Our future generations

           For nearly 20 years, ISIS has been causing terror around the world and recently, they have been gaining more and more traction as we learn more about just how rigid their thinking is. Recently, news from USA Today tells us about "how the Islamic State turns children into terrorists." A jerking title, it continues by stating that "most terror groups find it difficult to rationalize or explain child recruitment." But not ISIS. In fact, they thrive on that notion and are seemingly proud of their achievements and possible future it may produce. However, these children obviously do not want to follow in ISIS's footsteps. Their teachings go against all normal human morals, and they know this.

There are four main steps to their recruitment process and, surprisingly enough, the first step involves a heavy sugar coating of their motives. They seduce these children by giving them toys, candy, games, even ice cream. Making them look like the good guys. Yet once this first step is complete, the true brainwashing begins. To desensitize them to violence as much as possible, they make these children watch and attend be-headings, eventually participating in them. But why is this necessary? Well, it's obvious, the only way to make anyone think for a second that what ISIS is doing is good is to completely get rid of their moral conscience on what is good and bad and to rewire it to think that the murdering of innocent people is something to be praised. They know that the only way to gain followers is to make them go against their natural conscience, and what better way than to start with children. While their minds are still developing, they are easy targets to brainwash into senseless humans.

After the children have been riled up with pointless toys and candy, they are thrown into harsh military training. Survivors have described this as "sleeping on flea-ridden mattresses, being beaten with sticks, and live fire training." However, the children don't question this. At this point, they have already accepted this new reality and are even said to "graduate with a deep camaraderie with fellow troops."

Let's remember that these are children. Most will view them with sorrowful eyes, but that soon changes once you find out they are responsible for a terrorist bombing. But not forced against their will, actually believing that what they are doing is right, and this is exactly what ISIS takes pride in. This shows just how much, or rather how little, the Islamic State values not only the lives of others but also the lives of their own people, their own children.