African
continent needs worldwide attention
Patrick
Creaven
Africa has so many problems it is hard to comprehend the magnitude of suffering
on the second largest continent in the world. AIDS, malaria, hunger, dehydration,
civil war and genocide are just a few of the monumental issues currently facing
Africa.
For our generation, there is not a more challenging international issue, including
the Middle East, than Africa. Our parent’s generation has, for the most
part, sat on the sidelines, but it would be an even greater failure if we continue
in their idle footsteps.
One tragedy that receives very little media and political attention is the
ever growing phenomenon of children fighting in wars.
"Children at War,” a chilling yet informative book by P.W. Singer,
documents in meticulous detail why and how armies are looking more and more like
sixth-grade math classes. Until about 25 years ago, examples of children fighting
in armed conflicts were almost nonexistent in human history.
Singer explains that with wars in Africa being more about money than traditional
reasons like ideology, sending children to the front lines has become a cost
effective way to wage warfare.
In 2004, Amnesty International reported there are as many as 120,000 child
soldiers in Africa. Many of the children are
orphans — easy targets for rebel and state-owned armies. According to
the United Nations, there are 34 million orphans in Sub-Saharan Africa — 11
million are orphaned by AIDS.
Once the army kidnaps the child, who is usually a boy but not always, they
very quickly introduce them to the horrors of warfare. Singer opens his book
with a quotation from a 7-year-old child on how he became a soldier.
“
The rebels told me to join them, but I said no. Then they killed my smaller
brother. I changed my mind.” After his or her abduction, it doesn’t
take long for the child to become a proficient killer.
“
Weakened psychologically and fearful of their commanders, children can become
obedient killers, willing to carry out the most dangerous and horrifying assignments,” Singer
writes.
To many, the problems in Africa are so overwhelming it might seem impossible
to fix. But we should not underestimate the power of determination, which has
throughout history made the once impossible possible.
In his famous 1962 “Moon Speech,” President John F. Kennedy told
the world, in his thick New England accent, why
America was embarking on a mission that even the most optimistic scientists
were skeptical about.
“
We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because
they are easy, but because they are hard.”
The current stance by the West concerning Africa has been an easy one.
While the United States and Europe have thrown money at the continent, have
said the politically correct things, they have offered mostly symbolic instead
of real help to the people.
Africa is getting worse, not better. Going to the moon was a choice, but putting
an end to the widespread suffering in Africa is morally imperative.
I admit I don’t know what the correct course of action is, but there
are very smart people in the world who do, and given the right budget and resources,
they could begin to push Africa in the right direction.
It is not going to be easy. It is going to be hard, but right now there is
a little boy who would rather play than kill other little boys, and although
he doesn’t know it, we might be his best chance.
In May, 2002, during a U.N. special session on children, a 13-year-old summarized
it best.
“
It’s a good start to write documents and stuff, but it’s time
to stop theorizing and start doing work to end this.”
Patrick Creaven is a senior journalism major.
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