But what do they know about war?

If they can only count to ten, if yesterday the teacher told them that there were more letters in the alphabet. Mom woke them up early this morning to go to school. Many have not returned. But they do not know anything about war, they are not to blame for an absurd violence, this domination, this presumption of showing power. They did not choose where to be born, they never imagined that the location of their houses would be the target of the enemy. As soon as they are tied up, they do not understand why the streets where they played, now they smell of gunpowder, blood and tears ... all mixed.
There will no longer be brilliant doctors or outstanding scientists. The classrooms look deserted, mothers cry and everyone cares about those who did have money to pay a newspaper and be news. But they, those of 4 or 5 years old, those who do know how to love, those who do not hate, those who have not learned to pronounce the word "war", those who are no longer. Those that do not hurt because they do not exist in the 100 bills.
They, who would be better than us selfish and fearful. They are no longer there, they who did not know what a weapon or a bomb is, those who walked with love, those who embraced a future that escaped them, they are no longer there and it hurts.

-Mercedes Reyes Arteaga