The Sea Inside; part three
The camera angles in The Sea Inside added a deeper meaning to the film. One scene I remember was the first time Ramon and Julia met, she was asking him why he wanted to die. Part of his response is talking about how the easiest of tasks for him are impossible. He can’t move his hand to touch hers, only a foot away. While he is talking about touching her hand, the camera is directly above his hand and trucks down his arm to his hand and onto Julia’s. It makes you so badly want to just move his hand for him, you feel like it is moving, then realize that his hand it in the same position as before. It gives you a sense of how hard it must be for him not being able to move his hand that tiny little bit.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
The Sea Inside; part two
The Sea Inside; part two
The Sea Inside and The Diving Bell and the Butterfly have many similarities. For one, they are both stuck inside bodies that can’t do what their perfectly working minds want them to. Although The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is much more severe, they both are quadriplegics. They also both find a need to write in their situation. Whether it was in poems like The Sea Inside or a book, they express themselves. Both characters have a difficult time remembering the past, but for different reasons. Bauby didn’t like remembering the past because he took his health for granted. On the other hand, Ramon didn’t like remembering the past because he missed all the adventures he used to take. I found that The Diving Bell and the Butterfly was more powerful because it was his thoughts while in this condition instead of about trying to die. I found it deeper to hear their perspective on the condition and what he would do daily, think about, and dream about to keep himself occupied.
The Sea Inside and The Diving Bell and the Butterfly have many similarities. For one, they are both stuck inside bodies that can’t do what their perfectly working minds want them to. Although The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is much more severe, they both are quadriplegics. They also both find a need to write in their situation. Whether it was in poems like The Sea Inside or a book, they express themselves. Both characters have a difficult time remembering the past, but for different reasons. Bauby didn’t like remembering the past because he took his health for granted. On the other hand, Ramon didn’t like remembering the past because he missed all the adventures he used to take. I found that The Diving Bell and the Butterfly was more powerful because it was his thoughts while in this condition instead of about trying to die. I found it deeper to hear their perspective on the condition and what he would do daily, think about, and dream about to keep himself occupied.
The Sea Inside; part one
The Sea Inside; part one
The Sea Inside was a very powerful movie with deep feelings. I felt much sympathy for Ramon, but I’m not sure that I agree with him. I can’t begin to understand how he feels, but I feel that he could have made much more of the time he had after the accident, even if it was in a wheelchair. At the same time, I can also see how using a wheelchair would be completely degrading. I agree with the courts decision because for them to kill him would be, in my eyes, murder. His actions, although I disagree with his decision, I think were needed. If you are living and hate every day of it and only wish to die as much as he did, then I think it was the right decision to take his own life. I also agree with the people who helped him. They couldn’t change his mind, so they did a favor for someone they loved.
The Sea Inside was a very powerful movie with deep feelings. I felt much sympathy for Ramon, but I’m not sure that I agree with him. I can’t begin to understand how he feels, but I feel that he could have made much more of the time he had after the accident, even if it was in a wheelchair. At the same time, I can also see how using a wheelchair would be completely degrading. I agree with the courts decision because for them to kill him would be, in my eyes, murder. His actions, although I disagree with his decision, I think were needed. If you are living and hate every day of it and only wish to die as much as he did, then I think it was the right decision to take his own life. I also agree with the people who helped him. They couldn’t change his mind, so they did a favor for someone they loved.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Week 6; part one
A Long Way Gone
By: Ishmael Beah
Week 6; part one
