a long way gone #1

"Too much blood has been spilled were you are going. Even the good spirits have fled from that place"
Page 11-12, Woman

Significance: This quote was intended for Ishmael and his brother because the woman knew that they were going to America and to get there they would have to see a lot of blood and broken villages. The woman was saying that it was not worth what might happen to them if they tried to go to America. The woman had already experienced what hardships you had to face to go to America and did not want children to have to go through those same experiences.

Personal connection: I can connect to this because when I say I'm going to do something that will maybe harm me my parents say not to do it and if I’m really determined then they say be careful. But I think that the chances of getting hurt are more than the chances of not getting hurt. Children are irresponsible and think that they are invincible they think “Oh that would never happen to me” but in many cases it does and usually when I do something risky I always get hurt.

Is rapping really worth getting killed?

“If any of you make a move, I will kill everyone. So don’t even breathe too hard or it might be your last”
Page 32, Rebel Soldier

Significance: Ishmael and his friends had tried to get to America and had been caught. So far Ishmael and his friend’s journey hadn’t been that great either. Ishmael and his friends had seen so many people die and now they were caught by soldiers who were threatening to kill them. They were starving and wishing they would have died in the first round of killings with the rest of there families. I feel really bad for them.

Character judgment: I am mad at the rebel soldier he is a kid just like them and what right does he have to kill these people. But also in a way I feel bad. If he doesn’t die he will have to live with killing all of these people for the rest of his life. No child would choose that for themselves so that means that he was forced to work. And in repayment he would not die.

Would you rather die or become a soldier and have to kill to save your own life?