Luke Beckman
Chapter 21 blog
Chapter 21 is one of the most sad chapters of the book. It starts with Ishmael getting back from New York. He tells his new family about how it was and all the things he did. They were in great awe, and listened to him for hours. Then he started going back to school. He had a hard time fitting in because somehow the kids at the school found out he used to be a child soldier and sat as far away as they could from him. This was very saddening to me because Ishmael knew if he told anyone what he had done he would not be able to lead a normal life. He kept up his routine for a while, then the rebels came to the city. It turns out the rebels and the army had joined forces to take down the government. They started shooting random people, and they also massacred large groups of protesters. Ishmael found it increasing harder to find food, and when his uncle got a fever, he could not get medication in time to save him, so his uncle died. They were able to hold a funeral for his uncle, but his aunt didn’t come because she was in shock at what had happened. It was at that point that Ishmael realized he had to get out. He made contact with the women in America he had met and asked if he could stay with her. So he got on a bus and started to head for the border of the country. If he could make it to the next country, he could get a plane to New York. They stopped at many checkpoint, then he finally got in. how ever, in one of the next countries checkpoints, he was stopped and told he could go no further. He couldn’t be left behind, so he snuck on the bus and he got away.
Friday, October 31, 2008
19-20
19-20
Blog
Luke Beckman
Chapter 19 starts with Ishmael being told that he has been officially repatriated into society. He starts to finally feel guilt for the things he has done, and starts to ask himself, “why did I survive the war, why did most of my friends die instead of me?” Ishmael is later officially moved into his uncles house, where he is too live out the rest of his childhood. He says good by to Alhaji, who saluted him and called him his squad leader. Ishmael didn’t hug him, but patted him on the shoulder. They never saw each other again. When Ishmael gets to his uncles house, he has trouble adjusting to his new life. He went to a club and danced, but when a girl came back and wanted to be his girlfriend, he was reluctant. He eventually broke up with her because she asked so many questions about where was he from. Later on in the chapter, he is asked to go for an interview to see if he could represent child soldiers in the area at New York at the U.N. capital. He went to the building and was surprised at how large it was. When he entered, he didn’t know what an elevator was, and didn’t know how it worked. The other boys around him did, and they got up to the interview. All Ishmael said was that he was a child soldier for 2 years and the man smiled. As it turned out Ishmael was chosen to go to New York. At first, his uncle didn’t believe him. But when Ishmael left, he did. When Ishmael came to New York, he was stunned at how cold it was. He said no one could possible live here. Then when they entered the main portion of the city, he was amazed at all of the lights and the extremely tall buildings. He went to the hotel to stay, and didn’t know why it was so hot inside. It turned out he had the heater on full blast and didn’t know it.
Chapter 20 was about him at the U.N. He met many other people from countries around the world, all of which had had a very troubled childhood, much like Ishmael. They had a breakfast together and then went to the U.N. HQ. they gave speeches about what they were going through and why they needed help, and they all felt good that they might just get something done about what was going on. In the evenings, the kids would just go into the city and stand there, looking at all the stuff going on. Ishmael would call his uncle, and he told him he had never seen so many white people in one place. He also met his future foster mother, who was one of the U.N. organizers. She was very kind to him, and would eventually take him in as a son. The chapter ends with Ishmael heading home.
Blog
Luke Beckman
Chapter 19 starts with Ishmael being told that he has been officially repatriated into society. He starts to finally feel guilt for the things he has done, and starts to ask himself, “why did I survive the war, why did most of my friends die instead of me?” Ishmael is later officially moved into his uncles house, where he is too live out the rest of his childhood. He says good by to Alhaji, who saluted him and called him his squad leader. Ishmael didn’t hug him, but patted him on the shoulder. They never saw each other again. When Ishmael gets to his uncles house, he has trouble adjusting to his new life. He went to a club and danced, but when a girl came back and wanted to be his girlfriend, he was reluctant. He eventually broke up with her because she asked so many questions about where was he from. Later on in the chapter, he is asked to go for an interview to see if he could represent child soldiers in the area at New York at the U.N. capital. He went to the building and was surprised at how large it was. When he entered, he didn’t know what an elevator was, and didn’t know how it worked. The other boys around him did, and they got up to the interview. All Ishmael said was that he was a child soldier for 2 years and the man smiled. As it turned out Ishmael was chosen to go to New York. At first, his uncle didn’t believe him. But when Ishmael left, he did. When Ishmael came to New York, he was stunned at how cold it was. He said no one could possible live here. Then when they entered the main portion of the city, he was amazed at all of the lights and the extremely tall buildings. He went to the hotel to stay, and didn’t know why it was so hot inside. It turned out he had the heater on full blast and didn’t know it.
