, mass killings, deaths of innocent citizens, and more dangerous crimes. Countries that are dealing with this issue are Afghanistan, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo and many other sub-saharan countries. The issue is becoming more world wide spread as more and more civil wars are arising. The debate is being made whether the children fighting are in the position of a victim or should be blamed for committing awful war acts. Child soldiers are perpetrators because they commit illegal acts of war, they rely on the commanders to provide them with dangerous drugs and alcohol, and they know what they are getting into and make the choice to join. Most importantly, the child soldiers commit some of the most harsh acts of war and feel pride with it. The definition of perpetrator is “a person who carries out a harmful, illegal, or immoral act”. Child soldiers harm innocent people and are responsible for lots of dangerous crimes. An article arguing if child soldiers are perpetrators or not state, “Child soldiers have been responsible for brutal acts in wartime-rape and mutilation and mass killings of innocent civilians.” (Child Soldiers: Victims or Perpetrators)This shows child soldiers can too cause dangerous and very effective war crimes. Some of the children are happy and proud of themselves for killing millions of innocent people. Specifically, One example of this is that Khadr bragged that the “Happiest day of his life” was when he planted mines to kill U.S. soldiers.(Prasow) This evidence reflects on the idea that the children are being raised taught to be proud and feel good while killing innocent and other people. If the children aren’t prosecuted, there will be no consequences for the brutal acts they commit. This will encourage them there is nothing wrong with what they are doing and to keep committing terrifying acts of war crimes. Also in many cases the child soldiers force others to make horrifying and brutal decisions. For example, Titus Obali, who reportedly spent just under a year in Ongwen’s captivity before escaping, told the humanitarian news site IRIN that ‘Ongwen and his boys used killing, beating, maiming and raping as a weapon… He forced many children to kill people’”(A Former Child Soldier Will Stand Trial In The Hague For War Crimes Warner). This evidence proves that child soldiers are really creating incredible harm to others not just their enemies. A less obvious and a not very known reason that makes child soldiers perpetrators is once they are recruited the children become over reliant over their commanders. When introduced at a young age to alcohol and drugs they soon become addicted and appreciate receiving the drugs. “However, once they are recruited the children become over reliant on their commanders for shelter, money, water, drugs and alcohol that they find an extreme difficulty to leave.”(“Child Soldiers -Summative Essay.” Child Soldiers: Invisible Children)This information makes it clear many of the soldiers that say they are being forced to stay in the armies or fight in wars also are liking what they receive from their commanders. They expect their commanders to provide them with food, water, shelter, money, alcohol and drugs. After that the soldiers find it extremely difficult to leave. Another significant reason includes in some cases child soldiers choose to become soldiers. They go into the war seeking vengeance, alcohol, and sometimes drugs. Many also join as an act of patriotism and/or to get an income. For example, “Some kids will willingly volunteer themselves as child soldiers because they believe it will give them a form of income and security.”(“Info About Child Soldiers: What You Need To Know.” The Borgen Project). This makes it clear that they know what they are getting into when becoming a child soldier. They have the control of their actions Many times they are also provided the decision to leave but stay because they like the idea of getting there anger out through murder and have become reliant on their commander for drugs and other harmful things. Also many of the child soldiers join in acts of representing their families and/or trying to prove a point. Evidence by CNN article states, “Others join willingly, often traveling long distances of their own volition. They deceive their loved ones in order to enlist.”(The Truth About Child Soldiers CNN Drumbl) This makes it clear that the child soldiers are well aware before hand and feel confident with their choice of joining. Child soldiers should be accountable for their actions no matter how much force was put into their decisions, after being to reliant and proud of making violent decisions. Many of the children are taken in harmful ways and dragged to war in ways that seem emotional and violent but in the end they choose to stay afterwards because they feel good committing what they do. They proceed with acting in violent ways just as bad as other intense war fighters. Child soldiers are perpetrators and should be punished just like any average soldier for their actions. Innocent civilians are being murdered. Child soldiers cannot get away with being responsible for extreme issues. This insane problem needs to be stopped. It is just not fair. Not fair for the civilians. It is not fair to the American soldiers that are being mass murdered. The cruelty and brutal crimes the child soldiers are committing need to be stopped.
