Connection:
Lt. Col. Dave Grossman makes an excellent theory that media and
entertainment has had a powerful role in corrupted children. If it is not
direct media that influences kids, it is their friends that do participate in
the violent "innocent" acts of fun and encourage them to. It's a
chain reaction happening. In order to be a part of the group one must act, talk
and walk like the others. In this case, participating in playing violent games
is just the beginning. Social participant is part of it too, that is the case
that occurred with Ishmael Beah, at a tender age of 12. Due to constant
pressure, his innocent and naive way of thinking could not process what he was
forced to do. Thus, leading him to be easily swayed by the rebels' plans. If
Michael Carneal had not seen and played so many violent video games involving
killing. There could be very little possibility that he would have been able to
operate and kill eight students. While acting so desensitized and detached
afterwards.
Challenges:
Today, most violent and graphic video games are assigned a rating, based
on the level of disturbing graphics. It is supposed to keep young adolescents
from purchasing the game, since parental permission is required. However, now
it seems as if the opposite is happening. Youths are gaining access to these
video games, through older siblings, friends, older guardians with that dismiss
the level of disturbance, or illegal. Are educational organizations aware of
this? Is anything being done about this issue to prevent youths from learning
how to potentially harm someone, or themselves?
Concepts:
Intriguing key points that stud out for me was the mention of how
children are the most easily influenced age for people overall. When forced
into a situation they dislike or find uncomfortable, their automatic response
is to listen and follow directions. Too afraid to do anything else. Ishmael
Beah stated in the interview, that the same thing happened to him. It is very
easy to force a new way of life on a child that has no experience with the real
world, themselves, it allows the child to be open to dangerous things. However,
they do not view their new experiences as that. Similar to the video of Ishmael
Beah, he felt lonely and abandoned when in fact. His whole family had been
killed. That is where the rebels intervened and provided the "fake"
sense of security for those captured.
Change:
Some changes that I
developed near the end of the reading was that human beings, even put through
the most horrible, traumatic, sorrowful experience that most people don't
experience in one lifetime. Still has the courage and determination to make
themselves better and create a better life for themselves, despite what life
has already given them. It is truly inspirational, to hear that Ishmael has
turned his life around. If people had the determination and dedication like
him, there would be more stories like Ishmael's to inspire a new generation of
youths.