Chapter 20 was about him at the U.N. He met many other people from countries around the world, all of which had had a very troubled childhood, much like Ishmael. They had a breakfast together and then went to the U.N. HQ. they gave speeches about what they were going through and why they needed help, and they all felt good that they might just get something done about what was going on. In the evenings, the kids would just go into the city and stand there, looking at all the stuff going on. Ishmael would call his uncle, and he told him he had never seen so many white people in one place. He also met his future foster mother, who was one of the U.N. organizers. She was very kind to him, and would eventually take him in as a son. The chapter ends with Ishmael heading home.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
17-18
Luke Beckman
Blog 17-18
This bit of reading was the full recovery of Ishmael Beah. At the beginning of chapter 17, he is still calling some of the people there sissies, but he has started opening up to the nurse, Esther. He comes back regularly. Sometimes he talks, sometimes he just comes to listen to the walkman. Also Leslie came from time to time to check in on his rehabilitation process. Ishmael would tell Esther stories of his past, and she would always say none of these things were your fault. She started taking him places, like out to dinner, or just on walks, to get to know him better and to learn about his childhood and his life before where he was now.
Chapter 18 was a lot of the same. This time, however, Ishmael opened up a lot more and was unafraid to cry or to show feelings in front of Esther. He would tell her how he had no family to talk to and was sad about it. He would tell her things he hadn’t told anyone in many years. Then Esther asked Ishmael to perform at a talent show for at Benin home for some visitors. He wanted to do a monologue of Shakespeare like when he was a child, but she also wanted him t sing some. He agreed, and preformed at the show. At the end of the show one of the people asked him he would like to be the spokesmen of the center. At first Ishmael was reluctant, but then he accepted. He later met up with a childhood friend Mohamed, who he hadn’t seen since they left for Matru Jong. He had a connection with him because they had been through similar situations but they hadn’t seen each other do the killings, which made it so the only memories they had of each other were good ones. After that Leslie found a relative of Ishmaels. It was his uncle who he had never seen before, and he was chosen to be his foster parent. He started by going to visit his uncle every now and then, and he would play soccer with the kids and go around the city and walk with his uncle.
Blog 17-18
This bit of reading was the full recovery of Ishmael Beah. At the beginning of chapter 17, he is still calling some of the people there sissies, but he has started opening up to the nurse, Esther. He comes back regularly. Sometimes he talks, sometimes he just comes to listen to the walkman. Also Leslie came from time to time to check in on his rehabilitation process. Ishmael would tell Esther stories of his past, and she would always say none of these things were your fault. She started taking him places, like out to dinner, or just on walks, to get to know him better and to learn about his childhood and his life before where he was now.
Chapter 18 was a lot of the same. This time, however, Ishmael opened up a lot more and was unafraid to cry or to show feelings in front of Esther. He would tell her how he had no family to talk to and was sad about it. He would tell her things he hadn’t told anyone in many years. Then Esther asked Ishmael to perform at a talent show for at Benin home for some visitors. He wanted to do a monologue of Shakespeare like when he was a child, but she also wanted him t sing some. He agreed, and preformed at the show. At the end of the show one of the people asked him he would like to be the spokesmen of the center. At first Ishmael was reluctant, but then he accepted. He later met up with a childhood friend Mohamed, who he hadn’t seen since they left for Matru Jong. He had a connection with him because they had been through similar situations but they hadn’t seen each other do the killings, which made it so the only memories they had of each other were good ones. After that Leslie found a relative of Ishmaels. It was his uncle who he had never seen before, and he was chosen to be his foster parent. He started by going to visit his uncle every now and then, and he would play soccer with the kids and go around the city and walk with his uncle.
Monday, October 27, 2008
WHAT I WANT TO READ
I really don't care about what we read. As long as it is not really cheesy, or feminine, i am good to go. i do not have any books to suggest because i do not read often and the books i have read are middle school level (ish). although, if you don't care about that, house of the scorpion was awesome.
Friday, October 24, 2008
15-16
Luke Beckman
Chapters 15-16
Chapters 15-16 is more of the same brutality. Chapter 15 starts with them using the villages they capture as bases. This is just like what the rebels do, which makes the two sides both the bad guys. Then he says that his life changed in 1996, when he was 15. It starts with them going to a village. They were telling war stories, and boating about how many people they have killed. They were laughing when Jumah told them that he had taken his new gun from someone who had killed a bunch of his comrades. They really seemed not to care anymore about what happened around them. The Lieutenant went around, congratulating everybody on recent raids, when 4 people from UNICEF showed up. As it turns out, the Lieutenant was expecting them, and he led them into his house. The Lieutenant then comes out of the house and tells the boys to line up. He chose a few of them, Ishmael being one of them, and then he discharged them from duty. He said that they had been great soldiers. They were soon striped of there military equipment. However, when one of the men tries to search Ishmael, Ishmael tells him to back off or I will kill you. The boys were angry because they were being saved. This was almost unbelievable, until he said he envied the military MPs because they had guns and he didn’t. they were driving for hours when they reached the capital of the country, where they were taken to a UNICEF building, and then were given a place to sleep and some food. They met some other boys who were fighting for the army earlier in a different part of the army. At forest the two groups didn’t get along, but once they established they were on the same side and had seen many of the same things, they became a little less tense. Both the groups had no idea why they were taken off the front lines. Then the boys were taken outside, where they met some rebel boys. When they had heard this, the rebels rushed the army boys, and a massive fight broke out. Ishmael through his grenade, and people pulled bayonets out. When a few mps came to try to break it up, the boys took there guns and started shooting at each other. Soon more Mps came. Many boys had died or been seriously injured.
