This evening I had a really unique opportunity when an educator whom I work with came to the office. She brought with her a young man who was a former child soldier in Sierra Leone. Two co-workers and I went out for dinner with them; one of the co-workers being one our of speakers who was also a child soldier earlier in his life. We sat in the restaurant for several hours, and the conversation could have continued longer. It was fascinating listening to this young man speak about his views on life and humanity, and just as wonderful seeing the educator interact with this boy as if he were her son. She had been supporting him for 9 years and today, finally, he was able to come to Canada to meet her classroom of grade 6 students, who had bonded so much with his story and photos over the years that they considered him a brother.
They told us about one question that a 12 year old girl asked him; If people know that war is bad, why does it continue?
He shared what he told this little girl, and what he believes to be the answer, and it rang very true to me. War continues because of ignorance, he said. Some people consider poverty or war or child soldiers or violence to be the biggest problems in the world. He considers ignorance to be the biggest issue, because all of these things stem from it.
There is a saying that "ignorance is bliss". I hate when people say this. Perhaps ignorance is comfort. Perhaps it is easier, in some ways, not to know about stories like I heard today, where kids are forced to take drugs and kill at the age of 5. Perhaps it makes it easier on us when we obsess about the coolest phone and the newest fad. But that doesn't mean it is bliss.
Bliss today was speaking with that teacher and watching her eyes tear up as she spoke about her students' reaction to hearing this man's story. When they graduate elementary school, high school, college, and go on to have families of their own, they won't remember the math equation their learned, or the english assignment they wrote. Without a doubt, they will remember today.
They will remember hearing this young man's story, and they will remember his answer about war and ignorance.
They will remember the day when they left their ignorance behind and child soldiers became something very real to them.
They will remember the day they decided to do something about it.
3 comments:
Thanks for the read, so true!! Cheers
Great post, Nikki. This is a much harder issue for me to think about, now that I have become a mom. I remember back to watching "City of God" a while before I was even married, and some of those scenes come back to haunt me today. Right now, I'm struggling with walking the line between not being ignorant of many humanitarian issues and also being able to function. You know what I mean? It's become a lot more difficult since I've had my son.
Maybe you could write in a future post some more about striking that balance?
When will you be in Kenya? Friends of ours are here in the States for a year to fundraise, but they've been living as missionaries for 3 years in Kenya near/in Nairobi. Their website is exleyfamily.com
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