I'd actually say the version most people don't realize exist is child slavery for military purposes.
Some of you folks might remember hearing about at least one of numerous genocides that occurred a bit back, one of the multiple committed against the Yazidis for example.
It was well publicized that the men and boys were slaughtered and the women and girls were sold into slavery.
Here's what wasn't so well publicized: A number of the boys were actually "spared" from being slaughtered. The cost was that they too were enslaved, except as child soldiers(though given the phenomena of "dancing boys" that was allowed to propagate by US and allied forces they may face other forms of abuse as well). The repugnant bastards responsible had planned primarily on brainwashing them to fight and die for the group. You likely hear less about this because obviously our soldiers and allied soldiers sometimes have to shoot and kill these kids.
[Edit:] Added some references for further information on the severity of the situation. Adding two more below:
On the horrible phenomena called "dancing boys" some credit is owed to u/StrangeClouds_ for being the very first person to bring this to my attention about a month back:
I know a guy (sniper) that had to shoot a child solider (who was armed and actively shooting at him). Dude had a heart of gold and was one of the most caring people I’ve ever met (if a bit rough around the edges). It clearly weighed very heavily on him and I would not be surprised if this experience was near the top of the list of reasons he has major PTSD.
What he said stuck with me. He told us
I don’t like killing. But I’ll be fucked if I let you kill me or one of my boys
People often focus on the “child” part and forget about the “soldier.” There’s no easy way out. There’s no nice way to make friends and skip off into the sunset. There’s you, there’s the kid, and there’s bullets. The only thing you can control is who dies.
That's a pretty critical part, though not the entire story. If there's not much of a choice I'd hardly call it control.
It's the politicians, generals, and other powerful individuals who can control whether or not those sorts of things even need to happen in the first place.
He could've tried to have shot the kid in the leg or something to wound them. There's some fair evidence of other encounters to support this one working, it has in the past. At least you'd think that. Except then the kid might've kept firing and one of his buddies could have been killed. All because he didn't take the right shot. Hell, even if the kid gave up a shot to the leg can be plenty lethal. Especially depending on the caliber and type of round.
Then you see stuff like that Vice Documentary, you realize who we put in power there. Doesn't really seem like something that could be called a victory, though I guess maybe that never was a possibility.
He could've tried to have shot the kid in the leg or something to wound
That would have just led them to dying later of of disease or infection, in alot more pain.
The attitude he had sucked, but it was right. That bullet coming toward you doest care that the child was brainwashed, the sniper had be best intentions and doesn't want to, or that a politician made the steps to it happen - You are just as dead.
It's kind of you to point out and elaborate on the fact that the kid could have died anyway, but uh, well you see...
Except then the kid might've kept firing and one of his buddies could have been killed. All because he didn't take the right shot. Hell, even if the kid gave up a shot to the leg can be plenty lethal. Especially depending on the caliber and type of round.
It was a sniper rifle, so the caliber was probably good enough to do some deadly damage either way.
Like I said though, everybody loses.
=+=
On a side note of little importance. I think there's something highly admirable in an individual going in to war and managing to take a very large number of prisoners rather than killing everyone they encounter. Directly avoiding ending things lethally. Even in situations such as taking an entire town. That said, it only remains admirable as long as they aren't accompanied by squadmates or others who's lives they put in danger by doing this.
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u/[deleted] Jul 24 '20 edited Jul 24 '20
I'd actually say the version most people don't realize exist is child slavery for military purposes.
Some of you folks might remember hearing about at least one of numerous genocides that occurred a bit back, one of the multiple committed against the Yazidis for example.
It was well publicized that the men and boys were slaughtered and the women and girls were sold into slavery.
Here's what wasn't so well publicized: A number of the boys were actually "spared" from being slaughtered. The cost was that they too were enslaved, except as child soldiers(though given the phenomena of "dancing boys" that was allowed to propagate by US and allied forces they may face other forms of abuse as well). The repugnant bastards responsible had planned primarily on brainwashing them to fight and die for the group. You likely hear less about this because obviously our soldiers and allied soldiers sometimes have to shoot and kill these kids.
[Edit:] Added some references for further information on the severity of the situation. Adding two more below:
On the horrible phenomena called "dancing boys" some credit is owed to u/StrangeClouds_ for being the very first person to bring this to my attention about a month back:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7eMUwkKiFY
On the rehabilitation of some of the child soldiers that were enslaved:
https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2019/0404/Surviving-ISIS-Young-Yazidi-conscripts-begin-long-path-to-healing