"A Long Way Gone" and Ethics

In an indirect way, the weapons used in the conflict in Sierra Leone were a form of weapons of mass destruction. Although they weren't used to destroy natural structures and monumental man-made objects, the guns given to child soldiers saw the deaths of over 50,000 people and the disfiguration of many more. As Ishmael stated in his memoir the war touched the lives of everyone in the country in some way, which means that everyone was affected by those weapons.




The weapons also forced the participation of countless child soldiers, who are still undergoing rehabilitation because of the horrors they have witnessed. The AK-47, the gun of choice for both sides of this war, isn't a weapon of mass destruction by definition. However, its effect could certainly classify it's use as one. The horrifying result of the armed child soldiers has not only killed many people, but it has also destroyed more souls. The boys were given no choice but to ruin their own lives and lives of others by being brainwashed. The drugs blunted their feelings, but had only a temporary effect. After the numbness went away, the soldiers' lives were changed forever by the terrible deeds they had done.

A WMD, or weapon of mass destruction is oftenonly considered to be one of four things: chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear. In my opinion, their should be one more classification of a weapon of mass destruction, one that is even deadlier than the rest and with lasting impressions: psychological.