The final section of this book is a great conclusion. Ishmael is soon going to live with his uncle in the city. He stays up all night wondering why, of all his family and friends that he was the one that survived. When he left the home, he had mixed emotions. He was grateful for the fact that he had found family and a home to live in, but sad to leave all of his friends at the home. Saying goodbye to some of his friends like Mambo, because Ishmael knew it would be the last. At his new home, Ishmael was fed a great meal by his aunt and was given a room to share with his cousin Allie. Allie and Ishmael quickly became friends by going to a club at night. Ishmael met a girl there, but the relationship was soon over because he was scared to let anyone in. Leslie applied Ishmael to be interviewed to go to New York for a conference, and days later Ishmael was selected. After getting his passport, visa, and new cloths, he flew to New York with Dr. Tamba and Bah who were also attending the conference. Ishmael experienced taller buildings, his fist winter coat, and his first snowfall all in one day. At the meeting, other boys with difficult childhoods told their stories and how they have overcome them, or how they have to go back to them. Laura, who was an adult storyteller at the conference, toured the city and its many sights with Bah and Ishmael. On the last day of the conference, Ishmael told his story from his heart, instead of what was written for him and was hugely successful. When leaving New York, Ishmael, Bah, and Laura were all crying at the airport. They exchanged addresses and numbers then they were off. Ishmael returned to his uncle and immediately began in a secondary school. Things weren’t normal for long. The city was invaded and guns were constantly being fired. For weeks the fighting never stopped. Ishmael’s uncle became sick and died soon after. With fear of becoming a soldier again he left the city to go to New York and live with Laura, who agreed that Ishmael could live with her. He took a bus to cross the border into Guinea, and then got to the capital, Conakry. They would constantly be stopped by checkpoints where soldiers would make them pay to pass and search for any valuables. Lucky for him, he became friends with someone that spoke the native language of Guinea so he could communicate to get what he needed. Almost out of money, Ishmael snuck onto his last bus to get where he needed. He did make it to the Sierra Leone Embassy, and knew he was finally safe.
By: Ishmael Beah
Week 6; part one
The final section of this book is a great conclusion. Ishmael is soon going to live with his uncle in the city. He stays up all night wondering why, of all his family and friends that he was the one that survived. When he left the home, he had mixed emotions. He was grateful for the fact that he had found family and a home to live in, but sad to leave all of his friends at the home. Saying goodbye to some of his friends like Mambo, because Ishmael knew it would be the last. At his new home, Ishmael was fed a great meal by his aunt and was given a room to share with his cousin Allie. Allie and Ishmael quickly became friends by going to a club at night. Ishmael met a girl there, but the relationship was soon over because he was scared to let anyone in. Leslie applied Ishmael to be interviewed to go to New York for a conference, and days later Ishmael was selected. After getting his passport, visa, and new cloths, he flew to New York with Dr. Tamba and Bah who were also attending the conference. Ishmael experienced taller buildings, his fist winter coat, and his first snowfall all in one day. At the meeting, other boys with difficult childhoods told their stories and how they have overcome them, or how they have to go back to them. Laura, who was an adult storyteller at the conference, toured the city and its many sights with Bah and Ishmael. On the last day of the conference, Ishmael told his story from his heart, instead of what was written for him and was hugely successful. When leaving New York, Ishmael, Bah, and Laura were all crying at the airport. They exchanged addresses and numbers then they were off. Ishmael returned to his uncle and immediately began in a secondary school. Things weren’t normal for long. The city was invaded and guns were constantly being fired. For weeks the fighting never stopped. Ishmael’s uncle became sick and died soon after. With fear of becoming a soldier again he left the city to go to New York and live with Laura, who agreed that Ishmael could live with her. He took a bus to cross the border into Guinea, and then got to the capital, Conakry. They would constantly be stopped by checkpoints where soldiers would make them pay to pass and search for any valuables. Lucky for him, he became friends with someone that spoke the native language of Guinea so he could communicate to get what he needed. Almost out of money, Ishmael snuck onto his last bus to get where he needed. He did make it to the Sierra Leone Embassy, and knew he was finally safe.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Week five; part one
