Western Culture and Child Soldiers

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After achieving economic dominance following the events of World War II, the United States and its allies in Europe began to spread their influence. Commonly referred to as “the West”, these nations impacted people all over the world through music, propaganda, and relief efforts. The United States, as a free superpower, is morally obligated to promote democracy around the world (Evinger and Montanez-Muhinda). This can easily be observed in the stories of two children, Mariatu Kamara and Ishmael Beah, whose lives are changed by a brutal civil war. Despite playing a large role in both tales, the effects of western world are much more prevalent and impactful in A Long Way Gone than in The Bite of the Mango. In fact, unlike Mariatu, Ishmael is influenced heavily by western culture before the war begins to directly affect him. One of the first things readers learn about him is that he loves rap music, a genre created by the West. He and his friends learn dance moves like the running man, wear baggy clothes, and memorize lyrics in English. Eventually, they even begin to use English phrases such as “peace out”. This kind of influence is not found in The Bite of the Mango. Mariatu has much less exposure to the western world than Ishmael. This is evident through her lack of English skills that surfaces when she tries to communicate with her sponsors. However, there are several similarities between their lives that can be attributed to western influence. For example, both of them learn about snow by watching American Christmas movies. They are both exposed to English, most likely because of its role in the world’s economy. Furthermore, the impoverished state of Sierra Leone is the result of western slave trade and imperialism. Freetown wa... ... middle of paper ... ... for Ishmael’s survival. It has a tremendous influence on him from the start of the story, and even saves his life multiple times. Even though both of them end up with book deals and tours, Ishmael has a much stronger interest in the West. It helps him turn his life around and makes him into the person he is today. Works Cited Beah, Ishmael. A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2007. Print. Evinger, B. and Rosalind Montanez-Muhinda. "Point: The United States Has An Interest In Promoting Global Democracy." Points Of View: U.S. & World Democracy (2013): 2. Points of View Reference Center. Web. 13 November 2013. Kamara, Mariatu, and Susan McClelland. The Bite of the Mango. Toronto: Annick, 2008. Print. "Sierra Leone." Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6Th Edition (2013): 1-3. Academic Search Premier. Web. 11 November 2013.

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