We finally started our Roller Coaster project. This is a project that I've been anticipating since the start of the year. We're supposed to build a roller coaster or a Rube Goldberg project that identifies some of the laws of physics. Our group, consisting of me, Jacob and Jordan, chose to build a Rube Goldberg machine, that has rollercoaster elements. We've bugun our project with a roller coaster. We also successfully built a loop. One frustration I have is how I don't have any materials. All of the materials I can bring to the table are already brought to it by Jordan. I'm hoping to connect our loop and drop to something else next class. I don't currently have a picture yet, but I will post it later.
Next time: Part 2
Saturday, May 20, 2017
Monday, March 13, 2017
We Can Right This Wrong - Child Soldier Letter to UNICEF
We Can Right This Wrong
To Whomever it May Concern at UNICEF:
Hello. My name is Hisham Bukhari, and I am a student at The American International School of Muscat, TAISM. I’m a normal student with a normal life, and that is how every child should be. Not being trained on how to use a gun, or how to stab with a knife. Yet there are countless child soldiers in the world, fighting for their lives right now, dragged into a mad conflict. You, UNICEF, have the power to help these poor children. Since you have saved thousands of children’s lives before, I have hope that you will try to help these poor children. They shouldn’t be prosecuted for the things they have done. They should be treated with care and put in a center for rehabilitation. Please listen to what I have to say.
If anyone should be blamed for the actions of child soldiers, it should be their commanders. The reason why child soldiers join the military is largely because of them. Some may argue that child soldiers join the army of their own volition. That is true, but the reason they stay in the army is because of their commanders. Since children are very susceptible to influence, commanders use this to their advantage and try to make a child love war and killing. They are brainwashed into thinking that shooting innocent people is fun. This is what The Children and Justice During and in the Aftermath of Armed Conflict report says, “Children are often desired as recruits because they can be easily intimidated and indoctrinated. They lack the mental maturity and judgment to express consent or to fully understand the implications of their actions.” Not only is it psychological, but it is also physical. Commanders repeatedly drug children and force them to stay. Any person that goes through these terrifying times should not be prosecuted.
Like I said before, children are very susceptible to influence, but that doesn't mean just bad influence. It can mean that they can also be rehabilitated. Look at the case of Ishmael Beah, a former child soldier. He was brainwashed so much, that he was actually angry that human rights activists saved him from being a child soldier. Many child soldiers like him attacked the staff of the rehabilitation center he was in (Ex-child-soldier: Shooting…). After rehabilitation, he is now a successful author that has published many books, one being his experience of being a child soldier. Ishmael Beah is living proof that child soldiers can be rehabilitated, and organisations like you can make this possible.
Some may think that part of the reason why I am defending child soldiers is because they are children. That is not true. There are many child murderers out there who deserve to be prosecuted. Let's take the example of Lionel Tate. Lionel, at the age of 12, killed a 6 year old child (Lionel Tate). This murder was done for no reason, in contrast to child soldiers who were actually forced into killing. Child soldiers are not the same as child murderers, and should not be treated the same way.
I realize that there are people who disagree with me. They might think child soldiers have killed too many people to not be prosecuted. And I know that there is a chance that rehabilitation won’t work. In that case, that child is far too influenced to change for the better, and the only choice is to prosecute them. These are very good points, but every living thing deserves a chance. We should treat every opportunity like Ishmael Beah. A child soldier at first might seem like they are too far gone to help, but with enough treatment, they can be cured.
Please consider helping child soldiers. It will help them a lot when they are grown up. With enough effort, we can reduce the number of child soldiers being used everyday. I understand that everything is not simple and you have to worry about numerous things, like your budget. But please, these children need help and care, not war.
Sincerely,
Hisham Bukhari, TAISM Student
Works Cited
Barnett, Errol. `Ex-child-soldier: 'Shooting became just like drinking a glass of water'.` CNN.CNN.com 09 10 2012. Web. 13 March 2017.
N/a. `Lionel Tate.` Wikipedia.Wikipedia 01 12 2016. Web. 13 March 2017.
N/a. `Should child soldiers be prosecuted for their crimes?.` IRIN.IRIN 06 10 2011. Web. 13 March 2017.
