BRAVE NEW WORLD

If one has time to peruse through Norse mythology, one will find it is one of extreme intrigue and diablerie; it is not just about Thor, the god of thunder and Loki, the god of mischief, it is about Odin, and Heimdall, and how the world was formed when a cow decided to lick away the salty rime rocks, revealing the ancestor of the Gods, Buri.

At some point myth becomes cult becomes religion, or so said Stephen Fry, and it is this religion which masquerades itself as an omnipotent presence which persists in controlling our lives. As such, we would be loath not to find similarities between the happenings of now, and relate them to the happenings of then; as a form of solace, a relief, that if they survived it then, there is no reason why we can’t survive it now.

As per Norse mythology, before the beginning of everything, there were two regions; Niflheim (the cold) and Muspell (the hot). The hot and the cold regions were separated by the Ginnungagap, a yawning gap which ensured a proper barrier was maintained. Surtur, the giant, resided at Muspell, and would only move at the time of Ragnarok (the battle at the end of the world).

And it is evidently clear, that comparisons are inevitable. Ragnarok is approaching, the countries are at battle with each other, and Ginnungagap is shrinking. A fine line separates the hot and the cold, and while in the Norse mythology, it was Thor and Fenrir who battled, in today’s day and age, the battle helmets will be worn by children.

We are a product of our environment. Family and home shape us and mold us, and we become who we become majorly because of them. Originality and reason come much later; principles and traditions are inculcated from the very beginning.

This long monologue is to state a simple fact; 40% of the world’s armed forces comprises of child soldiers. At an age where normality dictates playing and enjoying life should be prioritized, nearly 300,000 children strap on their guns and (usually), act as checkpoints; the adults will stand several meters back so if anyone starts to fire a weapon, the child soldiers will be the first to get hit. And because they are recruited at such a young age, they know nothing else.

A horrifying fact came into light via YourCommonwealth, a blog supported by The Commonwealth Youth Program. To fortify children into killing people, Angolan and Mozambiquean rebel groups made them kill their own family members, and, in order to dehumanize them, made them suck their blood. This is beyond inhuman; the kindest word one can muster is monstrous.

As such, actions are being taken. The United Nations and War Child have formed alliances with international NGOs to ensure rehabilitation of these children back into the society. One of the best methods to do so is reunite them with their families; after the Sierra Leone war, 98% of the child soldiers were reunited with at least one of their parents successfully. These children are educated and provided skill-training, and a myriad of efforts are made to bring back normalcy to their lives.

According to this humble writer’s opinion, this immoral and illegal practice of recruiting child soldiers has to be nipped at the bud. Rebel groups and extremist outfits promise economic stability and family security, something these children find hard to turn down. Better policies have to be plotted and implemented in order to stop children from falling for this trap. Awareness has to be spread, and these children need to know that that path is not an option.

Heimdall blew the Gjallerhorn (the horn which wakes the Gods), to announce that Ragnarok had begun. We might not be Gods, but the horn has been blowing for some time now. It is time to wake up.