CHILD SOLDIER

It is 2am. The ticking of the clock and the voices of militias could be heard between the Everlasting and periodic cackling of riffles and the thundering of mortars in the distance. The action was infact, within a few kilometers from us.I had been awake since a mortar  had sounded close by at around 12 midnight. My eyes were wide opened as they would at dawn. I held my tiny fingers together, with my hands and legs folded. My heart beat faster than a tribal drum. It beat as though it was finding a way out of my chest. It seemed as though it was moving faster than an electric train. The night was impenetrably dark and  disrupted. No one could sleep. The night was alive! Sleep seemed to have escape  every eye brow...even the ones of babies too.My hands and legs were shaking like the branches of a mango tree during a storm. With my head stuck beneath the pillow I could hardly breathe and yet, it was the least of my worries.  I was lying right next to dad but still,it

This was not the first time war had come to Liberia. War had play a central role in the countries transition. It made the country poorer and lacked basic infrastructures for citizens to live adequately.we were founded by an organization that consisted of a few African Americans that called themselves the American colonization society back in 1822. They consisted of a few African Americans who thought it wise to find a home for those blacks that were being returned to Africa. They chose the grain and pepper coast which is present day Liberia. They said when they came the place was filled with tall bushes and malagueta pepper. They brought the first group of freed slaves on a ship called " Elizabeth". The settlers settled and eventually formed a government.But soon, they started experiencing some problems. Their customs and laws were being constantly violated by other countries.They had no army and could not fight back. They were defenseless and unpopular. A lot of countries did not k

The art of warfare is not an easy skill to grasp. A soldier had to spend months, weeks and years learning and training how to be a good soldier in person and in battle. Most people see it as an honor and privilege to serve their nation through the army. The army stands for respect and principles.  A soldier must be disciplined and obedient and most importantly, must learn how to carry a weapon adequately and fully.it is a prde for most people to see themselves serving in the army of their beloved country. It has an almost indescribable and unexplainable feeling. During peace times an army is a symbol of patriotism, discipline and humility but in war times they become a symbol of sacrifice and bravery. We mainly prioritize armies during wars. It almost seemed as though they served no purpose in a state during peace times. We merely admire their uniforms and admire their show of obedience and discipline. They are most times playing in bands or at small riots during peace times. T

 The fighting had gone on for two months non stop and we now seemed like veterans. We were veterans of the many sleepless nights and long, boring scary days.we were veterans of the disturbing and awful sounds that came from the front as a result of the heavy mortars and greenades. We were veterans of viewing dead bodies being transported in the opened vehicles; the sights that sent chills down a person's vains.we were veterans of staying up almost the entire night and looking over our shoulders during the day. We were veterans of the madness that had suddenly taken over our nation. Everything was now at an indefinite stand still with no one aware of when it would get back to normal. Daddies no longer went to their jobs on weekdays leaving moms at home to take care of the kids and prepare food alone. Mom and Dad now did the chores by turn through out that time. My play mates and I lost our appetites to play and run around like usual. We no longer went to school but were much too

War has a lot of consequences and brings also a lot of changes. Apart from the killing and division it brings amongst families and friends. It scatters people all over away from their homes and businesses. The killings and continuous running are merely at the front of the many sufferings people go through. War changes so many things even if it is fought at a particular place within an entire region; it affects so many people and so many things.  It causes Rape, starvation,stealing, torture, inequality and so much more. Rich people become poor and the poor become rich almost over night during the course of a war. War is a singular cause for so many things . In all, it is the poor who mostly suffer and are the most vulnerable during these terrifying and hard times. I remember going to buy a candy with money I found while walking in our yard early morning and was told that the price had gone up from 10 Liberian dollars to 25 Liberian dollars. It was for a single candy. The war had