0 Comments
By: Olivia Goldblatt Martin Luther King Jr.was a African American minister who was an important leader in the peaceful process of the civil rights movement. His most moving speech in 1963 during the March on Washington when he talked about protecting civil rights with no violence. Malcolm X grew up as a teenager that caught up in trouble, getting into drugs and landed up in Prison. When he got out of jail he became a minister and converted to Islam. He portrayed the whites as devils and in his speeches he included they needed to fight back with violence to get their rights back. The point of views between Malcolm X’s speech “Address To A Meeting In New York, 1964” and Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech, “I Have A Dream” are similar due to the fight for equality from the unfair civil rights and segregation towards African Americans. The point of views are also very different in the sense that Malcolm X will do anything to have freedom including violence. Different from that Martin Luther King Jr. believes they way to gain their rights is keeping it peaceful with non violent protests. In Martin Luther King’s I Have A Dream speech declares his fight for civil rights for his race. In his speech he states, “But one hundred years later, the Negro is still not free. ...So we’ve come here to dramatize an appalling condition”(84 King). He is representing things will need to start being done to give the civil rights back to the people being discriminated. According to MLK’s speech he states “I have a dream that one day this nation will rise and live out the true meaning of it’s creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal.’” This shows MLK’s compassion for making all people around the world equal, no matter what race. He describes everyone as a “Brotherhood” and one day “little black girls and little black boys will join hands with little white girls and little whites boys” to create a brotherhood representing equality among all. Malcolm X also gives a speech about the problems becoming of racial inequality and the unfair rights provided to equal people. In his speech, “Address To A Meeting in New York, 1964” Malcolm X states, “And just as they themselves have the ingredients of hostility toward the West in general, here we also have 22,000,000 African Americans, black, brown, red, and yellow people in this country who are also seething with bitterness and impatience and hostility and animosity at the racial intolerance not only of the white West but of white America in particular. . . ” This shows the care and realization Malcolm x has of how poorly and unfair certain races are being treated. He also states, “Not only is the racial explosion probably to take place in America, but all of the ingredients for this racial explosion in America to blossom into a world-wide racial explosion present themselves right here in front of us.” The way he repeats “racial explosion” shows his take on how the problem is only getting bigger and spreading with nothing being done. MLK has a very different view on how they should fight back from Malcolm X, MLK only believes in peaceful, non-violence protesting. He states, “We must not allow our creative protests to degenerate into physical violence.” This shows how he believes their point can get across without starting any not needed violence. Also he states, “We must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.” Again this shows MLK’s peaceful protesting ideas, using words or symbolizing peaceful actions rather than creating chaos and more harm with violence. The ways MLK believes are more mature in the way of peacefully getting along and solving problems without starting violence. Malcolm X had opposite ideas then MLK, he believed to get the point of fair civil rights across if violence was needed it should be taken to that point to do anything to get their civil rights back. In his speech he says, “There are 22,000,000 African Americans 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. Those days are over.” This shows he thinks it is right for everyone fighting for their rights to use violence to get their point across and have equality. Malcolm X also uses the past to show how non-violent protest and fights will get your independence. “If George Washington didn’t get independence for this country non-violently, and if Patrick Henry didn’t come up with a non-violent statement, and you taught me to look upon them as patriots and heroes, then it’s time for you to realize that I have studied your books well.” This shows Malcolm X is using the ways of violence from historical heroes to inspire him for his fight for independence. Overall Malcolm X and MLK have similar views regarding the unfair treatment to people of their race. Their views also oppose each other in the way of violence to get their point across and MLK’s way of peaceful protesting with no violence he thinks will make a difference. The two men became very important historical figures and helped make a difference and gain the civil rights back. By: Olivia Goldblatt
