Reflection #2A

In this interview on The Hour, Ishmael Beah shares many insights about the short and long term impacts of being a child soldier. Watch the interview and consider the parts of A LONG WAY GONE we have listened to. What are the most important and/or interesting things we can learn from him? What are the consequences of having this knowledge (how does it impact you)?

http://youtu.be/5K4yhPSQEzo

26 comments:

  1. In Ishmael Beah's interview he mentioned that people in America had very little understanding of war and they thought it to be "very cool" and Ishmael's reasoning for writing the book was to change peoples understanding in America of a child soldier. In western countries war is very glamorized and Ishmael knew that these people have never experienced it because once you experience war you know its not something to glamorize. some people talk about it but they haven't lived up to it and don't know what it does to people. When people are educated about it their views change. He first talks about what I would call a "first world problem". Here in Canada we are fortunate and freak out by the littlest things such as something not going our way which is a very minor problem compared to a 3rd world problem like being in a war and everything you know being destroyed. As Ishmael said this makes it easy for the commander's to take advantage of the children and drug them into doing what they want. Ishmael didn't want to leave the war because he was brain washed so effectively and he became attached to the group. he believed everything so deeply. He also felt devised and lost because this was all he had. This being a very traumatic situation Ishmael says he still has nightmares, people think of healing from this experience is forgetting. He said that he will never forget, it's about learning how to deal with it that makes him appreciate his life and how he is in control of the flash backs. It takes time to get back on track with their with being normal again. One way that Ishmael said helped was to have people around who are compassionate so they are able to trust again. Ishmael said in the rehab center he was in the people were so willing to help and kept coming back. He now realizes the only way to move forward is to forgive yourself and others. Which is a great word of advice to others.

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    1. Hi Emily,

      I agree that individuals in developed countries have a difficult time understanding the difficulties and repercussions endured by child soldiers in under developed countries. And, in general, the individuals' opinions of what is 'violence', 'challenges' and a 'traumatic event' is different than those in third world countries. I also agree that the the media's portrayal of violence differs greatly from the truth. However, how do we ensure that North Americans and individuals not directly impacted by violence understand the obstacles faced by child soldiers? Is the answer through education? And if so, do we teach using books, interviews or documentaries? Additionally, how do we alter the media portrayal of violence to better suit and fit the truth and facts? Or, is it even possible to change this portrayal?

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  2. In his interview on the Hour, Ishmael Beah talked about the way in which Westerners romanticize war, which demonstrates how distanced they are from its violence and destruction. I tend to agree with Beah. Analyzing the action movies that are pumped out of Hollywood, all seem to have a reoccurring trend: the glorification of killing and violence. Ishmael Beah wrote the book "A Long Way Gone" to share his story and raise awareness about the enormously grave issue of child soldiers. Through sharing the painful details of his life as a child soldier, Ishmael Beah unveils the truth of war, and the dangerous impacts it poses on children around the world. He is changing our perception of war and killing, and forcing us to question its role in our society. After being exposed to this information though, many question what to do next. I know that I am currently facing this dilemma. Knowing what I know about child soldiers, it seems wrong not to do anything to help the situation, but what? Raising awareness is important of course, but what good does a bunch of educated people do? Do we raise money to give to a country to install a rehab center for demobilized soldiers, and if so, how do we choose the country? Do we raise money to give to an organization such as UNICEF, or is that just enforcing the idea of "Western superheroes" swooping in to save the day? There are so may countries affected by this problem, and I find myself a little overwhelmed. I know it is important to apply what I now know, but I am a little unsure as to how to do that. All I know is that as a child who has never had to participate in war, I believe that this should be a reality instead of a privilege for all children around the world.

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    1. Hi M-C

      I also found it interesting how the rap group that he invited to Sierra Leone felt uncomfortable and scared being in that environment. It seemed that despite all the information we can access in the Western world, we still don't really understand the really of war. By hearing a child's point of view, we cannot deny the devastating effects of war on humanity. I empathize with your dilemma about what you can do about this issue. It seems to me that you are trying to choose the "best" option. Perhaps all the choices you mention are "good" choices depending on being able to do the best you can. What do you think you can do ? what are your preferred modes of activism ? thanks !

