Deanna Tutrani
Professor Harmon
Composition
10 October 2012
Annotated Bibliography
“Childhood’s End.” Vanity Fair 545 (2006): 58. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 10 Oct. 2012.
In this editorial from Vanity Fair Magazine, the author explains in detail what being a child soldier entails, and how Joseph Kony brainwashes them. He describes this through interviews he conducted with child refugees in the town of Gulu, Africa. One of the children, James, explains how he was savagely beat with a wire lash and then was forced to take part in murdering children who were too tired to walk any farther. He states, “First we had to watch, then we had to join in the beatings until they died”(James 2). The author also focuses on the background of Joseph Kony, showing what his beliefs are and how he uses them to manipulate the children. Kony claims to be following the Old Testament and imposing the Ten Commandments throughout Africa. Kony is predicted to have multiple personality disorder, and he believes he is profit mistaking his dreams for prophecies. The author goes on about how Kony deceives his followers and the Ugandan government. This source can be used in my paper to answer my research question, What happens to child soldiers once they are taken, and how does this affect them later in life? It can also help me to understand how Kony brainwashes the children, and why he thinks he is doing good for the people of Africa.
Dunson, Donald H. “The Child Soldiers Of Gusco.” America 186.2 (2002): 12. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 10 Oct. 2012.
In this article, “The Child Soldiers of Gusco”, Dunson relays first hand interviews he conducted with children at Gusco camp. Gusco camp is the Gulu United to Save the Children Organization, which is a nongovernmental organization whose camp in Uganda houses about 50 former child soldiers. Dunson also describes the lost identities of child soldiers and focuses on what happens to some of the girls who are taken by the LRA. Firstly, you learn how the children’s emotions and personalities are altered because of their trama. The methods of the LRA are to destroy deep personal feelings and human intuitions so that they can desensitize the children and make them killers. On another note, the LRA also exploits young women. Once they are captured they are usually used as sex slaves for the high ranking officers. If these young girls do return they usually end up coming back with STD’s or an unwanted child, not to mention personal trama and scaring. This article will be used in my paper to give me an insight on how the LRA rips away a child’s innocence and how they exploit these children and make them follow orders.
Smith, Gary. “Child Soldiers And The Lord’s Resistance Army.” America 190.11 (2004): 13.MasterFILE Premier. Web. 10 Oct. 2012.
This magazine article, “Child Soldiers and the Lords Resistance Army,” focuses mainly on the background of the LRA, how they were founded, what they believe, and who is involved with them. Many of the head members of the LRA are between the ages of 16-25. They usually outsmart the Ugandan Army which explains why they have not been taken down yet. When the Ugandan Army goes after them they do end up killing some of the members but those are usually the children. Smith also describes one of the abductions that took place at a parish. He states how the children and adults were woken in the middle of the night and told to run out of the compound. Most of the adults that were taken and did not escape would be killed for the children to witness. Amidst all of horror, there are still people out there trying to help states Smith. Among these are the JRS or Jesuit Refugee Service, who helps refugees mainly from Sudan and Northern Uganda who have been affected by the LRA. This article will be used to help me to understand the background of the LRA and how they operate. I will also use it to understand the JRS and their efforts in helping the refugees who must flee from the LRA.
Deetutrani 