Chapter 16 was about the rehab. The boys were suffering from the lack of drugs and the lack of violence. The boys would fight for hours between meal for no reason. They were reckless because of there switch in environment. The chapter was filled with many isolated fights and the boys trying to get any drugs they could.
Chapters 15-16
Chapters 15-16 is more of the same brutality. Chapter 15 starts with them using the villages they capture as bases. This is just like what the rebels do, which makes the two sides both the bad guys. Then he says that his life changed in 1996, when he was 15. It starts with them going to a village. They were telling war stories, and boating about how many people they have killed. They were laughing when Jumah told them that he had taken his new gun from someone who had killed a bunch of his comrades. They really seemed not to care anymore about what happened around them. The Lieutenant went around, congratulating everybody on recent raids, when 4 people from UNICEF showed up. As it turns out, the Lieutenant was expecting them, and he led them into his house. The Lieutenant then comes out of the house and tells the boys to line up. He chose a few of them, Ishmael being one of them, and then he discharged them from duty. He said that they had been great soldiers. They were soon striped of there military equipment. However, when one of the men tries to search Ishmael, Ishmael tells him to back off or I will kill you. The boys were angry because they were being saved. This was almost unbelievable, until he said he envied the military MPs because they had guns and he didn’t. they were driving for hours when they reached the capital of the country, where they were taken to a UNICEF building, and then were given a place to sleep and some food. They met some other boys who were fighting for the army earlier in a different part of the army. At forest the two groups didn’t get along, but once they established they were on the same side and had seen many of the same things, they became a little less tense. Both the groups had no idea why they were taken off the front lines. Then the boys were taken outside, where they met some rebel boys. When they had heard this, the rebels rushed the army boys, and a massive fight broke out. Ishmael through his grenade, and people pulled bayonets out. When a few mps came to try to break it up, the boys took there guns and started shooting at each other. Soon more Mps came. Many boys had died or been seriously injured.
Chapter 16 was about the rehab. The boys were suffering from the lack of drugs and the lack of violence. The boys would fight for hours between meal for no reason. They were reckless because of there switch in environment. The chapter was filled with many isolated fights and the boys trying to get any drugs they could.
13-14
Luke Beckman
Chapters 13-14
Chapters 13-14 were some of the most violent chapters we have seen yet. They showed how terrible war really is and de-glorified everything about it. It was brutal and disgusting.
Chapter 13 starts with the boys getting there last day off. They are playing soccer in the village, and for the first time in a while Ishmael is having fun. They then go down to the river for a swim when the corporal tells them to head up to the village immediately. They go up to the village and are ordered to service there rifles quickly and get ready to move out. When there are doe, they are told to take as much ammo as they can without weighing them down. They are put into formation, and move out into the woods. They are marching through the woods for a while when the lieutenant tells them to set up an ambush. They hide in the bush and wait. When the rebels come, the lieutenant orders one of them to fire an RPG, but one of the rebels hears it and orders the retreat. The RPG misses them and then the fight begins. At first, Ishmael is unable to fire his gun. He is in to much shock to kill anyone. Then he sees the dead body of a 11 year old who was crying for his mother a bit earlier, and the corporal tells him to start firing back. When he starts, he seems unable to stop. He shot everything that moved until the Lieutenant ordered the retreat. It was at this moment that Ishmael was broken. He didn’t care who he killed anymore, and he had lost his childhood. When they were moving out they took the guns and the ammunition off of there dead friends. When they got back, Ishmael went to sleep, and woke up from a nightmare shooting his AK-47 out his window. They corporal came in and gave him some more white pills, and he could not sleep for another week.
In chapter 14, Ishmael really becomes a killing machine. Under the influence of brown brown and the white pills, he didn’t care anymore about who he killed or how he did it. They went back into the woods on sorties and came back boasting about who they had killed and smoked marijuana. They tried to implement strategies from war movies like Rambo, and seemed to have fun going out to war. In one of the sequences he shoots prisoners that did nothing as a competition. Because Ishmaels prisoner died the quickest, he was promoted to junior lieutenant. After the killing he celebrated it.
Chapters 13-14
Chapters 13-14 were some of the most violent chapters we have seen yet. They showed how terrible war really is and de-glorified everything about it. It was brutal and disgusting.
