The Sniper: News Article: The Sniper Stikes Again

The sniper strikes again


             Yesterday, June 15, 2075, two civilians and a Free Stater were found dead in Dublin near O'Connell Bridge. The Republican sniper has been killing innocents mercilessly for the past few weeks. The male was found beside the parapet wall with a fatal gunshot wound to the head. The female was found at the bottom of a gutter with apparent trauma wounds to the head and spine, though the cause of death was due to the loss of blood.


           "There is no sign of trauma to thee male, which indicates that their were no signs of struggle at the time of death, he died instantly from the gunshot would to the head." says Detective James Gordon of the GCPD who is chief in investigating the murders. " Just because there is a war going on, doesn't mean the innocents should be caught in the cross fires."- (Bruce Wayne GCPD). "The female showed significant trauma to the head and spine, she was not shot but appeared to be startled by the gunshot, and fell down the gutter, and died due to the lack of blood" reports Coroner Dr. Buckner.


            The body of the Free Stater, Sol. Ian Gallagher was also found near the scene , not too far off. It is clear he was shot by the same sniper because the rounds and shell casings are identical indicates Rounds specialist Hugh Bonic. "The gun used was a riffle revolver 453" says Hugh Bonic
"All the we can do at this time of war, is to wait it out. Please anyone with information come forward, and help the GCPD catch this rogue sniper".


            

War and Conflict Artifact

War, Conflict, Life by Chris Foley

The sky is dark, the air is damp
Bombs light the sky yellow, red and white-
With my heart becoming a dim light
I continue to march on until the race is won

I pass the corpses
I pass the shadows
I pass the crying widows

Every weapon we had went off
Striking down hope to everyone we met
Until I met my enemy with strength in his eyes
In them I saw….

In them I wept.

He whispered: 'Have no doubt
One day we can work this out
Tonight, maybe we are going to run
And dream of when the morning comes.'

I let down my gun
I dare not fire upon my brother, my son
Raising a hand, lighting fires
With blazing souls burning with desires

I know the sky could be blue
I know the bombs could slumber
I don’t mind
I just need to know its not a waste of time...


I chose this poem for my war and conflict for my artifact because, when I think of war, I think of the soldiers, and how much pain they must be in, having to see the horrors of war so upfront and close.  This poem is about a soldier who is in the war, and sees the war's catastrophes, and is feeling all the weight of everything around him. All he needs and wants to know is that what he is doing is not a waste of time and for a reason.

Teaching Kids to Kill

Connections:
Similarities:

·         Through the media children in mostly fist world countries are being exposed to violence in video games, the news, and scripted television. Starting at the tender age of only 18 months, children start to become increasingly desensitized, and tricked into thinking that violence in to be associated with Laughter, cheers, popcorn, soda, and their girlfriend's perfume (Grossman & DeGaetano, 1999).

·         In third world countries like Africa, specifically Sierra Leone, child soldiers are conditioned with drugs to believe that killing is just, that what your commander commands you to do is the right thing, and that anyone who says otherwise is deceiving you. They are also being desensitized by drugs, the drugs make you numb.

·         My connection is that both children are both desensitized to death, and killing, because they see it so much, whether it be a simulation or reality, and they both are being conditioned to act and react in certain/the same, ways.

·         Both children are being exposed to such preposterous acts at young ages, for first world countries it starts at 18 months because although the conditioning is gruesome, it isn’t as severe as how the child soldiers are being conditioned, in third world countries child soldiers are being conditioned later because it is awfully severe, they are immersed in to the ideology of believing that murdering should be fun, and should have a sense of victory to it, as video games do.

 

Differences

·         In first world countries, a simulation is used to desensitise and condition children. For example a video game, players shoot incoming people automatically because that is the aim of the game.

·         In third world countries reality is used to condition children, this includes witnessing multiple massacres, being drugged to numb consciences, being conditioned out of fear for loved one, and/or personal wellbeing.

·         Children in third world countries are being forced to participate (life or death)

·         Children in first world countries practice freewill, thus the “If you don’t like it, just turn it off.”

 

 

Challenges:

·         Proverbs 22:6 says “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” Ishmael Beah and other former child soldiers may seem to be high functioning members of society, remarkably together and articulate, but does that mean that they have departed for the ways they were conditioned to behave in.

·         Children that are desensitized by simulation, don’t they have morals and values, and if they do not, are they mentally stable. If they are not, than I believe individuals who are not mentally stable, should not be allowed to play these discussing games.    

 

Concepts:

·         That video games, the news, and all other things children watch have and affect on us.

·         We should make an effort to help aid UNICEF bring troubled, and former child soldiers to countries that will not allow that, and will help them thrive and flourish.

·         Everything we, or other people do will condition, and shape our opinions, and outlooks.

·         Young children should not be exposed to suich gruesome acts of inhumanity.

Changes:

Suggested in the text is that all video games affect us badly and will have repercussions in lives.