Tuesday, March 7, 2017
Child Soldiers Letter Rough Draft
We Can Right This Wrong
To: The UN
Hello. My name is Hisham Bukhari, and I am a student at The American International School of Muscat, TAISM. I’m a normal student with a normal life, and that’s how every child should be. Not being trained on how to use a gun, or how to stab with a knife. Yet there are countless child soldiers in the world, fighting for their lives right now, dragged into a mad conflict for things they didn’t even do. These children shouldn’t be prosecuted for the things they have done. They should be treated with care and put in a rehabilitation center. Please listen to what I have to say.
If anyone should be blamed for the actions of child soldiers, it should be their commanders. The reason why child soldiers join the military is largely because of them. Since children are very susceptible to influence, commanders use this to their advantage and try to make a child love war and killing. They are brainwashed into thinking that shooting innocent people is fun. Not only is it psychological, but it is also physical. Commanders repeatedly drug children and force them to stay. Any person that goes through these terrifying times should not be prosecuted.
Like I said before, children are very susceptible to influence, but that doesn't mean just bad influence. It can mean that they can also be rehabilitated. Look at the case of Ishmael Beah, a former child soldier. He was brainwashed so much, that he was actually angry that human rights activists saved him from being a child soldier. After rehabilitation, he's now a successful author that has published many books, one being his experience of being a child soldier. Ishmael Beah is living proof that child soldiers can be rehabilitated.
I know that there is a chance that rehabilitation won’t work. In that case, that child is far too influenced to change for the better, and the only choice is to prosecute them. But every living thing deserves a chance. We should treat every opportunity like Ishmael Beah. A child soldier at first might seem like they are too far gone to help, but with enough treatment, they can be cured.
Please consider helping child soldiers, instead of prosecuting them. It will help them a lot when they are grown up. With enough effort, we can reduce the number of child soldiers being used everyday. I realize that you could just throw out this letter in the garbage, and forget everything I said. But please, help child soldiers, not harm them.
Sincerely,
Hisham Bukhari, TAISM Student
Sunday, March 5, 2017
Child Soldier Letter Fleshed Out Outline
Introduction: Introducing child soldiers and the debate about if they should be accountable for their actions or not.
Child soldiers, are they innocent or not? This ethical question has been asked time and time again. Should they be prosecuted for their actions or should they be set free because of their youth? I support the side of not holding them accountable for their deeds. I'm here to show you the reasons why.
Main argument: Child soldiers under the age of 15 should not be prosecuted for their crimes. They should be put in a rehabilitation center.
Supporting argument 1: It is not the children's fault, it is their commander’s fault. The force them to join the military. If anyone is to blame, it should be the commanders.
If anyone should be blamed for the actions of child soldiers, it should be their commanders. The reason why child soldiers join the military is largely because of them. Since children are very susceptible to influence, commanders use this to their advantage and try to make a child love war and killing. They are brainwashed into thinking that shooting innocent people is fun. Not only is it psychological, but it is also physical. Commanders repeatedly drug children and force them to stay. Any person that goes through these terrifying times should not be prosecuted.
Supporting argument 2: Children are very susceptible to influence, but that doesn't mean only bad influence.
Like I said before, children are very susceptible to influence, but that doesn't mean just bad influence. It can mean that they can also be rehabilitated. Look at the case of Ishmael Beah, a former child soldier. He was brainwashed so much, that he was actually angry that human rights activists saved him from being a child soldier. After rehabilitation, he's now a successful author that has published many books, one being his experience of being a child soldier. Ishmael Beah is living proof that a child soldiers can be rehabilitated.
Supporting argument 3: If child soldiers still show bad behavior, even after rehabilitation, then they can be prosecuted.
Conclusion: Restating all my points.
Child soldiers, are they innocent or not? This ethical question has been asked time and time again. Should they be prosecuted for their actions or should they be set free because of their youth? I support the side of not holding them accountable for their deeds. I'm here to show you the reasons why.
Main argument: Child soldiers under the age of 15 should not be prosecuted for their crimes. They should be put in a rehabilitation center.
Supporting argument 1: It is not the children's fault, it is their commander’s fault. The force them to join the military. If anyone is to blame, it should be the commanders.
If anyone should be blamed for the actions of child soldiers, it should be their commanders. The reason why child soldiers join the military is largely because of them. Since children are very susceptible to influence, commanders use this to their advantage and try to make a child love war and killing. They are brainwashed into thinking that shooting innocent people is fun. Not only is it psychological, but it is also physical. Commanders repeatedly drug children and force them to stay. Any person that goes through these terrifying times should not be prosecuted.
Supporting argument 2: Children are very susceptible to influence, but that doesn't mean only bad influence.
