A Loss Of Innocence

Dear Senator,
Only sixty years have passed and we as a universal community, striving for equality and inalienable rights, have somehow forgotten what the United Nations had adopted for the sake and benefits of humans of all race, sex, gender, and religion. On that Decemeber day in 1948, the Great Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; it states very clear on the United Nations web page:

"As a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping the Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction."
Everyone is entitled to freedom and the liberty to pursue a life of happinesss. A Universal code of conduct has attempted to put an end to avoidable human injustices in effect to bring out the best in someone and a society. Sometimes it seems invariably difficult to commit or even change the way a society conducts their way of life. For thousands of years countries have been led to the belief that their way of life has been the only way of life, and in consequence have begun to break the rules put forth by the Great Assembly of the United Nations sixty years ago. There was a reason why such a declaration of Human Rights was constructed. These countries, which for many centuries have not been told what to do, are now facing a coalition of Human Rights Activists who are trying to put an end to such inhumane practices like stoning and the death penalty. Though, a far greater problem is starting to make its way into the center of national debate.
In much of the Middle East and Nothern Africa young children, as young as eight years old, are fighting in their armies and militias. Even though the Declaration states very clear in bold print of the parameters of all humans, including children, these countries still seem to disobey; but why is this? Who is really to blame for these acts of injustices on these young and innocent children? What really strikes me about the whole situation is America's involvement in all of this. On the Human Rights Activist website, it is said that over 250,000 children in more than twenty countries are forced to fight. The shocking evidence is not the 250,000 children who are fighting, but the ten countries who the United States are supplying with guns and money to help build these armies and militias.
It is comforting to know that two of your U.S. Senators have already proposed an act to fight against this atrocity. These children are being influenced to fight for, in most cases, an injust cause that not even the wise and old can unravel. It does not seem plausible for the "Big Brother" country of the World to be even remotely associated to such a crime because that is exactly what it is, a foolish and senseless act which the United States is very much apart of. The situation deems further debate. In my opinion, the light needs to be shined a lot more on this very serious issue. Surely it would be a different story if this were to happen here on our soil. I am certain it would instantly be put to shame, and harsher penalties against those who took part would unequivocally be handed out.

Sincerely,

David A. Culp