How does the war have an impact on young people?

Last English class we watched the movie “In the Valley of Elah”, which is about a father trying to find his 18 year old son who just came home from the war in Iraq and is missing from his base. War can do a lot of horrible tings to young people, and this movie shows signs of this. Even though they survive in the war, the war can mess things up in many other ways. Young people are more easily influenced by others, than older people are, and they usually take more risks. They are open for a lot, and in a situation like a war they can do a lot they shouldn’t. Get involved with drugs, or gangs they shouldn’t hang out with. They can get alcohol problems, problems with anger and so on. It is easy to get in the wrong or bad social settings.

They can also get psychic problems, which can stay with then for the rest of their lives. The things they see in war can be too much for only a young person. Or actually for any person!

Is making money, or making a difference in the world the most important?

Last week we watched the movie Lions for Lambs, which is about the war in Iraq, and the different sides of it. The “lions” in the movie are those who stand up and go to Iraq to fight. And the “lambs” are the cowards who just talk about making things better, but don’t do anything. There are a lot of issues in this movie and one ting I think is important is if making money or making a difference in the world the most important.

Yes, what really is the most important? Money is necessary in a certain amount so you can get food and a roof over your head. I do agree with that. But would you rather live a life with heaps of money without helping people or making a difference? Many people may think that as long as you have enough money you will be happy. But I think it goes beyond than that. I think that making a difference; whether it's working in Africa helping children with Aids, joining the army, or just tutoring children at school, is the most important cause you then do something for others and not only for you. Doing things for others IS like doing something for you as well. It does make you feel better about yourself, doesn’t it?