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640
641

Hard to fathom (i.imgur.com)

submitted ago by MaverickENT

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[–]mocotazo 14 points15 points ago

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This is from the movie "Johnny Mad Dog" about Liberian child soldiers. Supposedly the actual General would make them dress up in women's clothing or other weird stuff to confuse and intimidate their enemies.

[–]khakimage 2 points3 points ago

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There was a thread a while back about a supposed superstition that costumes could protect the wearer because Death would be unable to find them. There were some amazing/heartbreaking/terrifying pictures of soldiers in drag, dressed as Superman, wearing carnival masks and so forth.

[–]MechaToast 2 points3 points ago

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Africa was colonized by Europe and suddenly forced into the industrial world, despite the fact that its culture was still primarily tribal. European imperialists had no interest in educating their colonial subjects - in some cases they treated Africans as slaves. When the European powers left Africa, most of the continent was still in the same state it was in 100 years ago... only with modern military weaponry now.

[–]gabbagool 0 points1 point ago

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i don't think this is from johnny mad dog. i think johnny mad dog is from this. ive seen johnny mad dog and i don't remember this setting. and then there is the fact that the framing is vertical. and i don't think its a crop. i think this is the real deal, this child soldier wearing this crap informed the decision to put fairy wings on one of the characters in johnny mad dog.

[–]harjahal 30 points31 points ago

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Clearly the war between the fae has stepped up a notch.

[–]mynoduesp 1 point2 points ago

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The dark fae have the prettiest wings.

[–]all_ur_bass 2 points3 points ago

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Bangarang!

[–]wtf81 4 points5 points ago*

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This is a war where the fighters are children and young adults. They are too young to have basic foundations of right and wrong, and are kept so out of their minds with methamphetamine and other drugs they don't have any idea what they are wearing or where they are. After witnessing the slaughters in the Congo, Sierra Leone, and Rwanda, all these these images convey to me are pure chaos, death, and destruction. I'm sure we've all seen the photo of grown men wearing wedding gowns wielding RPGs.

As the "The Worlds Policeman" the fact that we are subsidizing these wars through direct foreign aid are unconscionable. Sadly, the point here is to have the locals so busy murdering one another with guns we sell to them that they don't murder us for pillaging their continent.

[–]Fusrohduh 11 points12 points ago

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The two extremes of this picture, make me think.

[–]MaverickENT[S] 6 points7 points ago

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So much innocence and then all that gun represents..

[–]YO_ITS_TYRESE 14 points15 points ago

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you havent met a child soldier have you? There isn't innocence left there, not anymore.

-Sincerely, an engineer working in the DRC

[–]lolmonger 3 points4 points ago

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Yeah; he's got just as much context for how we view his use of that gun as he does what we associate with fairy wings.

It's nuts how much meaning a person's actions can have even if they're perfectly ignorant of it.

Or maybe he's just FAAAbulous.

[–]gekogekogeko 4 points5 points ago

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It's a fetish, in the literal sense of the word. The idea is that by dressing up outlandishly the soldiers (child or otherwise) are protected from bullets. See General Butt Naked for reference.

[–]Stuxnet101 0 points1 point ago

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Worst part is that guy is living a relatively good life as a preacher. No punishment for him

[–]FeculentUtopia 10 points11 points ago

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Somali Disneyland?

[–]RosieJo 2 points3 points ago

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Yeah, soldiers like that are often seen wearing weird stuff like that in diamond wars. Pink wigs, sparkly hats, multi coloured headwear, fancy dress... Apparently it's a form of intimidation. Not only the kids, but adult soldiers too. It's a crazy world.

[–]boa13 7 points8 points ago

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Reminds me strongly of Johnny Mad Dog, an extraordinary and rather frightening movie about child soldiers in Liberia.

[–]Minerg 6 points7 points ago*

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I guess it would seeing as how that is where the picture is from.

[–]Rhesusmonkeydave 3 points4 points ago

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Any one else think of the old Far Side cartoon "How nature says "do not touch""?

[–]fAAlcor 1 point2 points ago

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Source?

[–]jedireign 2 points3 points ago

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Clip from the movie Johnny Mad Dog. It follows a group of child soldiers during the Liberian civil war.

[–]Seekzor 1 point2 points ago

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A movie called Johnny Mad dog if I'm not misstaken, all kids in the movie were actually kidsoldiers before they were rescued.

[–]Music-Chicky25 1 point2 points ago

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That is so sad :(

[–]Flying_Burrito 1 point2 points ago

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Little weapon.