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    2. I support the idea of helping a country gain access to the necessary resources and aid it needs to make significant changes to its current situation instead of going into the country and imposing different, "Western" values and beliefs on it. I believe the most significant problem about child soldiers is that it is a very "hidden" issue, so by spending class time researching this issue and having discussions about it brings it out into the open. To me education is an extremely important aspect of activism, but after exposing an issue like this, its hard to forget about it. Having the information, I am pushed to want to take it to the next level and apply it to bring about change surrounding this issue, but I guess what I'm trying t say is that I don't know the best way I, or we as a class, could go about doing this.

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    3. I feel similar about the dilemma of what to do. After having learned so much about the use of children in war I feel compelled to take action, to do something that will make a difference. However, in such a big world with so many issues I also do not know where to start. I suppose we all just have to start somewhere though. And as a class, as a group, we should believe that we can make a difference. We may not eliminate the problem but we all have the potential to be a part of the solution.

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    4. Hey Marie-Claire, I agree with the point you are trying to emphasize in your paragraph. Our society is showing the glamorized version of war through films and video games, in the meantime children younger than ourselves are having to deal with the real trauma that arises through the reality of war. Although there are several different tactics we can use to improve the condition of war, the problem lies on how we choose to execute these plans.

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  3. Through the first hand recount of his life as a child soldier, Ishmael Beah is able to educate others about the facts and true ramifications of violence and war. Currently, in western countries, violence and war are glamorized and offer the portrayal of power and dominance. Often, in the media, its effects and destruction are enormously diluted and ignored. Beah offers a voice; he speaks for and of the truth. He acknowledges the glorification made possible by Hollywood and western attitudes and informs the public of the horrors endured by child soldiers. Through this, individuals are able to learn about and understand the abuse, trauma, brainwashing and violence many children face and endure. Beah's sharing of knowledge and stories helps to broaden the image of war and violence and aims to promote the education of child soldiers. And with the truth exposed, many individuals are able to change their perspective and opinion about violence and war. Moreover, Beah explains his journey of healing and how the efforts of organizations helped him to reintegrate back into society and properly behave as a civilian and not as a soldier. However, once informed, how does an individual take action to assist in the demobilization of child soldiers and with educating others on the manner? Although raising money for relief organization seems like the key answer, it is difficult to choose an organization and to monitor how the money is being used. As a result, I believe that sharing this new found knowledge with others is an important way to broaden the perspective of others and to inform the public about an issue that is often left in the dark.

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    1. Hey Michelle I appreciated how you included information that Ishmael Beah mentioned during his interview. As well as I liked how you asked a question in the middle of your paragraph and answered is with a descriptive response. Your paragraph allows individuals to view the issue surrounding child soldiers through the perspective of Ishmael and yourself.

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  5. Ishmael Beah was interviewed by a Canadian talk show host, he was asked several questions regarding his experiences as a child soldier, and in which ways it has affected him as an individual. Although Ishmael Beah has grown into a well developed individual, he faced several obstacles that very few people encounter in their life span. Ishamael described the conditions that existed in Sierra Leone during the war. He explained the forceful acts he had to command to in order to survive. He described how the emotional aspects of an individual’s life vanished from his due to the horrific acts he committed. Ishmael Beah was forced to kill in order to continue living; he was forced to take drugs that enabled him to feel remorse. Ishamael Beah was converted into different human being, although he remained with the same body image his soul vanished. Even when the group from UNICEF came to rescue the children, the children were indecisive to leave. They were so convinced that this way of living was normal. Several of these individuals had been robbed of there freedoms and family. This training center was the only home they had left. They treasured it, not knowing that the effects were negative. I had learned the bare minimum regarding child soldiers up until taking Social Justice 12. Although I carried more knowledge regarding the issue, I was still unable to fully connect myself into understanding how a child younger then myself could be forced into such horrific environments. Ishmael Beah enabled me to understand his personal experiences regarding war by expressing them to his audience. He is making society more aware of the issues revolving around child soldiers so that we as individuals can make a change. As a young student hearing about issues revolving children near to my age is a difficult thought. It makes you re think about the benefits and rights that we as Canadians citizens receive. I am hopeful that all the efforts that are being made from youth, adults and support groups will be recognized, so that several more individuals will be aware of the issues revolving around child soldiers. Carrying this new information motivates me in making a difference regarding issues similar to these. I believe that as community if individuals continue fundraising and creating awareness, that this issue could be seized. But the efforts cannot arise from solely one individual, several people must take initiative in order for this issue to be seen and fought against world wide.