It is one of the last days that Dr. Roger Hurwitz, 83 years old, is working at Riley Children's Hospital as an incredible, life saving heart doctor. He sits there thinking to himself after over 50 years of working, teaching, and completing classes that he is finally ready to call it quits . He sits there slowly finishing up his paperwork when he is then paged to go to one of his last clinical teachings. Dr. Hurwitz walks out of his clinical teaching session and comes back to his desk to find an assortment of treats and cards. He almost started tearing up. Roger is loved dearly by the hospital. He knows he will miss this but he is proud of what he accomplished. *** Roger was raised in Cleveland, Ohio to a very hard working, lower income family. As a young man, Roger worked many jobs to help put him through college. He was told by his parents he would have to pay for most of his college. Roger was very determined to get into a strong academic college, and go into medical school. Roger was determined like a race car driver trying to reach the finish line with a victory. This determination helped push him through the hard classes, and successfully graduate with honors. Continuing his plan to have a medical degree, he next went to Northwestern where he earned his M.D. To add to all the incredible academic achievements, Roger was a Captain in the US Army and practiced pediatrics in Georgia. Roger continued to pursue his medical dream as he completed his Pediatric Residency in Chicago and Pediatric Cardiology training at UCLA in Southern California. Finally finishing all his years of training, Dr. Hurwitz decided to settle in the Midwest, Indiana. After moving to Indiana, Dr. Hurwitz started his own Pediatric Cardiology department at Riley Children's Hospital. He and one other Pediatric cardiologist worked together and cared for children across the midwest.Their department was one of the very few Pediatric Cardiology departments in the Midwest, so many patients from other states were constantly trying to come into Indiana to see him. Dr. Hurwitz realized how difficult it was for families with sick children to travel all the way to see him. So, Dr. Hurwitz started “satellite clinics” at other hospitals to help these families. This was incredibly helpful to families having other children at home, work issues, or even financial strains. After 20 years at Riley, Dr. Hurwitz decided he wanted more education and spent a year at Harvard Medical School where he became a Professor of Radiology and a professor of Nuclear medicine on top of his incredible credentials already of being a top Professor of Pediatric Cardiology. Dr. Hurwitz returned to Riley a year later, and taught the other doctors there what he had learned at Harvard. Education was so important to Dr. Hurwitz, that he became the Chairman of the Residents, and thus trained the majority of Pediatric Cardiology residents that have graduated from Riley Hospital in the last 3 decades. He has been invited to be a national speaker over 100 times, and has traveled nationally teaching clinics and classes to countries that can’t afford some medical supplies and treatments. Roger has also written over 100 published chapters for Cardiology books, doctor articles, and short stories. A highlight of his commitment to helping young children, Dr. Hurwitz was given the most prestigious award in Atlanta, The Top Pediatric Cardiologist in the country. Many came to Atlanta to hear him speak, share stories, and continually thank him for all he has done to help save lives of the children at Riley Hospital. *** Rogers family was excited and sad about this adjustment. They were excited to know they would have more time with their papa or dad. He was then able to be there for his wife and give more time to take care of other things in his life. His family was sad to see him leave his passion and what he had been doing his whole life. Roger started clearing off his desk as his last days at work were rushing by. One of his co-workers came to his office said, “Wow Roger, who knew one man could win over 10 major awards.” Roger smiled, and he thought back in his mind all the wonderful achievements, as he took each plaque off his desk. He remembered the day he got “The Founders Award” in 2006. His pride was unreal and just the joy he felt put a giant smile on his face. This afternoon he went to his last O.R. he would enter as a full time working Pediatric Cardiologist. His head started to rush with many different emotions. He felt sad he was about to stop what he had worked his whole life to complete. He felt proud of himself because of all the accomplishments he had made throughout his years. He was very happy with himself not only for his academic achievements, but his perfect family he had raised with his beautiful wife. He wondered what the next decade of his life would look like. He also felt a sense of fear, what might come next in his life but he knew that good things were coming, and he would be able to spend more time with his wife, son, daughter and 5 wonderful grandchildren. He returned home after a long day at work and sat down for a nice dinner for with Fran, his wife. They go through a tradition of having Roger tell Fran how his day went and what he did. “It was a good day overall, I have looked back and realized what I have accomplished and the lessons I have now taught others. From coming from a rough and busy childhood, I’m happy to be spending tonight with you and opening new opportunities for me and my family.” Roger said to his wife. The two happily married (over 50 years) couple laughed, smiled, and were able to enjoy a night knowing the next day would be the beginning of a new chapter. It was like a door, he closed one and is opening a new one. |
|