Picture from:
http://childrenwithguns.blogspot.com200701pittsburgh-professors-un-brief-on-child.html/
Done by: Jeannie (13)

This picture depicts several armed militants probably a rebellion group in a city. It is most probably taken in a city of a less developed country such as Africa or Pakistan, as there are several evidences from the picture that contributes to my conclusion. Firstly the background of the picture shows dilapidated buildings and an advertisement signboard. This goes to show that the militants are probably strolling down a place where the heart of activities in the country occurs. Moreover, the soldiers have fairly dark complexion and a soldier on the left hand side of the picture has a green cloth wrapped around his head. This practice is used only in certain countries such as Pakistan as a form of religion and respect. In addition, a boy wielding a gun in broad daylight in front of all those people proves that the country has no proper law governing the people and the unethical use of children as soldier suggest that the militants are probably rebels. This evidence leads to the conclusion that this picture is probably taken is a less developed country which is experiencing instability.

The young boy in the foreground dressed in a camouflage army suit, wielding a gun close to his chest, his face is imprinted with determination and fury. He seems to be staring at something high up with resentment, his eyebrows dig deep into his forehead and his lips turned down. I feel that he had joined the rebellion army on his own free will, as he could be tired of living in poverty and wanted to improve his life. The determination and resentment in his eyes seems to insinuated a serious and crucial moment or plan that is happening later. The person is probably heading out for a riot or a demonstration, to force the government to change the living conditions of the people. The child is probably determined to help his people and family to change their living standards and he could have resented the government for the lack of aids. The young boy approximately ten years old has demonstrated the determination and the will to change this that is seldom seen in people.

On the extreme left of the picture there is another boy in his teens. His seems morose and trying to suppress his tears. The teen is dressed in casual clothes and clutching a framed up photo in his hands. The picture shows a man in army uniform also with a gun in his arm, the man might be his brother or related to him in one way or the other. His brother might have died while protesting or in action, and he is carrying his picture to honour his brother’s death as he might have died fighting for justice.

From the way the militants are armed and dressed in uniforms, suggested that a protest or riot will happen later. There will be many lives involved as it is in the city and damage is inevitable. In conclusion, I feel that the picture was taken to put people to shame and for them to reflect upon, as a boy this young knows to fight for himself and to fight for what he wants even though it endangers his life. While most of us once faced with difficulties choose to avoid and run away from our problem instead of facing them head on. Although it is unethical for a kid to wield a gun and to shoot at people, but it show the fighting spirit of the child that most of us lack.