Like I said before, children are very susceptible to influence, but that doesn't mean just bad influence. It can mean that they can also be rehabilitated. Look at the case of Ishmael Beah, a former child soldier. He was brainwashed so much, that he was actually angry that human rights activists saved him from being a child soldier. After rehabilitation, he's now a successful author that has published many books, one being his experience of being a child soldier. Ishmael Beah is living proof that a child soldiers can be rehabilitated.
Supporting argument 3: If child soldiers still show bad behavior, even after rehabilitation, then they can be prosecuted.
Conclusion: Restating all my points.
Tuesday, February 28, 2017
Outline for the Child Soldiers Essay
Introduction: Introducing child soldiers and the debate about if they should be accountable for their actions or not.
Main argument: Child soldiers under the age of 15 should not be prosecuted for their crimes.
Supporting argument 1: Children's mind’s are still being developed so they are very susceptible to bad influence.
Supporting argument 2: Children in times of war have nowhere to go so they join the military in hopes of seeking food and shelter.
Supporting argument 3: Children want to leave but are forced to stay by drugs alcohol.
Supporting argument 4: Child soldiers are not the same as child murderers. Child murderers do not have an incentive to kill.
Conclusion: Restating all my points.
Main argument: Child soldiers under the age of 15 should not be prosecuted for their crimes.
Supporting argument 1: Children's mind’s are still being developed so they are very susceptible to bad influence.
Supporting argument 2: Children in times of war have nowhere to go so they join the military in hopes of seeking food and shelter.
Supporting argument 3: Children want to leave but are forced to stay by drugs alcohol.
Supporting argument 4: Child soldiers are not the same as child murderers. Child murderers do not have an incentive to kill.
Conclusion: Restating all my points.
Sunday, February 26, 2017
Response to: The Child Soldier on Trial at Guantanamo
Before reading this text, I thought child soldiers should always be pardoned for their actions, as they are very young and they were pressured into war. Now I realize it's a lot more complicated.
In this text, we meet a former child soldier named Omar Khadr. He has killed a US Army soldier and has gone to court over it. The sentence will send him to Guantanamo Bay, which is a very serious sentence.
The reason why Khadr became a child soldier is because his father was a senior ranking Al Qaeda leader. So he was influenced by his father to become one.
Is it OK for Khadr to go free? He was influenced to become a child soldier by his father, but he still has killed people.
This has influenced my view on child soldiers a lot. I think that child soldiers should get different punishments based on the different circumstances they're in. For example, a child soldier that joins the army when he's 9 years old should get a lesser punishment that a child soldier that joins when he's 16.
In this text, we meet a former child soldier named Omar Khadr. He has killed a US Army soldier and has gone to court over it. The sentence will send him to Guantanamo Bay, which is a very serious sentence.
The reason why Khadr became a child soldier is because his father was a senior ranking Al Qaeda leader. So he was influenced by his father to become one.
Is it OK for Khadr to go free? He was influenced to become a child soldier by his father, but he still has killed people.
This has influenced my view on child soldiers a lot. I think that child soldiers should get different punishments based on the different circumstances they're in. For example, a child soldier that joins the army when he's 9 years old should get a lesser punishment that a child soldier that joins when he's 16.
Thinking of Child Soldiers in Different Ways
Thinking of child soldiers in different ways...
Victim
- Very young age
- Very easily influenced by grown ups
- No where to go because of war
- No family to go to
Perpetrator
- Has killed many people
- Many of them weren't actually forced to join the military
- Some of them aren't really that young, maybe 17 or 18
- Some were actually enjoying killing people
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
Response to Somali Text
I didn't know that there were so many child soldiers being forced to join armies. I was even more shocked to find out that there was a child soldier as young as seven years old. How could someone expect a seven year old to fight in an army, much less hold a gun. These child soldiers are brainwashed into thinking what they're doing is good and they actually like it. When a child soldier was asked about what he likes, he replies, "I enjoy the gun." This is the reality of child soldiers. I'm glad there are people out there who are actually trying to help these poor children.
A Child Soldier
This young girl volunteered to fight in a war. Why should she be prosecuted for killing when in a war? No one blames American Army Soldiers for killing during a war, so why should she be? It is not her fault for trying to survive. Yes she volunteered, but without brave souls like her, her side would lose the fight.
If we have to do something about this, we shouldn't try to lock them up in a prison cell. Instead we should shelter them in safe homes. No child should have their childhood ruined by a war.
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