Child soldiers and the news

It was the picture of a small Somalian boy on the cover of Time Magazine that changed the course of my life.  His bones protruded from his gaunt face, his large belly was witness of his malnourished body, and his eyes spoke of the sorrow of starvation and famine.  I was only 11, but my heart hurt for this little boy.  I tried to think of a way to save this boy from starving, but realized my savings of $100 would never be enough.  Since that day, I have wanted to do nothing but care for sick suffering children.  I have been especially affected by the plight of many children in Africa and have always been very interested in learning about Darfur, Rowanda, Sierra Leon, etc.   I search for articles, books, and movies that describe and reveal the atrocities.  I ache for children who have been robbed of family, home, and youth, either enslaved into violence or in constant flight of it.  I even refuse to ever own a mined diamond because of all the violence and oppression surrounding diamond mining.

Recently, I have learned that not everyone shares my same passion for saving these children.  I was on Caltrain when I noticed that the man sitting next to me was reading the book, "A long way gone."  A memoir of a boy soldier in Sierra Leon who describes what his life was like as the rebel factions and the government struggled in conflict.  I commented that I had enjoyed the book and was interested to learn from the perspective and life from this young boy.  The man, however, felt very differently that I did.  He said that he didn't like reading about conflicts, or problems, or the wars on the news.  He said that he became frustrated with problems that had no solutions.  He said more, but his comment that he didn't "like hearing about problems that had no solutions" enfuriated me.  I wanted to take him by his shoulders, shake him, and say, "It's because of news and the spreading of knowledge that people learn about these problems and work to find solutions!"  How else are problems solved?  If no one knows what the problems are, how are there supposed to be solutions?  Interestingly enough, he was an attorney, or maybe that was the reason for his comment.  Don't many people go into law with the hopes of making a difference in the world?  

The disturbing thing behind his comment was I have heard something similar from all kinds of people.  "I can't watch the news; it depresses me."  "I hate that movie; people die and it makes me sad."  Heaven forbid the plight of others depresses you or makes you sad.  Just think what the actual victims must be feeling.  They probably just love having horrible things happen to them and then no one knowing what is going on so that no one can help.  I for one would be thrilled to have my family's home be burned and my parents murdered and people not wanting to hear about it because it makes them sad.  Or even worse, never being reported about in the first place.  I understand that we can't always be hearing the worst of what happens in the world, but we need to accept reality.  Horrible things happen and the people that aren't experiencing it are the ones who can help.  It is a basic gospel principle, "We must know the bad, so that we can recognize the good.  There cannot be good, if there is no evil."  That may seem a little abrupt in context with rape, murder, and war, but ultimately, we learn that all people suffer.  And those that are in the position to help are the hope of those who are suffering.  

Whether law school has taught you to be cynical, you are faint of heart, or you detest war, ignoring the problem is a problem.  Let's band together and find solutions and ways to end the suffering of children and adults alike.  Turn on the news, watch hard things, and remember:  If I were in their shoes, I'd want my help.