Kids and Me

Some kids are out training for the basketball tournament
Where am I? training for war.
Some kids are out playing baseball,
Where am I? battling for my life.
Some kids are hanging out, eating junk food,
Where am I? Eating beans and rice.
Some kids are watching the news on TV,
Where am I? Lying dead in the middle of the screen.

Day 8

Becoming is a soldier is being able to endure lots of pain and suffering. Becoming a soldier is being ready to fight a war at any time. Becoming a soldier is being able to handle death at a huge scale. Becoming a soldier is to be ready for anything to happen at any time. Becoming a soldier is dealing with many losses, such as family and friends. Becoming a soldier is learning what's right to do in battle, or die. I learned from this experience to lose a friend right in front of my eyes. I couldn't stand to see him shot right in front of my face. I learned the brutality of joining the army, and I learned the fatal tactics the revolutionaries use to "cheat" in war. I learned how to shoot a gun, and finally, I learned to adapt and become stronger as I needed.

www.javno.com

Day 7

Today we marched to take back San Ildefonso. Trapped in the darkness, I had no choice today but to shoot my foes. The blood splattered all over the darkness, and I couldn't stand the sight. Luckily, I was dismissed to sleep after that. But the rest of the night, I could'nt stand but think of the innocent men's lives I stole away from them. I couldn't sleep the rest of the night, and I felt like getting up and asking Captain Mendoza why they're doing this. But i knew the answer already: "For our safety and freedom." But I don't believe it. I want out of this now. Death doesn't lead to revolutions. It doesn't lead to freedom. It doesn't lead to safety. It doesn't lead to fairness. It doesn't lead to purity. It doesn't lead to happiness. It doesn't lead to equality. It leads to more war. I can't stand the thought of killing more people tomorrow, but I'll have to to survive. I don't even know how to shoot a gun. Seven days ago I was a banana packer. Now I'm a soldier in the revolutionary army (supposedly). So now I'll try to go to sleep with one thing in mind: why me?

http://www.opendemocracy.net/

Day 6

I now have a new understanding of how revolutions are financed, fought, and run. The revolutionaries often have a great disadvantage because they are poor, and they have a minority of people. Because of this they (including Captain Mendoza) don't fight fairly. Captain Mendoza stole money from a bank in a city the revolutionaries took over so he could buy a plane. This le him fly to the US to find more people to fund them in the war. Revolutionary strategies can sometimes be a little unfair, but that's how commited we are: we will do whatever it takes to win the war. Another example of unfair things the revolutionaries do was when they took me from my home. They, without permission snatched Lolo, Ignacio, me, and many others from their homes and forced us to be soldiers. This is unfair to us but, as the great Captain Mendoza says: "Anything that will help us win the war!"

http://en.kindernothilfe.org

Day 5

Today we left the camp for the first time. It was good to leave the camp, but not good to see what was happening outside of camp. The loyalists slaughtered and killed a village, and the only survivors were a young girl and her 2 day old brother. They are being taken to the American mission to be taken care of. It was the first time I actually was part of a battle, and it was horrible. Blood drenched the jungle, and bodies paved the ground. It was the worst thing I'd ever seen. This place was a peaceful place until the loyalists destroyed it, and these people weren't even soldiers. I wonder what they'd do if they got their hands on me... Today made me realize how lucky I was when I worked at the banana plantations, and I would go back to that at any cost if I was able. This also made me wonder what is happening to Concepcion, mother, and the rest of my family. I hope they are alright, and I realized today that the loyalist could do the same thing to them that they did to the innocent people of the village today!

http://mylionsden.blogspot.com

Day 2

The revolution is a pointless war that will never be won. If the revolutionaries ever win a war (which they likely will not), they will become the new loyalists, and they will elect a new president. Later, more people will rebel and become the new revolutionaries. This cycle will continue on forever, never having peace between the parties. All the revolutionaries, such as Captain Mendoza, think that the revolution is necessary, and they need to stick up for their hatred of the government. I think that’s nonsense. They can think differently, but they don’t need to fight over it. Although they would gain from the win of this war, I would stay exactly the same: a poor hired child soldier. If the revolutionaries win the war, the rich would get richer, and the poor would get poorer. My friends, Lolo and Ignacio, have the same opinion as me: the war is pointless and never ending. All in all, the 43rd war is useless, bloody, pointless, deadly, life-threatening, and, most importantly, never-ending!

http://leviathanwars.wordpress.com

Day 1

Today I was recruited to the army of the revolutionaries. I was taken away from my family to train to be a soldier. The officials here are very strict, and I haven’t been able to keep up with their demanding expectations. On the first day of training, they’ve already taught us how to hold our gun, clean it, reload it, and a bunch of commands. The training facility is in the middle of the jungle, and the facilities are horrible. To be honest, I hate it here, and though I might be alone with this, I would really like to break out. We are served just enough food so we don’t starve, and my stomach is dying in between meals. Ignacio is already starting to like being a soldier, and is being brainwashed by the revolutionary soldiers. I just wish I could go back one day and stay with my family. This place is not safe. If we get sick, the loyalists can kill us. If we fight in a battle, the loyalists could kill us. If the loyalists send an air-strike, they could kill us. And if we try to escape from the madness, the revolutionaries kill us. I don’t know what side I’m on in the 43rd war, but I’m not going to become a soldier!

www.spur.asn.au