Chapter 13 starts with the boys getting there last day off. They are playing soccer in the village, and for the first time in a while Ishmael is having fun. They then go down to the river for a swim when the corporal tells them to head up to the village immediately. They go up to the village and are ordered to service there rifles quickly and get ready to move out. When there are doe, they are told to take as much ammo as they can without weighing them down. They are put into formation, and move out into the woods. They are marching through the woods for a while when the lieutenant tells them to set up an ambush. They hide in the bush and wait. When the rebels come, the lieutenant orders one of them to fire an RPG, but one of the rebels hears it and orders the retreat. The RPG misses them and then the fight begins. At first, Ishmael is unable to fire his gun. He is in to much shock to kill anyone. Then he sees the dead body of a 11 year old who was crying for his mother a bit earlier, and the corporal tells him to start firing back. When he starts, he seems unable to stop. He shot everything that moved until the Lieutenant ordered the retreat. It was at this moment that Ishmael was broken. He didn’t care who he killed anymore, and he had lost his childhood. When they were moving out they took the guns and the ammunition off of there dead friends. When they got back, Ishmael went to sleep, and woke up from a nightmare shooting his AK-47 out his window. They corporal came in and gave him some more white pills, and he could not sleep for another week.
In chapter 14, Ishmael really becomes a killing machine. Under the influence of brown brown and the white pills, he didn’t care anymore about who he killed or how he did it. They went back into the woods on sorties and came back boasting about who they had killed and smoked marijuana. They tried to implement strategies from war movies like Rambo, and seemed to have fun going out to war. In one of the sequences he shoots prisoners that did nothing as a competition. Because Ishmaels prisoner died the quickest, he was promoted to junior lieutenant. After the killing he celebrated it.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
11-12
Chapter 11-12
Literature
Chapter 11 starts with the boys coming up to the village where there parents are. As they come up on the outskirts of the village, the meet a man from Ishmaels’ old village. His name was Gasemu, and he was very highly respected in his village. He asks the boys to help him take some bananas back to the village with him, and they agree. He is pleased to see them and says there parents will be very happy to see them. However, when they get close to the village, they hear gunshots and people screaming. Then they see smoke coming up from the village. They run for cover, and watch as the village goes up in flames. When the gunfire ceased and they thought it was clear, they started making there way out when Ishmael ran to the village. He wanted to see if anybody made it alive. Unfortunately, no one did, and when Gasemu told him which house his family was in, Ishmael went in, and saw piles of ash. Ismael started attacking Gasmu for holding them up, but then ran out of energy and could no longer do it. Soon after, some rebels came, and they had to hide and wait for them to leave. The rebels seemed happy they had killed so many and ruined so many lives. They were giving each other high fives and boasting about what they had done. A couple hours later the boys and Gasemu decided it was time to leave, and they made a run for it. They ran into the forest and ran for hours. They stopped only when the rebels had given up, the it was reveled that Gasemu had been shot. He started to cry, and then when he was close to dyeing told them about the village ahead, and told them where to go. They carried him to a point, then had to leave him. They came up to an army checkpoint, where they were taken by a soldier in a boat to the next village.
Chapter 12 is about there indoctrination into the army. The chapter starts with them having a good time in the village. They were helping out with whatever needed to be done, and where getting shelter in return. Then the war reached the village, and the army started sending out troops. Fewer and fewer troops would return from each sortie with the rebels, until eventually the lieutenant had to recruit any able bodied man and boy to fight for him. The boys decided to fight, and soon training began. They went through drills of marching, standing at attention, and physical training. Then they stated to learn to do all of this with an AK-47 in hand. They started learning how to shoot and how to bayonet someone. But one of the things that made sense to me if you were going to train these boys as soldiers was when the drill leader said imagine the target you are shooting or bayoneting is the rebel who killed your family. The boys became furious, and were very aggressive when thrusting the bayonet or shooting a target. The chapter ends with them preparing for battle.
Literature
Chapter 11 starts with the boys coming up to the village where there parents are. As they come up on the outskirts of the village, the meet a man from Ishmaels’ old village. His name was Gasemu, and he was very highly respected in his village. He asks the boys to help him take some bananas back to the village with him, and they agree. He is pleased to see them and says there parents will be very happy to see them. However, when they get close to the village, they hear gunshots and people screaming. Then they see smoke coming up from the village. They run for cover, and watch as the village goes up in flames. When the gunfire ceased and they thought it was clear, they started making there way out when Ishmael ran to the village. He wanted to see if anybody made it alive. Unfortunately, no one did, and when Gasemu told him which house his family was in, Ishmael went in, and saw piles of ash. Ismael started attacking Gasmu for holding them up, but then ran out of energy and could no longer do it. Soon after, some rebels came, and they had to hide and wait for them to leave. The rebels seemed happy they had killed so many and ruined so many lives. They were giving each other high fives and boasting about what they had done. A couple hours later the boys and Gasemu decided it was time to leave, and they made a run for it. They ran into the forest and ran for hours. They stopped only when the rebels had given up, the it was reveled that Gasemu had been shot. He started to cry, and then when he was close to dyeing told them about the village ahead, and told them where to go. They carried him to a point, then had to leave him. They came up to an army checkpoint, where they were taken by a soldier in a boat to the next village.