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    1. Hi Selam,

      I, too, was not very aware of the facts surrounding child soldiers until Social Justice 12. And, I agree that Beah is proving how education is essential in increasing people's awareness surrounding the issue. Beah's first hand recounts allow for education about child soldiers to take on a different depth that captures an audience more profoundly. You also raised a great point about how this new information allows individuals to better understand their own rights and freedoms as a Canadian citizen.

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  6. The most important thing we can learn from Ishmael Beah is how we, as westerners, romanticize war and think of it as a glorious battle where people fight for their rights. We cannot possibly understand what war is really like unless we have gone through it ourselves. Ishmael said, “If you’ve been touched by it you know it’s not glorious, it’s not romantic.” Because of the movies we have seen that make war seem dramatic with the participants brave and courageous we have this idealized idea of what in reality is a gruesome and scary nightmare. The participants are not brave, but frightened and “so removed from human emotions.” How can we truly know what it is like when media has sugar-coated the truth? Only through first-person accounts can we even have a glimpse of how horrible war is to the people who need to face it.
    Another interesting thing he mentioned was how he managed all the emotions and struggles he went through after he was rescued from the war. He said, “The thing we need is people, to be there for you… to help you.” The people at the rehabilitation center helped him deal with all the emotions he was going through. I was impressed how he did not feel guilt because he knew he was a child. The most important thing is to “forgive yourself and forgive others,” and with compassion, care, and persistence anyone has the ability to heal.
    This knowledge has greatly impacted me and the way I look at war. I cannot even imagine what war is like and would never say I understand what Ishmael went through. People who have not gone through it personally should try to understand but should never assume they actually do. Though we can now see that war is not glorious or romantic we still can even begin to understand the awful reality.

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    1. Hi Esther

      It seems as if you have been really touched by Ishmael's words and life. It is interesting how all the posts point to the power of one person's first-hand account. I am wondering if his impact on you and other would have been as strong as it is had it been told from an adult's point of view. For example, this week we are having a Holocaust survivor come to the library as part of Global Issues Week. I hope hearing the words of an Elder impacted by war will have the same impact as hearing or reading the story of a child in a similar situation.

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    2. Hello Esther,

      I agree with what you said about how peoples' personal stories can help us change our romanticized perception of war, but even with this new understanding, we will never be able to fully understand and relate to their situations. I wonder if a part of Ismael's healing process was sharing his story and the pain he experienced with other demobilized soldiers that experienced similar things, as a person who has never experienced war first hand will never be able to fully empathize with someone who has. I also wonder how Ishmael was able to adapt to his life in the states, hearing his friends talk about war as if it was some sort of video game, completely ignorant of the pain that he himself had to endure being exposed to it at such a young age.

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    3. Hi Ms. Jones,
      Reading firsthand accounts of historical events really impacts my life and my perspectives. I have always loved reading memoirs about the holocaust, the wars, and other important and life changing experiences that people have gone through. I don't think age of the speaker alters the power of their story in any way. In the case of the speaker coming to our school I am sure she was quite young during the war and therefore did share similar emotions that I might have felt and can connect just as well as Ishmael Beah can do the younger generation. We are all humans and we all go through trauma differently no matter what our age but we still share common emotions. I wish I had the opportunity to see the holocaust survivor because the holocaust has always been fascinating to me as we see what exactly humans are capable of and how horrible we can treat each other but it also shows the fight and courage people have.