A Long Way Gone
By: Ishmael Beah
Week five part one
summery:
In section five, Ishmael continues to recover from his traumatizing days as a soldier. He was at a place called Benin Home outside of Freetown. He is continually angered by civilians telling him what to do. The drugs were wearing off, and he and the other boys were often sick because of that. The boys would often hold fights for entertainment. Ishmael refused nurses attention when possible, but he was sometimes forced to accept help, like when he got glass stuck inside his hand. Ishmael remembered times of a junior lieutenant, leading his men to destroy a village and kill the members of it. He was nicknamed green snake, because he blends with nature and is deadly when he wants to be. The home encouraged the boys to go to school, but instead they sold the supplies for money to go into Freetown with. Eventually, the school stopped the sales and made a deal with the students. If you went to school during the week, you could take a trip to Freetown on the weekends; everyone started attending. The bruises on Ishmael’s arms remind him of the near misses of bullets when attacking a town. He recalls how they buried the prisoners alive. All of the boys had nightmares while sleeping, some sleepwalking and yelling because of them. The nurse, Esther, finally convinced Ishmael to get a check-up by bribing him with a coke. Days after the initial appointment, she gave him a present; a walkman with a rap tape. Esther noticed bullet wounds on his shin, from when Ishmael had surgery to remove a bullet from battle. To make sure he was treated appropriately, Esther took him to Freetown for a more precise examination of the wounds. That day in town, Esther purchased a Bob Marley tape for Ishmael and a jersey for Alhaji. A field worker named Leslie came to Freetown with them too. Leslie’s job was also to find a home for the boys after rehabilitation. After that day, Esther and Ishmael became better friends. They would listen to the tapes and write the lyrics daily. With their friendship, Ishmael started talking to her about his dreams, family, and his previous life. After performing in a talent show for the home, Ishmael became an official spokesperson, talking to people about how the boy soldiers are rehabilitating and need foster homes. Ishmael suggested for Leslie to look for his uncle Tommy as a foster home, and Leslie came through. Ishmael met his uncle for the first time, and he agreed to have Ishmael live with him and his family. His uncle made visits every weekend, and the two of them became close, talking about Ishmaels dad and the trouble they got into as kids. Ishmael met his new family, and they were all very nice. There were four cousins- Allie, Matilda, Kona, and Sombo. After going to a soccer game with the Allie, the oldest being 21 and the only boy, Tommy took Ishmael back to the home.
reaction:
It is so hard to imagine what Ishmael and the other boys have gone through. Their trust in others has been demolished; their happiness has been taken away along with their innocence. The boys struggle to rehabilitate from their destructive state. If it wasn’t for Esther, I’m not sure Ishmael would have. Esther didn’t judge him for what he has done. She treats him like a boy his age would normally be treated, and she becomes his friend. Talking to her helped him cope with his past. Ishmael struggles to recall the days of happiness with his family, because it only saddens him. He is now alone and so deeply wishes that his family would have lived. When Esther listens to him, he tells her everything and begins to become more comfortable with talking about the past like he needs too. Ishmael’s talents of rapping and dancing have helped him continuously throughout the book. It has gotten the boys out of trouble with a chief of a village, helped him befriend Esther, and now it helped him become the spokesperson for rehabilitating boy soldiers. Without this talent pushing him though the hard times, he may not have made it. It was the entertainment of the dance that prevented the chief from killing him and his friends. It was the beginning of the friendship with Esther that helped him cope with his past and what he had done. And now it has helped him become the spokesperson for boy soldiers, promoting foster care for others. Although on the whole Ishmael was extremely unfortunate with his past events, he is lucky that he could rap and dance, and that he became friends with Esther.