Chapter 12 is about there indoctrination into the army. The chapter starts with them having a good time in the village. They were helping out with whatever needed to be done, and where getting shelter in return. Then the war reached the village, and the army started sending out troops. Fewer and fewer troops would return from each sortie with the rebels, until eventually the lieutenant had to recruit any able bodied man and boy to fight for him. The boys decided to fight, and soon training began. They went through drills of marching, standing at attention, and physical training. Then they stated to learn to do all of this with an AK-47 in hand. They started learning how to shoot and how to bayonet someone. But one of the things that made sense to me if you were going to train these boys as soldiers was when the drill leader said imagine the target you are shooting or bayoneting is the rebel who killed your family. The boys became furious, and were very aggressive when thrusting the bayonet or shooting a target. The chapter ends with them preparing for battle.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
10
Blog
Chapter 10
Chapter ten was one of the most emotionally sad chapters. It starts with the boys from place to place, village to village. They don’t stop, and they are eating off almost nothing. Ishmael has a lot of time to think because none of his friends are talking, and neither is he. He goes through memories through his head, and many of the things he has done with his grandmother. One of the nights, they come up to a bridge. The boys hear some movement and see some figures, and when the figures walk off, the boys stand to find that saidu was, they though, dead. They start to take him across the bridge many of the boys crying, when he wakes up again. He shrugs it off and said he fainted because he thought he saw ghosts. They attribute his fain to the bird he had eaten that had just fallen out of the sky. Soon they come up to a large village, and they decide to stay there for a while. One of the women there says she knows the boys and that she knows where there families are. They are excited, but they decide they need to stay and rest. That night, they hear a bunch of dogs crying out, and they sound like humans crying out. Later that night, they try to make saidu again, but this time, he truly is dead. At first, Ishmael cannot cry because it is to shocking. Then at the funeral the next morning, he concedes, and finally starts crying. The chapter ends with the boys heading to the next village.
Chapter 10
Chapter ten was one of the most emotionally sad chapters. It starts with the boys from place to place, village to village. They don’t stop, and they are eating off almost nothing. Ishmael has a lot of time to think because none of his friends are talking, and neither is he. He goes through memories through his head, and many of the things he has done with his grandmother. One of the nights, they come up to a bridge. The boys hear some movement and see some figures, and when the figures walk off, the boys stand to find that saidu was, they though, dead. They start to take him across the bridge many of the boys crying, when he wakes up again. He shrugs it off and said he fainted because he thought he saw ghosts. They attribute his fain to the bird he had eaten that had just fallen out of the sky. Soon they come up to a large village, and they decide to stay there for a while. One of the women there says she knows the boys and that she knows where there families are. They are excited, but they decide they need to stay and rest. That night, they hear a bunch of dogs crying out, and they sound like humans crying out. Later that night, they try to make saidu again, but this time, he truly is dead. At first, Ishmael cannot cry because it is to shocking. Then at the funeral the next morning, he concedes, and finally starts crying. The chapter ends with the boys heading to the next village.
8-9
Blog
Chapters 8-9
This days reading started by Ishmeal walking for a long time. He would only stop for water at streams, and that was it. He was afraid of his own shadow, which really puts his suffering in perspective. He soon decided that he was going to build himself a home in the forest. He ate the fruit in the area for food. He found a strong stick that he would use to protect himself. He tried his hardest not to think about what he had gone through in the past months, but he was alone, and a 12 year old, it was a lot harder than he had though. I can’t really blame him for trying to close out his mind and not think about it, because I would probably do the same thing. He was in the forest for almost a month when he ran into humans. They were six boys, three of which he had recognized from Matru Jong. They were Alhaji, Saidu, Kanei, Jumah, Musa, and Moriba. Already Ismael knew that when traveling this was going to be a problem because they were 7 war aged boys.
Chapter 9 begins with the boys coming to the ocean. They had never heard the ocean before, and were scared out of there minds when they first heard it. They ran into a bush, and then Kanei went to go take a look. When they found out it was the ocean, they were very happy at the sight of it. For a small period, all of the boys were actually happy. They played soccer on the beach, and were laughing and having fun. When the sun rose, they saw a village, and they went over to investigate. When they got there, they at first saw no one. But then the villagers ambushed them, and bound them up and took them to the village chief. They asked a few questions, then there shoes were torn off and they were run out of the village. They didn’t realize that this was a very bad thing until they were well away from the village. It was 120 degrees outside, and they were walking on sad without shoes. They walked for hours, until the came upon a hut in the sand. They walked in, and there was a man who was willing to help them. He was still pretty ignorant of the war because it had not reached him yet, and he didn’t believe them when they told him their story. However, he was still friendly, unlike many of the other people. Then one morning, the people for the village who had taken their shoes came and recaptured the boys. He started telling them they were little devils, and wouldn’t believe there story when once again rap saved them. The chief ordered them to do the dance to the song, and upon doing it, Ismael realized that he wasn’t really into it anymore. The war had now taken that part of him.
