Mexico, Children As 10 Recruited By Mark Stevenson

Emiliano Reyes

Chestnut

Honors English IV

March 12 2023

Comparative Analysis “In Mexico, Children as Young as 10 Recruited by drug cartels” By Mark Stevenson, published under AP News Mark uncovers how the Mexican drug cartels exploit and recruit children. Mexican drug cartels are looking for children needing money on the streets of Mexico.

Jacob joined at twelve, enticed by money he desperately needed. Jacob was forced by the cartel to kill and torture rival cartel members, so Jacob used meth to suppress this lifestyle. A long way gone is a memoir about Ishmael Beah, a child whose family and friends were killed, by the

Rebels. Ishmael Being put in a vulnerable circumstance, he was recruited into the government army by Lieutenant Jabati,

Both Ismael and Jacob were in vulnerable circumstances organizations and groups of people exploited them to their benefit. Ishmael lost his family after Ishmaels family were killed by the rebels, and he became an orphan roaming his country fleeing from danger and trying to survive. Ishmael focused on his physiological needs: “I began to feel my Ribs when I touched my sides"(32) ALWG. Ishmael was trying to survive; he had only himself: Beah was in a vulnerable situation. Beah did not have any stability, Beah says” To survive each passing day was my goal” (69) ALWG. So, when

Jacob was found by the Sierra Leon Armed, he was finally able to get the help he desperately needed. In like manner, Jacob grew up in an abusive family; besides an abusive family, Jacob's

1. Reyes family also struggled to make ends meet:” Growing up in a household where his family could seldom make ends meet” AP News. Jacob needed money to help put food on the table and put clothes on his back; he struggled to meet his physiological needs. Thus, when the Cartel offered

Jacob a considerable amount of money, he joined the Cartel. Ishmael and Jacob lacked

Ishmael was given drugs like cocaine, cannabis, and methamphetamines as an adolescent. The Army got

Ismael hooked on drugs:” He handed them to each of us with a cup of water. “The corporal said it will boost your energy” (116) ALWG. The Army gave Ishmael drugs to manipulate him by making him dependent on these drugs. Ishmael was forced, to kill other young men like him by the army: “The corporal gave the signal with a pistol shot and I grabbed the man's head and slit his throat in one fluid motion” (125) ALWG. Ishmael was assigned to execute, people for the

Army. Ishmael would also be assigned to loot multiple villages that had nothing to do with the rebels. Likewise, The Drug cartel took advantage of Jacob after he joined. Jacob says” At 12 years old, I became sort of a hired killer” AP News. Jacob was used to kill people that the Cartel deemed problematic in their eyes. Jacob also started to purchase meth from the Cartel to cope with the horrendous actions he perpetrated:” He picked up a meth habit, in part to quiet