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    4. Hello Marie-Claire,
      It's true that we can never begin to understand what he went through. We are so desensitized with our 'war' movies and video games where we have multiple lives, guns, and the option to pause and go on with our lives. I honestly don't know how Ishmael had the courage to deal with all of his american friends' ignorance. We feel like we know all about it because we read about it in a textbook but we don't know what it is like to fear for our lives. We are separated from emotions.
      No doubt writing his book helped him heal. I love writing too and when the thoughts that are tormenting your mind are written down where you can look at them and analyse them you finally feel like you have the power over the horrors. They cannot hurt as much when they are separated from you.
      Thanks for the comment!

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  8. In the interview on The Hour, Ishmael Beah explains the violence he faced while participating in the war in Sierra Leone as a child soldier. It's important for the western world to understand the true horrors of the war instead of glorifying it. Ishmael talks about how in the western world, we have romantic and heroic visions of the war; however after experiencing its tragedies first hand, Ishmael focuses on how false those conceptions are. He explains how after witnessing people die, and after being forced to kill people in order to keep his own life, he was forced to take drugs. These drugs desensitized him, taking him from himself and allowing him to keep fighting in the madness of the war in his country. I find it very disturbing that many young children are forced to take drugs in order to be stripped of their emotions, making the traumatizing world around them normal and reality. Although Ishmael will never be able to forget his horrific past, his positive outlook on his new life gives us hope for all other child soldiers. Listening to Ishmael speak in “A Long Way Gone” gave his story depth and created a personal connection with the listener. I think it’s important to look at Ishmael’s ability to live a positive life post-war and understand that it’s never too late to make a difference in these children’s lives. I believe that the only way to make change is to create awareness. Ishmael discussed how he brought hip hop artists with him to Sierra Leone and they were terrified even though the war was not going on; this is an example of how exposure to the truth will give people the drive to make a difference in the lives of these children. Ishmael states “At that age you are not psychologically mature to be able to make decisions that are right for yourself.” The absolute most important thing to take from Ishmael’s story is to understand that these children are not given a choice. They often don’t have any options or are simply too young to make decisions that will benefit their lives. War should not be an option for young children because kids like Ishmael deserve a happy childhood and healthy development both physically and psychologically.

    -Emily Ancill

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    1. Hey Emily,
      I too thought his positive outlook on life and the future was admirable. The fact that he could forgive himself owing to the fact that, like you said, he was so desensitized by the drugs and did not know what he was doing, is incredible. He is such a positive role model and example for child soldiers who feel like their future is going to dismal and full of nightmares that will control their lives. Thankfully, organizations are aiming to give these children hope through rehabilitation centers, but like Ishmael said, you will never forget what you went through and the children will have to carry this burden forever. I also totally agree with what you said about how the children have no choice. It's disgusting when children are charged with war crimes and manslaughter when they are not mentally able to make such decisions. Last year my socials class learned about a boy who killed an american when he was apart of the Taliban and was charged and tortured in prison. Children need to be protected from war.

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  9. Through his interview with Canadian show host George Stroumboulopoulos, Ishmael Beah speaks about the raises a critical point; that understanding and forgiveness are key to developing as an individual. Having been a child soldier Ishmael Beah has been through experiences of such traumatic proportion that this piece of advice has been crucial in his own development. Beah emphasizes the idea that although forgetting his life as a child soldier may be a short term solution it would prevent him from developing into the individual he strives to be. I believe that this idea is relevant to all of our lives. Our problems thrive on the chase of catching up with us, so give them any satisfaction? Ishmael Beach is a prime example of a man using his own hardships to transform. Through his transformation he has not only healed his own soul but he has reached out on a world wide scale to individuals, groups and societies affected by the the use of child soldiers. Moreover through Beah's transformation he has raised the issue of Western countries romanticizing war. One could not possibly understand the true brutalities of war without having been a part of it, however through interviews such as these and his book " A Long Way Gone", Ishmael Beah has offered the Western world a honest understanding of war. One far more accurate than modern films, video games, and television recently portray. Ismael Beah's story has greatly impacted me and the manner in which I feel towards all wars. Whether they are between nations, within countries, or even amongst families, friends and individuals. We may never experience wars as traumatizing as the one Ishmael Beah lived through, however we can apply his approach to dealing with pain and healing to the wars in our own lives; however big or small they may be.