Chapters 8-9
This days reading started by Ishmeal walking for a long time. He would only stop for water at streams, and that was it. He was afraid of his own shadow, which really puts his suffering in perspective. He soon decided that he was going to build himself a home in the forest. He ate the fruit in the area for food. He found a strong stick that he would use to protect himself. He tried his hardest not to think about what he had gone through in the past months, but he was alone, and a 12 year old, it was a lot harder than he had though. I can’t really blame him for trying to close out his mind and not think about it, because I would probably do the same thing. He was in the forest for almost a month when he ran into humans. They were six boys, three of which he had recognized from Matru Jong. They were Alhaji, Saidu, Kanei, Jumah, Musa, and Moriba. Already Ismael knew that when traveling this was going to be a problem because they were 7 war aged boys.
Chapter 9 begins with the boys coming to the ocean. They had never heard the ocean before, and were scared out of there minds when they first heard it. They ran into a bush, and then Kanei went to go take a look. When they found out it was the ocean, they were very happy at the sight of it. For a small period, all of the boys were actually happy. They played soccer on the beach, and were laughing and having fun. When the sun rose, they saw a village, and they went over to investigate. When they got there, they at first saw no one. But then the villagers ambushed them, and bound them up and took them to the village chief. They asked a few questions, then there shoes were torn off and they were run out of the village. They didn’t realize that this was a very bad thing until they were well away from the village. It was 120 degrees outside, and they were walking on sad without shoes. They walked for hours, until the came upon a hut in the sand. They walked in, and there was a man who was willing to help them. He was still pretty ignorant of the war because it had not reached him yet, and he didn’t believe them when they told him their story. However, he was still friendly, unlike many of the other people. Then one morning, the people for the village who had taken their shoes came and recaptured the boys. He started telling them they were little devils, and wouldn’t believe there story when once again rap saved them. The chief ordered them to do the dance to the song, and upon doing it, Ismael realized that he wasn’t really into it anymore. The war had now taken that part of him.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
6-7
Luke Beckman
6-7 blog.
This weekend we read chapters 6-7. These chapters were not as violent as the others (at least until the end). We started in chapter six with them reaching a small village. The war had not reached it yet, and it was still, relatively speaking, thriving. When the boys came close two it, a few men came out of the bush with hunting rifles and machetes. They bound them up and took them to the village center, where they were then taken to the village elder. When they got there, he asked if they were rebels or spies. This was really weird for me, because he implied that those were the only two things you could be. The boys said that they were neither, and at first the leader did not believe them. Then he found the rap tapes, and asked where they had gotten those. They said in Matru Jong, where they were going to perform as rappers. That was when one of the boys from the village recognized them. The 6 boys had never seen him before, and he had just saved their life. They left the village soon after, thanking the people of the village for there offering of shelter. The boys knew they couldn’t accept, because the rebels would reach there soon enough. The boys went down a trail for a long time, and came across an abandoned village. They stayed there for that night, and during that time Ishmael remembered the time his brother had showed him the magic trick of making stones walk on water. Although it was just skipping stones he was very moved by this memory because his brother said that one day he would teach him the magic trick of skipping stones on water. The next morning a group of people passed through and one of the women gave them directions to another village about 30 miles away. The boys started going there. It is amazing to me that they can just go trekking 30 miles and even really care about it. When they got to the village, they met Gabrillas uncle. He was a hard working man. He took the boys in and then he put them to work. They planted cassava plants, and later started farming. They were fine for another 3 months, then the rebels came.
Chapter seven starts with the rebel attack. They came sometime at night, and by surprise. Kaloko was at the mosque, and when the people at the mosque realized that the rebels were coming, they had all left, while the leader of the mosque had stayed behind. Later they found out that the leader had been captured, and when he refused to tell where all of the villagers went, he was bound to a pole and burned at the stake. When Ishmael heard the attack he ran into the bush because he didn’t have time to look for his brother, junior. When he finally stopped to rest, he started thinking about him, and what had happened to them. They found a family hiding in the bush and stayed with them for two weeks. To Ishmael, it was the longest two weeks ever. Once every three days they went back to the village to see if anybody had returned, but no one did. On the sixth day of doing this he saw some people down at the river. They were swimming in it. So he went down to the river and talked to them. They were very reserved about him. They asked him where was he from and where was he going. Ishmael responded “I am from Matru Jong, and I have no idea where I am going”. This was a good example of his never ending running and what the rebels have done to his life. He had nowhere to go and no idea where to go. The father of the family told him to keep going to the sea. And that was the end of the reading.
6-7 blog.