By: Ishmael Beah
Week five part one
summery:
In section five, Ishmael continues to recover from his traumatizing days as a soldier. He was at a place called Benin Home outside of Freetown. He is continually angered by civilians telling him what to do. The drugs were wearing off, and he and the other boys were often sick because of that. The boys would often hold fights for entertainment. Ishmael refused nurses attention when possible, but he was sometimes forced to accept help, like when he got glass stuck inside his hand. Ishmael remembered times of a junior lieutenant, leading his men to destroy a village and kill the members of it. He was nicknamed green snake, because he blends with nature and is deadly when he wants to be. The home encouraged the boys to go to school, but instead they sold the supplies for money to go into Freetown with. Eventually, the school stopped the sales and made a deal with the students. If you went to school during the week, you could take a trip to Freetown on the weekends; everyone started attending. The bruises on Ishmael’s arms remind him of the near misses of bullets when attacking a town. He recalls how they buried the prisoners alive. All of the boys had nightmares while sleeping, some sleepwalking and yelling because of them. The nurse, Esther, finally convinced Ishmael to get a check-up by bribing him with a coke. Days after the initial appointment, she gave him a present; a walkman with a rap tape. Esther noticed bullet wounds on his shin, from when Ishmael had surgery to remove a bullet from battle. To make sure he was treated appropriately, Esther took him to Freetown for a more precise examination of the wounds. That day in town, Esther purchased a Bob Marley tape for Ishmael and a jersey for Alhaji. A field worker named Leslie came to Freetown with them too. Leslie’s job was also to find a home for the boys after rehabilitation. After that day, Esther and Ishmael became better friends. They would listen to the tapes and write the lyrics daily. With their friendship, Ishmael started talking to her about his dreams, family, and his previous life. After performing in a talent show for the home, Ishmael became an official spokesperson, talking to people about how the boy soldiers are rehabilitating and need foster homes. Ishmael suggested for Leslie to look for his uncle Tommy as a foster home, and Leslie came through. Ishmael met his uncle for the first time, and he agreed to have Ishmael live with him and his family. His uncle made visits every weekend, and the two of them became close, talking about Ishmaels dad and the trouble they got into as kids. Ishmael met his new family, and they were all very nice. There were four cousins- Allie, Matilda, Kona, and Sombo. After going to a soccer game with the Allie, the oldest being 21 and the only boy, Tommy took Ishmael back to the home.
reaction:
It is so hard to imagine what Ishmael and the other boys have gone through. Their trust in others has been demolished; their happiness has been taken away along with their innocence. The boys struggle to rehabilitate from their destructive state. If it wasn’t for Esther, I’m not sure Ishmael would have. Esther didn’t judge him for what he has done. She treats him like a boy his age would normally be treated, and she becomes his friend. Talking to her helped him cope with his past. Ishmael struggles to recall the days of happiness with his family, because it only saddens him. He is now alone and so deeply wishes that his family would have lived. When Esther listens to him, he tells her everything and begins to become more comfortable with talking about the past like he needs too. Ishmael’s talents of rapping and dancing have helped him continuously throughout the book. It has gotten the boys out of trouble with a chief of a village, helped him befriend Esther, and now it helped him become the spokesperson for rehabilitating boy soldiers. Without this talent pushing him though the hard times, he may not have made it. It was the entertainment of the dance that prevented the chief from killing him and his friends. It was the beginning of the friendship with Esther that helped him cope with his past and what he had done. And now it has helped him become the spokesperson for boy soldiers, promoting foster care for others. Although on the whole Ishmael was extremely unfortunate with his past events, he is lucky that he could rap and dance, and that he became friends with Esther.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Week four; part two
A Long Way Gone
By: Ishmael Beah
Week four part two
This section started off with Ishmael and his four friends walking for days, until they came across a group of soldiers. They ordered the boys to follow them, but instead of being brutally captured, the soldiers brought the boys to town. The town seemed safe, and had many soldiers guarding it. The town was actually a base for the military. The boys were served with food, helped with chores, and given places to sleep. Instead of being scared all the time, the village was up and about. Soccer games were going on regularly, people were swimming, it seemed like it was before the war. Although Ishmael didn’t enjoy this, he was too occupied with thinking about his family. He and the lieutenant had a connection too. They both enjoyed reading Shakespeare a lot. But as the boys started getting used to this living style again, it all changed. The soldiers of the town were sent to fight the rebels who were getting close to the town. Fear retuned to the boys. But this time it wasn’t just because war was coming close, it was because they were going to be a part of it. The lieutenant said that the rebels were too strong and had too many men. They needed the boys of the village to fight to protect the base. So they immediately began training. They were taught that the gun was their new best friend; their means of staying alive; their safety. Through all of the days of training, when the first battle came, neither Ishmael nor any of the other boys were prepared. Scared beyond belief, they took off with their guns in hand to the front line. In battle, it took Ishmael a long time to actually pull the trigger. Once he did, he couldn’t be stopped. The gun became his power, his way of taking anger of his family deaths out. The gun was his best friend. Musa and Josiah, Ishmaels friends, were killed were killed in the first battle. After that first battle, Ishmael’s life changed. The lieutenant started giving him and the other boys drugs though out the day. Killing didn’t faze him anymore. He became proud when he killed. This went on for two years, until the UNICEF saved the boy soldiers, but not in the boys’ eyes. They felt rejected by their lieutenant, and very angry. The UNICEF took the boys to the capital of Sierra Leone, Freetown. There they were given food and beds and were being treated. Instead of changing right away, it took the boys much time to get back their correct frame of mind. They got in a fight with other boy soldiers. The stabbing, shooting, and killing weren’t stopped for twenty minutes, when six boys were already dead.