=\

[–]acram71 1 point2 points ago

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Sooo how many different drugs do they have him on....

[–]LunchMasterFlex 1 point2 points ago

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Rebel Armies in West Africa have some crazy, drugged out kids that fight for them and their leaders are even crazier. See this guy: General Butt Naked

[–]Mullinator 1 point2 points ago

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Legend of Zelda: Navi's revenge.

[–]YoureInAGhostStory 1 point2 points ago

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It took me WAY too long to find a Navi joke in here.

[–][deleted] ago

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[deleted]

[–]dahmerBundy 10 points11 points ago

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He's probably been given an 'indestructable' alter ego by his commander, like a war name that will make him feel invincible in battle. probably like 'blue moth murderer' or something

[–]wtfxstfu 10 points11 points ago

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And he's high as fuck.

[–]dahmerBundy 3 points4 points ago

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exactly

[–]medlish -1 points0 points ago

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This still needs to be made into a video game. Being a kid soldier forced to take drugs and go into battle wearing cute shit. It's both hilarious and horrifying.

[–]Zimbardo 0 points1 point ago

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Isn't Saints Row kinda close to that?

[–]medlish 0 points1 point ago

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Interesting example, but I'd say it doesn't show much of the bad side. And it shouldn't. The thing I have in mind should be both hilarious and then suddenly realistic and horrifying at times. This sudden contrast makes people think.

[–]Battlesheep 4 points5 points ago

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obviously, he's a henchman for the Monarch

[–]PDXPat 2 points3 points ago

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If he's in Liberia its a kind of camouflage.

[–]Mohavor 1 point2 points ago

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I saw a series of photos taken during the battle of Monrovia. All of the fighters were adults, and a lot of them were dressed up in costumes. There is a prevailing superstition that if you are well-disguised, death won't be able to recognize you, er go, you will survive a gun battle.

[–]omnilynx 0 points1 point ago

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I've heard it's an intimidation thing. Act crazy so nobody messes with you. Nobody wants to be killed by a dude wearing fairy wings.

[–]systmshk -3 points-2 points ago

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Perhaps because he's a child that has an imagination that remains active regardless of the atrocities he witnesses on a daily basis.

[–]pe5t1lence -4 points-3 points ago

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I just assumed the photographer gave it to the kid. I mean the thing looks brand new.

[–]1gnominious 1 point2 points ago

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I'm not gonna be the one to tell him he looks silly.

[–]h8bit 1 point2 points ago

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That is an amazing photo. Thanks.

[–]QuotesStuff 0 points1 point ago

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" War has changed. "

[–]Navi_to_the_rescue 0 points1 point ago

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Smashing!

[–]captainJmorgan 0 points1 point ago

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maybe he wears that because maybe he feels that if he dies he already has the wings to be an angel

[–]cgsig 0 points1 point ago

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relevant

[–]SeparateCzechs 0 points1 point ago

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This picture is, I believe, from the movie Johnny Mad Dog. If you see the picture on Wikipedia showing the child soldiers, you see him between another soldier with the wings showing, wearing the same shirt and same blue boots.

[–]omnishazbot 0 points1 point ago

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Considering the wings weren't there the last time this picture was posted, not so much.

[–]khanfusion 0 points1 point ago

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Yeah, fairies wear boots, and you gotta believe me!

[–]jrworthy 0 points1 point ago

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Of all the things out there that are wrong in this world, the story of child soldiers is by far the most appalling.

It is a story that I wish more people knew about it. So fucking sad and the thing of it is, I don't really like children.

[–]kdar 0 points1 point ago

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Does this guy come to mind?

[–]gabbagool 0 points1 point ago

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no that guy is jewish. you can tell by the nose and how he is all about money.

[–]demon_smile 0 points1 point ago

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Don't fuck with the fairies!

[–]megatom0 0 points1 point ago

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This is from a film Johnny Mad Dog.

[–]gaelorian 0 points1 point ago

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I don't believe in Faeries!

[–]darkwing81 0 points1 point ago

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Just because you are an African child soldier doesn't mean you can't be fabulous.

[–]smoakme 0 points1 point ago

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Not really surprising. Disney offers that outfit in Bibbidi Bobbidi Bootcamp.

[–]Dani_of_Reddit 0 points1 point ago

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Bullet with butterfly wings

[–]zachallred 0 points1 point ago

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it's the toof fairy nigga

[–]jggm2009 0 points1 point ago

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Thats some serious fucked up shit.

[–]Natetheape21 -2 points-1 points ago

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Africa: Don't go there

[–]Get2theJudoChoppa 11 points12 points ago

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Just because some of the boroughs of Chicago or Detroit are dangerous, does not lead people to state that everyone should flee north America.

