The first article was about countries who are becoming very unstable. It talked about the reasons why a country can become "eaten up" like wars and natural causes. Another thing that can effect a country can be where it is located. If a surrounding place had something terrible happen like a war and people fled to the country that you were in can cause conflict even though your country had nothing to do with it. An example of this would be the war in Iraq. Many countries suffered from this. The article also talked about Somalia and how it is ranked as the highest country that is known as the number one failed state.
I thought the article was very informative. I never really thought about how countries that are just around other countries with problems could be effected so badly. It's really sad that so many countries are having such problems. I thought the article was very good.
The second article was about a journalist's trip to Somalia and meeting a young boy named Mohammad who lives in Somalia. The article talks about all of the troubles affecting the people and the environment of Somalia. It's giving a perspective of someone who is living in the chaos and dangers of being in Somalia. Mohammad can't afford to go to school and people he loves are being killed. He had to support his family at a very young age and works as a fisherman so he is able to eat everyday. Unfortunately, Mohammad was born into this. He never really had a chance to live like a normal teenager should. It talks about how every month members from the terrorist group, al-shabaab, would offer him money to join their group. Mohammad said no every time. Many of his friends joined the group and were all either killed, deported, or arrested. The article stated that food is power in Somalia.
It makes me feel awful knowing that we sometimes take advantage of our food and resources when people who live in countries like Somalia are all dying because they don't have any. It doesn't seem fair. I feel so bad for Mohammad because that is the only way he's ever known how to live. I can't imagine what it would be like to have to support my family. I honestly think that I would not be able to do it. I truly hope that the people who live in Somalia are able to gain peace so that they can live long, happy lives.
Sources:
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2009/09/failing-nations/draper-text
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2009/09/somalia/draper-text
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