Children of the Revolution

All photos courtesy foreignpolicy.com

They are the littlest revolutionist you’ll see in the wake of the uprisings in the Mideast and Africa, but don’t underestimate these little people, because they too are hoping and wanting change. However the question still remains are they too young to be a part of such a violent revolution? Or could their presence bring about some ground breaking change?

The Children of the revolution started in Tunisia, and it was indisputable in the historical protest that brought Hosni Mubarak down. It continued in Syria, Jordon, Yemen and the most gruesome protest this revolution year in Colonel Gadafhi’s “under developed” Libya. These children are no doubt making history for themselves and the future generations to come, however their presence on the forefronts of these massive, violent protest are absolutely no place for them to be holding flags and chanting for freedom. They are children, who are being taken to a place where AK-47s are being fired, women are being raped and others go missing, only to be found dead. Although these tragic events are evident to parents of the revolution, they may feel that their children’s presence could somehow break the heart of a egotistical, power driven, maniac—whose only concern is holding on to power, while repressing his people.

 

In this Spring Revolution children have died in the name of freedom, others seriously injured, orphaned and displaced, but it is no surprise to the world that children as younger as 7 are taking part in this uprising. The Arab world is famous for recruiting the tiniest soldiers you laid your eyes on. Not only are the children of the revolution victims, but they are joining the rebels against the government with their brothers, fathers, uncles and grandfathers. They have been told that the future of their country belongs to them and in some way those words are right. To be a child holding an AK-47; waiting to kill the enemy is no way to fight for freedom and take what belongs to you. However it would be ignorant of the world to think a revolution can go without becoming violent and loosing lives in the process.

In Libya, there are about one million children, and they have been recruited by both the rebels and Colonel Gadafhi’s loyalist. In Yemen, those children have died at the hands of explosives and snipers, in Syria; they are grouped together—chanting, all under the age of seventeen. In the 17 day protest in Egypt, 13 children lost their lives and in the birthplace of Spring Revolution—Tunisia; it is said that schools book instigated the uprising.