Posted on November 25, 2008 - by Andy McMahon

Child Soldiers.

24 had a special 2 hour event this week.  It reminded me of something that really pisses me off.  Why is it so easy for Hollywood to make movies about the crap that’s going on in this world, but so easy for the entire nation to sit around watch that, and think, “Oh, this is a T.V. show, and none of that stuff really happens….. that I know of.”

I’m not talking about a secret agent torture guy running around saving our butts without us even knowing about it.  I’m not talking about the presidential conspiracies, though I’m sure there are some. What I am talking about is the use of children in the world.  The kidnapping of children to use them as soldiers.  Making them kill, training them to be robots.  That’s real.

Regardless of what you think America’s involvement should be with these tiny countries that have no resources to offer us, something like that should hit a nerve.  These children did not choose where they were born.   Now, he is fighting for someone who, most likely, killed his entire family.  His ‘boss’ is someone who may have raped his mother.  He watched his entire village die.

We get a good two hours out of it on 24, or whatever show happens to be using this child as a character, and then we go about our regular lives.  We rarely think twice about these real children.  I want to change that.  I don’t think we should all go on covert missions to the depths of Africa to save children, but there ARE things we can do.

I’m sure you have heard me talk about Call and Response.  If you didn’t go see it, shame on you.   They talked about child soldiers, and how to help them. Find out how here. Or you can go to Invisible Children or warchild.org and find out how to help. Like I always say, to me, money isn’t the most important part.  It’s the awareness.  It’s spreading the word, doing your part.  Whatever you can do to help.  It’s letting people know what is going on.  If people don’t know, NOTHING can change.  I believe we are called to start change.  Will you start it with me?  Repost this post, or read about it, and write a post of your own.

There is also a song by a man named Emmanuel Jal.  Emmanuel Jal is from Sudan, and was a war child.  His story is amazing.  Check it out here.

Below is a video of “War Child” by Emmanuel Jal.  Amazing true story.  Please watch this.