This weekend we read chapters 6-7. These chapters were not as violent as the others (at least until the end). We started in chapter six with them reaching a small village. The war had not reached it yet, and it was still, relatively speaking, thriving. When the boys came close two it, a few men came out of the bush with hunting rifles and machetes. They bound them up and took them to the village center, where they were then taken to the village elder. When they got there, he asked if they were rebels or spies. This was really weird for me, because he implied that those were the only two things you could be. The boys said that they were neither, and at first the leader did not believe them. Then he found the rap tapes, and asked where they had gotten those. They said in Matru Jong, where they were going to perform as rappers. That was when one of the boys from the village recognized them. The 6 boys had never seen him before, and he had just saved their life. They left the village soon after, thanking the people of the village for there offering of shelter. The boys knew they couldn’t accept, because the rebels would reach there soon enough. The boys went down a trail for a long time, and came across an abandoned village. They stayed there for that night, and during that time Ishmael remembered the time his brother had showed him the magic trick of making stones walk on water. Although it was just skipping stones he was very moved by this memory because his brother said that one day he would teach him the magic trick of skipping stones on water. The next morning a group of people passed through and one of the women gave them directions to another village about 30 miles away. The boys started going there. It is amazing to me that they can just go trekking 30 miles and even really care about it. When they got to the village, they met Gabrillas uncle. He was a hard working man. He took the boys in and then he put them to work. They planted cassava plants, and later started farming. They were fine for another 3 months, then the rebels came.
Chapter seven starts with the rebel attack. They came sometime at night, and by surprise. Kaloko was at the mosque, and when the people at the mosque realized that the rebels were coming, they had all left, while the leader of the mosque had stayed behind. Later they found out that the leader had been captured, and when he refused to tell where all of the villagers went, he was bound to a pole and burned at the stake. When Ishmael heard the attack he ran into the bush because he didn’t have time to look for his brother, junior. When he finally stopped to rest, he started thinking about him, and what had happened to them. They found a family hiding in the bush and stayed with them for two weeks. To Ishmael, it was the longest two weeks ever. Once every three days they went back to the village to see if anybody had returned, but no one did. On the sixth day of doing this he saw some people down at the river. They were swimming in it. So he went down to the river and talked to them. They were very reserved about him. They asked him where was he from and where was he going. Ishmael responded “I am from Matru Jong, and I have no idea where I am going”. This was a good example of his never ending running and what the rebels have done to his life. He had nowhere to go and no idea where to go. The father of the family told him to keep going to the sea. And that was the end of the reading.
Friday, October 10, 2008
3-5
Chapters 3-5
Blog
After reading these 3 chapters, I was even more shocked then the first 2. It was even more brutal and violent than I though it would get to.
In chapter 3, the boys are in the village when the RUF messenger shows up. What I was particularly stunned about was the RUF carved into his skin. This form of branding is barbaric and crude, and yet very affective. He told them the RUF was coming so as to make aware to the villagers the power of the RUF. Another thing that was shocking was that he had all of his fingers accept for his thumbs cut off, to represent “one love”. It was almost sad how they perverted a song into something like this. Later, the messenger keeps coming back, to make the village even more afraid. When the rebels come, everyone starts to flee. Worst yet, the soldiers abandon there post. This was terrible because the people had no one to look to. The RUF was killing everybody and the government would not protect its own people, so it was a lose-lose situation. The boys flee through the swamp, and we start to get a sense of how the boys are starting to care more for themselves than others. They don’t stop to help anyone so as not to get killed, and they don’t slow pace to wait for others so they wont get killed. Ishmeal starts distancing himself from others because he knows that many of them will die.
At the start of chapter 4, the boys are very hungry. They realize that they are going to need money, so they decide to go back to the village to get it. This is very dangerous, because the RUF is looking for boy soldiers. The boys go back and get the money, and are shocked at what else they find. Ishmeal vomits because he sees a man that his been dismembered. They start running back through the swamp, when a patrol shows up. Junior and a few others are forced to lie down and pretend like the dead in the swamp. This troubles Ishmeal because he does not like the look of his brother among the many dead. The boys are able to crawl to the end, and all of them make it. However, one boy who they don’t know who was carrying a bag gets the back stuck. He is seen, and so the rebels start firing at him. The boys tell him to run, but he refuses to leave the bag. The boys never see him again. I don’t know what was in the bag, but I really was shocked at how someone could give up on life to try to get a bag. When the boys get back to camp, there are no venders of food they can use there money with because they have all fled. The boys see a boy eating to ears of corn, and they are so desperate for food that they steal the ears from the boy. Later, the boys mother comes and gives them some corn, and they feel guilty that they stole.
In chapter 5, the boys set out again. On there way, they are captured by the RUF. It was a small search party, but they were armed. The boys are all forced to the ground where they must wait. Only one guard is guarding them until the other RUF members return, but the boys can’t overpower him. He has a gun and they are too weak to be able to charge him. When the others return, something horrible begins. They start the recruitment process. The first time through, Ishmael and Khalilou are selected. Junior, however, is not. Before anything else could happen though, they decide that they want to go through selection again. This time, junior is selected, and Ishmeal is not. This selection was “final,” so then the guards say that to make them less afraid of blood they must now watch there friends die. I was horrified at this, because it felt so unnecessary and cruel. Before they were killed though, the guards heard gunshots in the distance. They started firing in that direction, and the boys made a run for it. They got away, and when they got to a camp, they began to distance themselves from each other because they realized that they could be killed that easily.
