Reflection

It seems like it is easy to ignore the fact that these people fighting in Uganda are still children because they are performing such adult tasks. No one should be introduced to the idea or experience of killing another person. It is hard to think of a child as a victimizer, but as a fighter of war, as someone who is performing killings and murders, that it just what they are doing, and it should be stopped. I wish I had the opportunity to meet and speak with anyone who had first hand experience with the war in Uganda and the use of child soldiers. I am very appreciative of all the comments I have received, especially from my commenter from Uganda. This experience was the closest I have had to an actual cultural encounter and this encounter, while only communicating online, was what helped me most in writing my blog. I had my first flash of recognition after receiving the comment from Tumwijuke in Uganda. I realized the power that words have, especially when you are writing or talking about something that you are unfamiliar with. I now understand how important it is to dismiss my own beliefs and thoughts before engaging in something I am unfamiliar with and become open to learning about something new. People are not all so different when it comes to war and trauma. Writing this blog has been one of the most eye opening experiences because it allowed me to learn about another culture through my own mistakes, which I believe are inevitable, and expanded by encounters with others outside of my life circle.