By: Ishmael Beah
Week four part two
This section started off with Ishmael and his four friends walking for days, until they came across a group of soldiers. They ordered the boys to follow them, but instead of being brutally captured, the soldiers brought the boys to town. The town seemed safe, and had many soldiers guarding it. The town was actually a base for the military. The boys were served with food, helped with chores, and given places to sleep. Instead of being scared all the time, the village was up and about. Soccer games were going on regularly, people were swimming, it seemed like it was before the war. Although Ishmael didn’t enjoy this, he was too occupied with thinking about his family. He and the lieutenant had a connection too. They both enjoyed reading Shakespeare a lot. But as the boys started getting used to this living style again, it all changed. The soldiers of the town were sent to fight the rebels who were getting close to the town. Fear retuned to the boys. But this time it wasn’t just because war was coming close, it was because they were going to be a part of it. The lieutenant said that the rebels were too strong and had too many men. They needed the boys of the village to fight to protect the base. So they immediately began training. They were taught that the gun was their new best friend; their means of staying alive; their safety. Through all of the days of training, when the first battle came, neither Ishmael nor any of the other boys were prepared. Scared beyond belief, they took off with their guns in hand to the front line. In battle, it took Ishmael a long time to actually pull the trigger. Once he did, he couldn’t be stopped. The gun became his power, his way of taking anger of his family deaths out. The gun was his best friend. Musa and Josiah, Ishmaels friends, were killed were killed in the first battle. After that first battle, Ishmael’s life changed. The lieutenant started giving him and the other boys drugs though out the day. Killing didn’t faze him anymore. He became proud when he killed. This went on for two years, until the UNICEF saved the boy soldiers, but not in the boys’ eyes. They felt rejected by their lieutenant, and very angry. The UNICEF took the boys to the capital of Sierra Leone, Freetown. There they were given food and beds and were being treated. Instead of changing right away, it took the boys much time to get back their correct frame of mind. They got in a fight with other boy soldiers. The stabbing, shooting, and killing weren’t stopped for twenty minutes, when six boys were already dead.
Week four; part one
A Long Way Gone
Ishmael Beah
Week four part one
In A Long Way Gone, Ishmael says this, “It hadn’t crossed their minds that a change in environment wouldn’t immediately make us normal boys; we were dangerous, and brainwashed to kill.”(Beah, p. 135) This quote is important because it explains how the boy soldier’s minds are warped. They are programmed to kill, and don’t think twice about it. Their senior advisors tell teach them that the right thing to do is kill them, and because the boys trust and look up to them, they do what they are told. Soon the boys forget what the right thing is. Through the drugs and killing, they become what Ishmael said; dangerous and brainwashed to kill.
