When it comes to the topic of child soldiers, most of us will agree that it is wrong. Where this agreement usually ends, however, is on the question of if they should be prosecuted or granted amnesty. Whereas some are convinced that they are guilty of killing innocent people, others maintain the view that they could never have gotten out of the situation. First off, the children are forced into it. They are threatened with being guns and other weapons. The people who force these children to fight tell the kids that they can leave, but when they actually do, they’re shot. They are also threatened in other ways. For example, the people have the power to harm or torture the kids. As stated in a paper published as part of the Teachers College
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People younger than 18 have brains that are easily imprinted on. Long story short, they believe what they hear. If they are told that fighting is the right thing to do, they’ll believe it. Another way that kids are ‘brainwashed’ into fighting is the fact that they never knew otherwise. Furthermore, narcotics are occasionally involved to make the kids completely unaware of what they’re doing. Jeffrey Gettleman writes, “They are easily manipulated… if you tell them to kill, they kill.” Others say that it’s still their fault for believing the leaders and they should be prosecuted, but countless studies show that young minds are very easily manipulated and brainwashed. Finally, these kids had no choice at all. In many cases, they will voluntarily enter the camp in search of food and shelter but have no idea what they’re getting themselves into. If they never joined the camp, it’s certain death. Many people might say that since they got themselves into it, they should be prosecuted. I look at it a different way though: they were just looking for a way to survive.
Overall, child soldiers should definitely be granted amnesty. These kids are forced into doing something extremely horrible. Here in the United States, we have the privilege of taking part in war at a young age through video games and other simulated violence. Maybe if more people knew about the terrible things child soldiers go through, we’d play less violent games as a nation
People younger than 18 have brains that are easily imprinted on. Long story short, they believe what they hear. If they are told that fighting is the right thing to do, they’ll believe it. Another way that kids are ‘brainwashed’ into fighting is the fact that they never knew otherwise. Furthermore, narcotics are occasionally involved to make the kids completely unaware of what they’re doing. Jeffrey Gettleman writes, “They are easily manipulated… if you tell them to kill, they kill.” Others say that it’s still their fault for believing the leaders and they should be prosecuted, but countless studies show that young minds are very easily manipulated and brainwashed. Finally, these kids had no choice at all. In many cases, they will voluntarily enter the camp in search of food and shelter but have no idea what they’re getting themselves into. If they never joined the camp, it’s certain death. Many people might say that since they got themselves into it, they should be prosecuted. I look at it a different way though: they were just looking for a way to survive.
Overall, child soldiers should definitely be granted amnesty. These kids are forced into doing something extremely horrible. Here in the United States, we have the privilege of taking part in war at a young age through video games and other simulated violence. Maybe if more people knew about the terrible things child soldiers go through, we’d play less violent games as a nation