The most disturbing problem that has been raised by Ishmael Beah is one of the aftereffects of being a child soldier. Even though the war in Sierra Leone is over the country is primed and ready to re-explode into violence at any time. Many of those who were child soldiers have been missed by the rehabilitators and even those who took part in the programs are not truly part of society. Those former soldiers have nowhere to call home and no future to look forward to. They are wandering around just trying to eke out an existence with a populace who either ignores them because of their past or resents them because they received the help when the villagers received little or none. Ishmael pointed out in his talk that they are likely to join any kind of organized effort that develops regardless of that organization’s goals because they need to be part of something larger. They are especially susceptible to joining another armed effort because it is all they know and the army unit becomes a sort of family to them. As they are now, most of them have no one to rely upon and no one to take care of them even though some are still young boys.
So basically, almost any charismatic person with a bone to pick can gather an army rather readily. In a country with a fragile government anyway the situation is frightening.
1 comment:
I agree with you that any government towing such a thin line is at risk for destruction. One of the most astonishing things I found at the lecture was the direct correlation between gangs and child soldiers. When the gentleman from the rehabilitation center for inner-city youth made the connection it really struck true to home. I mean, although our government isn't exactly falling apart, are we still at risk for child-soldiers? or do we already have our own breed?
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