The Hairy Cow: Red Hands Waving

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Red Hands Waving

His name is Ishmael Beah.

He lives in New York.

Born in Sierra Leone in 1980, he’s now 31.

He has a BA in political science.

This is inspired by his book.

For a while, Ishmael Beah lived on

cocaine and marijuana.

He also carried guns and shot anyone

who wasn’t a member of his group.

Ishmael Beah was a child soldier.

(He is not in the next two pictures)

Ishmael’s book tells of his childhood.

Aged 11, rebel fighters attacked his home.

He fled.

He became separated from everyone he knew.

He lived in the forest.

He survived.

All this time, he hated the rebel soldiers.

These rebel soldiers ruined his life

and continued to attack villages.

And then, aged 13... he joined them.

He believed he was killing the rebel fighters,

even when innocent families were killed.

The leaders of his group gave him and other child soldiers (remember, he was 11) speed tablets. Soon, the children were addicted to cocaine and marijuana. They were also addicted to brown brown, a mix of cocaine and gun powder. They were now under the control of their leaders and would do anything that was asked of them.

Finally, after three years as a soldier,

he was rescued.

He was placed in a rehabilitation camp, but, it was a long time before the drugs left his system. It was a long time before he could begin to interact with others. It was a long time before he could start building relationships.

Critical comments have been made about Ishmael’s book. Apparently, his vivid recollection of events caused some people to doubt the accuracy of his story.

If the details are not absolutely accurate,

I still believe the main ideas to be true.

No one can doubt that children around the world are used as soldiers.

Children have been forced to take part in conflicts.

Always - even today.

I choose to accept Ishmael’s story.

I choose to admire him, for what he has seen and what he is showing others. I choose to focus on the big story, not the little details.

Now, he’s a member of NYPAW (Network of Young People Affected by War). He was appointed UNICEF’S first Advocate for Children Affected by War. He is also a member of the Human Rights Watch Children’s Rights Division Advisory Committee. He’s spoken about his experiences in front of many audiences.

Ishmael Beah was an innocent child, who loved rap music.

His childhood was shattered by rebel fighters.

He lost his family.

He became a fighter.

He was lucky – and found his way back.

He's making sure we know about other children,

fighting in violent conflicts, even as I write this.

Today is Red Hand Day.

Today is set aside so that we might think about the children...

...today's child soldiers

... the adults who survived their time as child soldiers

...even the children who didn't make it back.