    - ann

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  10. As soon as a society becomes developed to the point we are at, we have become disconnected to the realities the majority of the world face. This does not mean we do not live in a reality, but in a way it is an unrealistic reality, where we have the privilege of worrying about what we wear, about which house or apartment to live in and what meal to eat each night. After a short time we forget these things really are a privilege in today's world, when too many are terrified day in and day out about whether or not they will still be alive in the next couple of days. We are in fact so disconnected, that no matter how many documentaries we watch, there is no way to understand what the other side of our world is like. If I may be so bold to use the phrase, it very may well be a slap in the face to anyone who has experienced such a life, to claim the power of being able to place ourselves in their shoes. As Ishmael Beah says, we have such a romantic point of view versus the reality of war and child soldiers that we would have to see it to believe just how skewed our Western point of view is on the matter. And yet, Beah raises the point that true appreciation—at least, for some—for what we have is knowing that there is always the possibility of losing it all. Simply understanding this fact may help us as a society be more grateful for what is handed to us for being born where we were born. Another great lesson Ishmael Beah shares with us in this interview, is no matter your situation as a victim, forgiveness is key. Even after having his family and his childhood destroyed, after being drugged and taken advantage of, shaped into a killer, Beah still forgave everyone responsable. If he is capable of doing that much, we also should learn to forgive.

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  11. I really appreciate your emphasis on how disconnected our world has become. There has and will always be differences in living conditions around the world, however the gap between these differences has grown to far apart. We will never fully understand each others differences, what is important is to be grateful for what we have and I think your reflection clearly emphasizes that point.

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  12. Hi y'all

    I'd love to reply to all of you individually, but in order to make these threads easier to use, I just want to make a general observation. A lot of you, Selam, Emily, Esther have expressed a willingness to do something to make a difference. After seeing the films today at the REEL Canada film festival, I was inspired to think about how the creative process of film making and writing contribute to raising awareness and activism. It reminded me that whether you chain yourself to a tree, produce a film, or paint a mural, all of these count as social justice actions.

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  13. Ishmael Beah during his interview on “The Hour” raises several intriguing details about the causes and impacts of/on child soldiers. His book “A long way Gone” explains his journey as a child soldier. He continues the elaboration in his seemingly unimaginable life as he tells us how he was recruited into the war. Beah states: “I was confused. I was oppressed into this war”. Children search for security and safety from adults; it would have been natural for the children to turn to military authorities for help. It’s important to know that not every country has the blessing to be able to trust its adults and military. Using threats fear and drugs, Beah became “desensitized” to the violence around him. He uses the term “brainwashed” several times; this information would shock any child or even adult. The violence fed to us through media glorifies the life of a soldier. However Beah’s story argues differently. At the beginning of his life as a soldier he describes the group as a “surrogate family”. When torn away from all that he knew and loved he found comfort within this group. I find this a very powerful statement because it demonstrates the high need for belonging in the human condition. Instinctually we all search for belonging. It is a devastating thought that children are being manipulated through this need to partake in war crime. With this knowledge it is important we not only apply it to international problems; but ones happening here in our own community. For example, bullying remains a huge issue among primary schools. When comparing bullies to the warlords, many similarities become clear. Both depend on the sentiments of isolation and fear from their victims. Also, they take advantage of the younger and smaller members within the community. From Beah’s story we realize that this bullying leaves a life-long scar. All children should be able to live with freedom.

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  14. Wow Tony, thanks for your insightful commentary. You quote from the video and the book to make your points. I also love your analogy with bullying since it is definitely a form of oppression. I am interested in how you were able to think about human psychological and emotional needs and tie them into exploitation and coercion. Finally, your point about not every country being able to trust its military brings the current events in Syria to mind.

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