Daily Reflections Week 4-week 5

Daily Reflections Child Soldiers: Week 4- Week 5 **remember to bring this with you to the next class!!** (www.justiceandfaith.blogspot.com) Day One Mark 10:13-14 13 People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them.14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” Reflect: Why do you think the disciples rebuked the little children? What role do you think children had at the time of Mark? Looking at Jesus’ reactions to the disciples, what lesson is he teaching us about how children should be thought of and treated? Do you think child soldiers are being hindered from going to Jesus? Why/why not? Day Two “Washing one’s hands of the conflict between the powerful and the powerless means to side with the powerful, not to be neutral,” (Paulo Freire, Brazilian educator and advocate for the poor and marginalized). Reflect: What conflicts or issues have you washed your hands of because you were too overwhelmed, didn’t know enough about the issue, were fearful, didn’t have time, etc.? Do you agree with Paolo Freire’s stance that being neutral on an issue is actually siding with the powerful? Why/why not? Day Three Luke 9:48 48 Then he [Jesus] said to them [disciples], “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all–he is the greatest.” Reflect: What reasons do you think Jesus had for saying the least among you is the greatest? How do you judge who the ‘least’ is? What do you think Jesus is asking us to do for our fellow brothers and sisters? And, lastly, why does Jesus equate welcoming the least among you as welcoming him? Day Four Child Soldiers Quiz Question: According to the United Nations (amongst many other organizations), the youngest child soldiers are about how old? a. 4 b. 7 c. 12 d. 15 Day Five Child Soldiers Quiz Question: Approximately how many children under the age of 18 are recruited and/or fighting in armed conflicts, both within governmental armed forces and non-governmental military organizations? a. 300,000 b. 14,000 c. 1,000,000

Day Six What moral issues are behind the use of child soldiers in armed conflict? Why do you consider these issues to be problems? Why do you believe these issues exist? Make note here of your answers to the above questions.

Day Seven How does society suffer when children are used in armed conflict? Answer this question at three different levels: individual (individual people & families), societal (schools, churches, small businesses, etc.), and institutional (federal government, big corporations, banks, etc.). We will be addressing this question in Class 5. Please note the following diagram: Institutional Societal Individual

Levels of Community