Blog
After reading these 3 chapters, I was even more shocked then the first 2. It was even more brutal and violent than I though it would get to.
In chapter 3, the boys are in the village when the RUF messenger shows up. What I was particularly stunned about was the RUF carved into his skin. This form of branding is barbaric and crude, and yet very affective. He told them the RUF was coming so as to make aware to the villagers the power of the RUF. Another thing that was shocking was that he had all of his fingers accept for his thumbs cut off, to represent “one love”. It was almost sad how they perverted a song into something like this. Later, the messenger keeps coming back, to make the village even more afraid. When the rebels come, everyone starts to flee. Worst yet, the soldiers abandon there post. This was terrible because the people had no one to look to. The RUF was killing everybody and the government would not protect its own people, so it was a lose-lose situation. The boys flee through the swamp, and we start to get a sense of how the boys are starting to care more for themselves than others. They don’t stop to help anyone so as not to get killed, and they don’t slow pace to wait for others so they wont get killed. Ishmeal starts distancing himself from others because he knows that many of them will die.
At the start of chapter 4, the boys are very hungry. They realize that they are going to need money, so they decide to go back to the village to get it. This is very dangerous, because the RUF is looking for boy soldiers. The boys go back and get the money, and are shocked at what else they find. Ishmeal vomits because he sees a man that his been dismembered. They start running back through the swamp, when a patrol shows up. Junior and a few others are forced to lie down and pretend like the dead in the swamp. This troubles Ishmeal because he does not like the look of his brother among the many dead. The boys are able to crawl to the end, and all of them make it. However, one boy who they don’t know who was carrying a bag gets the back stuck. He is seen, and so the rebels start firing at him. The boys tell him to run, but he refuses to leave the bag. The boys never see him again. I don’t know what was in the bag, but I really was shocked at how someone could give up on life to try to get a bag. When the boys get back to camp, there are no venders of food they can use there money with because they have all fled. The boys see a boy eating to ears of corn, and they are so desperate for food that they steal the ears from the boy. Later, the boys mother comes and gives them some corn, and they feel guilty that they stole.
In chapter 5, the boys set out again. On there way, they are captured by the RUF. It was a small search party, but they were armed. The boys are all forced to the ground where they must wait. Only one guard is guarding them until the other RUF members return, but the boys can’t overpower him. He has a gun and they are too weak to be able to charge him. When the others return, something horrible begins. They start the recruitment process. The first time through, Ishmael and Khalilou are selected. Junior, however, is not. Before anything else could happen though, they decide that they want to go through selection again. This time, junior is selected, and Ishmeal is not. This selection was “final,” so then the guards say that to make them less afraid of blood they must now watch there friends die. I was horrified at this, because it felt so unnecessary and cruel. Before they were killed though, the guards heard gunshots in the distance. They started firing in that direction, and the boys made a run for it. They got away, and when they got to a camp, they began to distance themselves from each other because they realized that they could be killed that easily.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
long way gone reading 1
I was deeply affected by this reading. After reading only a few pages we could already see the horrors of war.
The book starts out in January of 1993, when the main character is 12. He is young and pretty oblivious to the war. It does not affect him yet and the news portrays it like it is a long way off. But that is totally wrong. It is actually very close to him and his village that he lives in. I think that is kind of funny and at the same time kind of cool that they listen to American rap music. They seemed really surprised that a black person could speak English that fast. They travel to a town where they are going to perform in a talent show by doing a rap song and dance. This is when disaster strikes. They here that their village was attacked while they were gone, and that people were running everywhere. They can’t find there parents and they suspect that they didn’t make it. This was very shocking that they just kind of accepted it. Some of the injured people that they saw were horribly injured. People were bleeding immensely, babies were dead in there mothers arms, and people were holding onto dead kids as though they were still alive, telling them that they would get them to a hospital. I could not even imagine something like that happing here in the United States, its terrible that this happens daily throughout the world.
The book starts out in January of 1993, when the main character is 12. He is young and pretty oblivious to the war. It does not affect him yet and the news portrays it like it is a long way off. But that is totally wrong. It is actually very close to him and his village that he lives in. I think that is kind of funny and at the same time kind of cool that they listen to American rap music. They seemed really surprised that a black person could speak English that fast. They travel to a town where they are going to perform in a talent show by doing a rap song and dance. This is when disaster strikes. They here that their village was attacked while they were gone, and that people were running everywhere. They can’t find there parents and they suspect that they didn’t make it. This was very shocking that they just kind of accepted it. Some of the injured people that they saw were horribly injured. People were bleeding immensely, babies were dead in there mothers arms, and people were holding onto dead kids as though they were still alive, telling them that they would get them to a hospital. I could not even imagine something like that happing here in the United States, its terrible that this happens daily throughout the world.
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