Today I was talking to a friend via Facebook and she brought up a very important issue that many over look whenever adults go to war. There are times when war is necessary, to change a regime from abusive dictatorship, end a mass slaughter or to defend against aggression and each case needs to be judged on its own merits. Many times those who make the decisions do so for personal or country agendas. This may be to promote what is in the country's best interests but may not necessarily be in the best interest of the country involved.
The point is there a 1000 and one reasons to go to war but how many reasons not to oppress a people to threaten mass slaughter or to retain power for the express purpose of the need for power. What is this teaching our children? What is the ultimate effect on the children, who witness killing, suffer through shelling and bombings? What will be their view on life when it is over? Perhaps we can use those in Vietnam and Rwanda and even Sudan as an example of the children of war.
I remember seeing the pictures of Vietnam of the children half starved, begging for food and suffering what unknown atrocities at the hands of the adults. Being made to carry a gun as was seen in a recent picture on Al Jazeerah as pro Gadahfi supporter held his son on his shoulder and the child held a gun. What is the consequence to the children when adults act worse than children for the express purpose of staying in power? Then what is the consequence to the child who is shot, or loses a family member in the pursuit of war and power? These are questions that all of those in power need to answer what of the innocent victims, those who are to young to understand the reasons adults often act worse than a two year old throwing a fit. At least a two year old does not usually have to power to kill where as an adult does and many times without regard to the innocent lives they are destroying.
In this case, both those who are fighting to retain power and those who are fighting to aid those in need are both guilty of putting the psychological and personal safety of the innocent victims at risk. The questions is how do you protect the children of war?
There is no simple answer to this question as children have been the victims of war since the beginning of time and each war has claimed its share of child victims. In ancient times children were trained from the time they were old enough to hold a weapon in the art of war. It was a necessity then as all were needed to protect a village or a country from attack. In modern times we look at this with a sense of outrage that young children be taught the art of war and in modern societies this is often the case. In the US for example the age of 18 is considered the age of majority but there are still military academies which children mostly boys are sent to learn discipline and the art of war. In this respect, modern societies are not that much different than those of ancient times.
This does bring us back to the question what of the innocent victims, the children of war? As stated before there is no easy answer, it is up to those who can to support the children and to try and help them understand what is happening. Their safety cannot be guaranteed but the adults need to try and make the children's environment as normal as possible but in the end, the children will survive. Children are resilient and they can overcome whatever atrocities they have seen, they need the support of those around them to cope with life.
War is Hell
Pray for the children of Libya.
The point is there a 1000 and one reasons to go to war but how many reasons not to oppress a people to threaten mass slaughter or to retain power for the express purpose of the need for power. What is this teaching our children? What is the ultimate effect on the children, who witness killing, suffer through shelling and bombings? What will be their view on life when it is over? Perhaps we can use those in Vietnam and Rwanda and even Sudan as an example of the children of war.
I remember seeing the pictures of Vietnam of the children half starved, begging for food and suffering what unknown atrocities at the hands of the adults. Being made to carry a gun as was seen in a recent picture on Al Jazeerah as pro Gadahfi supporter held his son on his shoulder and the child held a gun. What is the consequence to the children when adults act worse than children for the express purpose of staying in power? Then what is the consequence to the child who is shot, or loses a family member in the pursuit of war and power? These are questions that all of those in power need to answer what of the innocent victims, those who are to young to understand the reasons adults often act worse than a two year old throwing a fit. At least a two year old does not usually have to power to kill where as an adult does and many times without regard to the innocent lives they are destroying.
In this case, both those who are fighting to retain power and those who are fighting to aid those in need are both guilty of putting the psychological and personal safety of the innocent victims at risk. The questions is how do you protect the children of war?
There is no simple answer to this question as children have been the victims of war since the beginning of time and each war has claimed its share of child victims. In ancient times children were trained from the time they were old enough to hold a weapon in the art of war. It was a necessity then as all were needed to protect a village or a country from attack. In modern times we look at this with a sense of outrage that young children be taught the art of war and in modern societies this is often the case. In the US for example the age of 18 is considered the age of majority but there are still military academies which children mostly boys are sent to learn discipline and the art of war. In this respect, modern societies are not that much different than those of ancient times.
This does bring us back to the question what of the innocent victims, the children of war? As stated before there is no easy answer, it is up to those who can to support the children and to try and help them understand what is happening. Their safety cannot be guaranteed but the adults need to try and make the children's environment as normal as possible but in the end, the children will survive. Children are resilient and they can overcome whatever atrocities they have seen, they need the support of those around them to cope with life.
War is Hell
Pray for the children of Libya.
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