Ishmael Beah
Week four part one
In A Long Way Gone, Ishmael says this, “It hadn’t crossed their minds that a change in environment wouldn’t immediately make us normal boys; we were dangerous, and brainwashed to kill.”(Beah, p. 135) This quote is important because it explains how the boy soldier’s minds are warped. They are programmed to kill, and don’t think twice about it. Their senior advisors tell teach them that the right thing to do is kill them, and because the boys trust and look up to them, they do what they are told. Soon the boys forget what the right thing is. Through the drugs and killing, they become what Ishmael said; dangerous and brainwashed to kill.
Monday, October 8, 2007
Reflection to The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Reflection to: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book. It was so interesting to me what had happened to him and his personal reaction to the situation. Before this book, I had never heard of locked in syndrome, so that alone was intriguing. Being able to understand his reactions and how he coped with his misfortunes was amazing. I liked Bauby’s writing style a lot. It had a certain sense of sarcasm and dry humor about his very depressing situation. The fact that he could be sarcastic shows a certain level of coping with the circumstance in my mind. It shows that he understands that he is stuck like this, and also thinks that it is ironically funny. But I also look at his sarcasm in sadness, because it also shows that he has intentions of improving. Bauby’s story could be confusing at times. In chapters like The Empress, or At The Wax Museum, I would get lost weather or not he was talking about a dream, a memory, or if it was happening right then. It wasn’t always clear when he transitioned from past to present. In the book, I especially liked the chapters about the present time. I was so fascinated with what his daily life had come to be like. Chapters like Sunday when he is talking about what he is doing right at that moment, help me understand how devastating locked in syndrome is, and how dependent he is on other people. Although these types of chapters could be the most depressing, they were my favorites. Hearing his reactions to his current situation were sad. Starting from when he thought that he would be able to walk again before they put him into a wheelchair, to him hinting to the fact that he wouldn’t live much longer symbolized by the end of summer; every time he spoke of his misfortunes, he lost hope. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly was a heartbreaking book, but it was also a book that had me interested the whole time.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book. It was so interesting to me what had happened to him and his personal reaction to the situation. Before this book, I had never heard of locked in syndrome, so that alone was intriguing. Being able to understand his reactions and how he coped with his misfortunes was amazing. I liked Bauby’s writing style a lot. It had a certain sense of sarcasm and dry humor about his very depressing situation. The fact that he could be sarcastic shows a certain level of coping with the circumstance in my mind. It shows that he understands that he is stuck like this, and also thinks that it is ironically funny. But I also look at his sarcasm in sadness, because it also shows that he has intentions of improving. Bauby’s story could be confusing at times. In chapters like The Empress, or At The Wax Museum, I would get lost weather or not he was talking about a dream, a memory, or if it was happening right then. It wasn’t always clear when he transitioned from past to present. In the book, I especially liked the chapters about the present time. I was so fascinated with what his daily life had come to be like. Chapters like Sunday when he is talking about what he is doing right at that moment, help me understand how devastating locked in syndrome is, and how dependent he is on other people. Although these types of chapters could be the most depressing, they were my favorites. Hearing his reactions to his current situation were sad. Starting from when he thought that he would be able to walk again before they put him into a wheelchair, to him hinting to the fact that he wouldn’t live much longer symbolized by the end of summer; every time he spoke of his misfortunes, he lost hope. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly was a heartbreaking book, but it was also a book that had me interested the whole time.
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Week three; part two
A Long Way Gone
By: Ishmael Beah
Week three; part two
A Long Way Gone is one of the best books I have ever read. Ishmael is so descriptive to what is going on around him, and to his own thoughts. He is very good at clearly describing the situations going on around him; I haven’t been confused about the events once. The pain of not just him, but everyone around him is described. Although the pain is unimaginable, you feel like you start to understand what he is going through when he is so close to his family, but then the die before he can get to him. Or his torched feet from running continually on burning sand. Through his descriptions, it is easy to visualize places, like the deserted towns he passes. Although I love the descriptions, I wish that the book had more variety. At this point, I don’t want to hear the same thing about another deserted town, or another scary night. I want more range in the events.