Africa is a big place, some of it bad and some of it good.

Ignorance+generalities, don't go there.

[–]Natetheape21 -4 points-3 points ago

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your are comparing getting mugged and your iPhone stolen to kids with more bullets in there AK-47 then years they has been alive

[–][deleted] 3 points4 points ago

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To be fair the USA sends shitloads of people around the world with more bullets in their M16s than years they've been on the planet. I know it was intended for dramatic effect but that may have been a poor choice.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points ago

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your are comparing getting mugged and your iPhone stolen to kids with more bullets in there AK-47 then years they has been alive

Trust me, that is not the worst thing that can happen to you in Detroit.

[–]HardyharFromCal 0 points1 point ago

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I hear North Korea is beautiful this time of year.

[–]Natetheape21 0 points1 point ago

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North Korea seems a bit boring -- VICE compared to Liberia --- VICE-NSFW

[–]chakazulu1 0 points1 point ago

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Relevant Song

Also... I think I should make this a novelty account.

[–]delocs -1 points0 points ago

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He's part of the Winx club

[–]DannyFathom -2 points-1 points ago

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You rang?

[–]cunningtwo -2 points-1 points ago

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Defending gay rights at such a young age.. so brave..

[–]258joe007 -1 points0 points ago

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Faries wear boots man.

[–][deleted] -1 points0 points ago

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Gotta admit though- kid's got style!

[–]RF_Nevac -1 points0 points ago

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Gun-Toting African Fairy Child...BEST MOVIE EVAR!!!!!!

[–]dogboyboy -1 points0 points ago

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Source?

[–]Dulljack -1 points0 points ago

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Live action Fallout 3

[–]philotimon -1 points0 points ago

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Float like a butterfly, sting like a motherfucking wasp.

[–]Ragdolla -1 points0 points ago

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Good squat form.

[–]CosmicBard -1 points0 points ago

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You wonder how anybody ever dies in that continent with the shitty training their child soldiers receive. Let's not even touch on the point of how horrifyingly immoral child soldiers are and instead examine how ridiculous the situation as a whole is.

Any commander worth his salt is going to want his troops to not die. This is obvious and necessary for any sort of victory or defense. So, why allow them to wear fairy wings and shiny blue hooker boots where they can be easily seen and targeted? Keeping a low profile is one of the first rules of a soldier. You can't do your duty if you're dead and you're going to be dead very fast if you make a target of yourself. The problem is generations of fucking retarded dissidents and warlords who just throw money and children at problems without a second thought. In the end, they'll probably end up as dead as those child soldiers, so I'm sure they don't care very much. I'm not sure there's an elegant solution to this problem

[–][deleted] ago

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[deleted]

[–]CosmicBard 0 points1 point ago*

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Very nice insights. I have seen stories of Liberian warlords and mercenaries cleaning up their acts for the good of their communities and whatnot, it's very inspiring. Liberia is a scary hellhole of a place though, and you couldn't pay me enough to visit. I wonder if that region will ever be stable?

[–]sonofbeef -2 points-1 points ago

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Anyone else think of this?

[–]The_Dane -2 points-1 points ago

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The black sheep of the family, the bullet fairy. No seriously though this is really too sad to understand.

[–]bachner -2 points-1 points ago

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No, that's just my character in Saint's Row 3.

[–]iamadogforreal -3 points-2 points ago

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Most likely:

Photojournalist "Kid, put this on, I'll give you 10 bucks."

War zone photojournalism is known for stuff like this. I saw a photo all these guys unpacking teddy bears and laying them in war zones and taking photos. Funny how every conflict in the world involves tons of stuffed animals somehow not covered in soot and garbage, sitting out in fields.

If there's money involved, chances are its fake.

[–]jedireign 1 point2 points ago

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This image is also from a movie.

[–]PrettyPinkPwnies 0 points1 point ago

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As someone who worked alongside photojournalists (editor at a newspaper), I can tell you that this is strictly unethical, and if a photojournalist is caught doing this, it will mean the end of their job and possibly even their career. Photojournalists and their editors are taught (and re-taught) to only represent what is there. That means no moving trash out of the way to clear up a shot, no adding elements to a photo, and no digital manipulation outside of basic cropping and exposure adjustments.

That being said, people probably still do it. Sad :(

[EDIT] Also, this depends on how reputable the production is. That is, you're more likely to see a "photojournalist" from a regional rag doing this than someone from the NYT or Washington Post.

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