I'd Rather Be In Afghanistan Than Chicago! by Ari Andrews

Three years ago, I was Hadiya Pendleton. I was a 15-year-old African American female. I played in the school marching band, and I was an honors student. I had my whole life ahead of me and I knew that if I continued on the right path, then I could achieve whatever I wanted. The difference between me and Hadiya is that I can still achieve my dreams, but she can't. The opportunity was stripped from her by two senseless young criminals. Unlike me, she didn't get the chance to go to NYU...or the University of Chicago...or wherever she wanted to go. Unlike me, she didn't get the chance to walk across the stage at her high school graduation. Unlike me, she didn't even get the chance to experience the excitement of a Sweet Sixteen! Instead, she was killed by gun violence in her own neighborhood. I WAS HER...and my life very well could've turned out the way Hadiya's did, but it didn't because I don't live in Chicago. The reckless gun violence there is leaving blood in the streets and fear in citizen's hearts. Children are afraid to walk to school in the morning and adults are afraid to drive to work. Last month, 48 people were killed by gun violence. This is the highest homicide rate in Chicago in over 10 years. This month, 8 people have already died. Students account for 29 percent of these fatalities and adults account for the rest. Just last week, a national guardsman in Chicago was shot in the head five months after coming back from deployment in Afghanistan. He died instantly. His hometown turned out to be more dangerous for him than the battlefield was. The streets of Chicago are becoming war zones, and I'd rather have a bulletproof vest than a backpack. I'd rather be a soldier in Afghanistan than a student in Chicago! In Afghanistan, I would be signing my life on the line to protect my country. I'd know what I was getting myself into and I would die a "national hero," if the time came. My name would forever be engraved into plaques and statues for the public to see. In Chicago, I face the high risk of dying unsuspectingly...no warning...no paperwork...no consent. My death would be called "unfortunate," and in a matter of days, my name would likely be replaced by someone else who was caught up in the wrong place at the wrong time. Just another student! Just another statistic! Just another dead body! Soldiers get paid to be in high-risk situations. That's their JOB. They are properly trained to shoot and make decisions in the face of danger, and they are rewarded with money and benefits. As a soldier, I would also be equipped with a gun, helmet, and bulletproof vest. As a student, I would have NOTHING!!! I could go to Walmart and buy a bulletproof vest and helmet of my own, but that's not practical! Everyday people can't just walk around with helmets and bulletproof vests. Instead they must rely on God's shielding. But that's not always enough. Adults buy guns to make themselves feel safe, but how do we protect the students? Should we issue everyone bulletproof Disney backpacks on the first day of school? I face as much of a risk getting shot in Chicago as I do in Afghanistan, but in Afghanistan I have a much higher chance of surviving. As a student in Chicago, I would not be properly prepared to handle a life-threatening situation. Honestly, I don't feel ready now if something was to ever pop off. The most they teach you in school is a yearly lock-down drill, and that can't be applied to real life. I know self-defense as far as common sense can take me, that's it. The only thing I could think to do is duck and pray. True, anyone anywhere can be shot at any given time. We've watched as nationwide reports such as the theater shooting in Colorado and the mall shooting in Oregon have flooded our television screens, but in Chicago, a Newtown happens every month. I would not want to be out there with No Warning, No Protection, and No Preparation! Last month, there were no reported casualties in Afghanistan. And that's a fact. My prayers go out to the family and friends of those killed in both locations. From the streets to the battlefield, tragedies can occur anywhere. Although it may sound harsh, I'd rather be on the battlefield hot and sweaty fighting for my country than in the cold streets of Chicago fighting for my life. -Ari Andrews @Ariforshort so I know it's real! Read more: http://globalgrind.com/news/id-rather-be-afghanistan-chicago-ari-andrews#ixzz2LfmcYziJ