It is unbelievable to me what Sierra Leone went through in this civil war. I can’t even begin to imagine why the rebels think that killing citizens, splitting families, and demolishing villages will actually help their country and promote their cause. And the fact is that this kind of war is going on around the world right now, and I am powerless. I could donate money, or help survivors, but I can’t stop the war nor can I turn back time and revitalize the killed loved ones.
This book keeps bringing one visual back into my mind. In the movie Hotel Rwanda, when Paul Rusesabagina, the main character, is driving back from picking up supplies for his hotel. His friend, that is actually an enemy, suggests going a different way back. Paul takes his advice, to find out that it was a trick. Instead of having a dirt road, it is a road piled full of dead bodies. Thousands piled on top of each other for miles ahead. I picture this scene whenever Ishmael describes the bodies in villages left behind, killed from the rebels.
I predict, that very soon, Ishmael will be captured and turned into a boy soldier. I think that he will have to be separated from his traveling buddies. As a boy soldier, he will have to kill many people, and I think that his mind will be permanently damaged from the actions he was forced to take.
By: Ishmael Beah
Week three; part two
A Long Way Gone is one of the best books I have ever read. Ishmael is so descriptive to what is going on around him, and to his own thoughts. He is very good at clearly describing the situations going on around him; I haven’t been confused about the events once. The pain of not just him, but everyone around him is described. Although the pain is unimaginable, you feel like you start to understand what he is going through when he is so close to his family, but then the die before he can get to him. Or his torched feet from running continually on burning sand. Through his descriptions, it is easy to visualize places, like the deserted towns he passes. Although I love the descriptions, I wish that the book had more variety. At this point, I don’t want to hear the same thing about another deserted town, or another scary night. I want more range in the events.
It is unbelievable to me what Sierra Leone went through in this civil war. I can’t even begin to imagine why the rebels think that killing citizens, splitting families, and demolishing villages will actually help their country and promote their cause. And the fact is that this kind of war is going on around the world right now, and I am powerless. I could donate money, or help survivors, but I can’t stop the war nor can I turn back time and revitalize the killed loved ones.
This book keeps bringing one visual back into my mind. In the movie Hotel Rwanda, when Paul Rusesabagina, the main character, is driving back from picking up supplies for his hotel. His friend, that is actually an enemy, suggests going a different way back. Paul takes his advice, to find out that it was a trick. Instead of having a dirt road, it is a road piled full of dead bodies. Thousands piled on top of each other for miles ahead. I picture this scene whenever Ishmael describes the bodies in villages left behind, killed from the rebels.
I predict, that very soon, Ishmael will be captured and turned into a boy soldier. I think that he will have to be separated from his traveling buddies. As a boy soldier, he will have to kill many people, and I think that his mind will be permanently damaged from the actions he was forced to take.
Week three; part one
http://weblogs.nrc.nl/weblog/wereld/wp-content/uploads/april2007/beah.jpgA Long Way Gone
By: Ishmael Beah
Week three; part one
1. The boy’s travels got long. Each of them desperately wants their families to be with them. Through all of the almost-deaths that they have survived, their minds are slowly dying. Although their life was mostly filled with fear and anger, they have had some good times too, including the time they went hunting. They assisted one village in their hunting, and then joined in a ceremony at night. They left the next morning with a gallon of water and meat to eat later. They often told stories to keep each other entertained. Sleeping was never easy for Ishmael. He is always fighting memories of times with his family, like his naming ceremony, or other joyful events in his previous life. Every boy that Ishmael was traveling with had lost their families in Mattru Jong when the rebels attacked. The boys, unable to sleep in the scary night, decided to walk at night and take turns sleeping during the day. At night, when they were walking they heard footsteps and immediately hid in the brush. When the men left, the boys found Saidu, their friend, passed out. Waking up shortly after, he still gave the boys quite a scare. The next village they arrived in had great news for all of them, especially Ishmael. Someone in the town recognized Ishmael, and told him that his family, mom, dad, and brothers, were in the next town. She said that many families from Mattru Jong fled there, so they all had a good chance of finding their families. The boys stayed the night in the village, with plans to leave early the next morning. But when they woke up, they found Saidu lifeless. They buried him before leaving to find their families. They were approaching the town when they came across Gasemu, a family friend of Ishmaels from Mattru Jong. Gasemu asked the boys to help him carry bananas to the village. As they were walking, Gasemu told Ishmael that his family was there, and praying for his safety and to see him. They got to the border of the village, when guns started going off. They found the village completely destroyed, with no sign of Ishmael’s family, and no sign of survivors or of someone escaping. Ishmael blamed not seeing his family on Gasemu, and took out his anger physically on him, and then all of them started to fight. But once they heard footsteps of rebels coming to see their destruction, they all hid. With one little movement from the boys, the rebels started shooting at them. Running as fast as they could to escape the bullets, Gasemu got hit, but had to keep running. As soon as the rebels stopped shooting, they assisted Gasemu, who told them what path to take to get to safety, then died shortly after.
2. Ishmael Beah was born in Sierra Leone in 1980. In 1991, Sierra Leone became involved in a devastating civil war. Ishmael’s family was killed along with many others, while he was captured to become a boy soldier in 1993. He fought for three years when he was finally saved and put into a rehabilitation home and given a foster home in New York. Ishmael finished high school, then completed his Bachelor of arts and political science at Oberlin college.
http://www.unicef.org/voy/takeaction/takeaction_3264.html
By: Ishmael Beah
Week three; part one
1. The boy’s travels got long. Each of them desperately wants their families to be with them. Through all of the almost-deaths that they have survived, their minds are slowly dying. Although their life was mostly filled with fear and anger, they have had some good times too, including the time they went hunting. They assisted one village in their hunting, and then joined in a ceremony at night. They left the next morning with a gallon of water and meat to eat later. They often told stories to keep each other entertained. Sleeping was never easy for Ishmael. He is always fighting memories of times with his family, like his naming ceremony, or other joyful events in his previous life. Every boy that Ishmael was traveling with had lost their families in Mattru Jong when the rebels attacked. The boys, unable to sleep in the scary night, decided to walk at night and take turns sleeping during the day. At night, when they were walking they heard footsteps and immediately hid in the brush. When the men left, the boys found Saidu, their friend, passed out. Waking up shortly after, he still gave the boys quite a scare. The next village they arrived in had great news for all of them, especially Ishmael. Someone in the town recognized Ishmael, and told him that his family, mom, dad, and brothers, were in the next town. She said that many families from Mattru Jong fled there, so they all had a good chance of finding their families. The boys stayed the night in the village, with plans to leave early the next morning. But when they woke up, they found Saidu lifeless. They buried him before leaving to find their families. They were approaching the town when they came across Gasemu, a family friend of Ishmaels from Mattru Jong. Gasemu asked the boys to help him carry bananas to the village. As they were walking, Gasemu told Ishmael that his family was there, and praying for his safety and to see him. They got to the border of the village, when guns started going off. They found the village completely destroyed, with no sign of Ishmael’s family, and no sign of survivors or of someone escaping. Ishmael blamed not seeing his family on Gasemu, and took out his anger physically on him, and then all of them started to fight. But once they heard footsteps of rebels coming to see their destruction, they all hid. With one little movement from the boys, the rebels started shooting at them. Running as fast as they could to escape the bullets, Gasemu got hit, but had to keep running. As soon as the rebels stopped shooting, they assisted Gasemu, who told them what path to take to get to safety, then died shortly after.
2. Ishmael Beah was born in Sierra Leone in 1980. In 1991, Sierra Leone became involved in a devastating civil war. Ishmael’s family was killed along with many others, while he was captured to become a boy soldier in 1993. He fought for three years when he was finally saved and put into a rehabilitation home and given a foster home in New York. Ishmael finished high school, then completed his Bachelor of arts and political science at Oberlin college.
http://www.unicef.org/voy/takeaction/takeaction_3264.html
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