Thursday, December 5, 2013

Fishbowl #6: A Long Way Gone, Chapters 18 and 19

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(A) Bring at least one quotation and/or page reference into at least one of your responses.

(B) Explain your thinking thoughtfully and thoroughly (try to avoid the one-sentence response).

(C) Keep it professional, including the usage of proper grammar and spelling.

(D) Comment frequently from the beginning of the conversation to the end.


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Enjoy!

90 comments:

  1. Because everything has been taken from him, and all he knows is war, he feels that life is over for him, and there is no reason for him to be here.

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  2. How do you think Ishmael felt when Leslie said," This is your uncle."

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    1. He was probably pretty happy and exited because he hasn't been with any family for a few years.

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    2. I think that he felt surprised because he has not seen any of his family for many years and now being able to see his uncle

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  3. Why are the migraines that Ishmael experiences significant? I think that the migraines represent the memories that he is trying to repress.

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  4. Taking into account what a successful job Ishmael did of raising awareness for creating child soldiers, do you think that he would turn the clock back and keep it all from happening?

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  5. How do you think he will recover over the next three months in his life. Do you think that he will ever recover completely?

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    1. I think he will recover but not completely. I don’t think anyone could fully recover from what Ishmael went through. The nurse is helping him by saying it wasn’t his fault.

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    2. I don't think he will ever recover completely recover but he will be able to deal with his issues in a more effective way.

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    3. I also think that he will recover, but not fully. I also know he will never forget how his childhood was ruined and turned into a warzone, and that he will never be able to recover from those experiences and memories. He will recover physically, but not emotionally.

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    4. Adding to Bryan and Luke's comments, There will never be a time when he is fully recovered, you cannot just go through the things he went through and be able to recover completely. Ishmael can make the best of the situation and turn it into something positive by thinking things like he is safe now and can finally breath and speak as loud as he wants without worry of having people after him.

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    5. I think that he will be able to forgive himself and let it go but he will always have the memories of what he did.

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  6. On pg. 179 it says “I lay in my bed night after night staring at the ceiling and thinking, Why have I survived the war? Why was I the last in my immediate family to be alive? I didn't know.” Do you think that Ishmael has survivals guilt? Does he think that he should have died with his family?

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  7. How do you think Ishmael feels on page 172 when Leslie says, "This is your uncle." He must feel really good and happy that one of his family members was found and that he will be able to have a family again.

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    1. At first, When Tommy embraced him for a while. Ishmael didn't know him and thought maybe it was a random guy acting like his Uncle until he started to cry that he just now met him and not in the years past

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    2. When he cried he realized that it actually was his uncle because people in his culture rarely ever cry

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    3. Having a family would fill someone like Ishmael's life with a new found hope allowing him to keep his chin up and continue the battle of grieving.

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  8. In the previous chapters, Ishmael hears the line "it's not your fault, you know." At first this upsets him but now he realizes that it wasn't his fault and that he can heal.

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  9. I disagree with Austin's statement, people still don't care about him, they love his story though.

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    1. I think some people specifically still care about him like Esther and Leslie.

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    2. I'm referring to the general public, interview host, etc. Not people that close to him like Esther and Leslie, they obviously care .

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  10. I think that he had to be restrained to a normal society because the one he was in before was so awful that to adjust he had to be forced into it for a while. In the CBS interview he says " Its like my second life"

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  11. I think that its comforting to know that there is someone who is related to him by blood and there is someone there for him. And at the same time he misses his old family.

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  12. I think it comforts him greatly to have actual family with him, but it can serve as a painful reminder of his past family.

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  13. If you were put in his situation with his past, how would you view life? Honestly if you were in his situation, no good past, no family, and incapability to live in a civil world; how wouldn't you feel there is nothing to live for?

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    1. I would never forget what happened in my past, and I would be more scared and nervous as I lived, but I would try and take time to eventually face my fears and move on.

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  14. another thing that helps him to heal is the love that he experiences from different people, Esther helps Ishmael find connection with other people and he connects with his Uncle and his new family.

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  15. On pg. 167 it Esther says to Ishmael, “Think of me as your family, your sister” Do you think that Ishmael views her as a part of his family, why or why not?

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    1. I think Ishmael will sort of think of Esther as family because she has been there since he was taken out of the war. She listened to his stories and got him his rap cassette. She was always in a good mood and finally changed Ishmael's thinking on the war.

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    2. Yes he really has no close family. His closest is his uncle, and after what he has been through if anyone offered to be part of his family he would accept it.

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  16. On page 179 he says "I was worried about having a family." Why do you think he is worried about having a family again?

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    1. I think that he was worried because after only caring for himself for a long time, he fears living with a family again.

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    2. I think that he is worried about having a family because he is not used to it and he has not had a family for a long time and the last time that he did they were killed. That is why I think he in nervous about having a family.

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  17. I think he was mistaken because what he is living for is everyone around him and he didn't realize that people care for him.

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  18. In the beginning of chapter 18 he says "I feel as if there is nothing left for me to be alive for," I said slowly. "I have no family, its just me. No one will be able to tell stories about my childhood." How will he overcome this problem of not feeling a self purpose to recover from the war?

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    1. He already had overcome this problem, his self purpose and what was driving him to achieve more in life was writing the book and sharing it with as many people as possible to share his story so that people can become aware about the problem.

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    2. I think as time goes on he will learn to accept that his family is not going to comeback to him, and he will be able to move on. He will not be able to fully move on, but I think he will realize that his life can still be happy without his parents.

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  19. I think that he has accepted what he did but hasnt forgiven himself like in chapter 18 when hes in the suicidal stage and he just hasn't forgiven himself for the killing and all of the drugs. It's more regret than anything like he wishes he didnt do what he did.

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    1. I think the only reason that he did not kill himself is because it really was not him when he was on all of the drugs. He was, "A Long Way Gone".

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  20. How do you think Ishmael felt when he figured out that his uncle was alive?

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  21. Dalton
    I think that he is on his way to healing. In the book he said he has turned all of his bad into good so he is finding happiness and the road to morality.

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  22. I think that Ishmael has accepted his actions. He accepts that him as a person committed all of those crimes. He has not forgiven himself though. He regrets his actions and would do anything to take them back.

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  23. I think by writing this book Ishmael was getting the word out to the public and telling everyone what he went through as a kid. Also I believe that writing this book was a way to recover by letting his feelings out.

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  24. In chapter 18 Ishmael goes to rehab, and is learning more about his past. He meets his uncle, and that is how he learns about his past. I think family is a huge reason for Ishmaels recovery. His uncle is the closest family he has now, and he opens Ishmaels eyes to accept what he did. Ishmael knows the horrors he did, but he is able to move on. On page 175 Ishmael says "I think my trouble some days are long gone." How will Ishmael live the rest of his life from after the war?

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  25. I think the security of being in America and have to never have to worry about ever going back to that life has been big part of his healing

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  26. How do you think he felt when he found out that some of his relatives where still alive and around him?

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    1. I think he felt somewhat relieved, I think he felt like there were still people there for him. He still ad a family to care about, and people to care about him.

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  27. I don't think it is fair to completely blame Ishmael himself because his only option was to survive and the only way to do that was join the army. The fear of death is a very powerful thing and humans will do whatever it takes to stay alive.

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    1. Well he was also put on tons of drugs and was fed fake propaganda to make him a ruthless killer

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  28. Do you think Ishmael will become good friends and close friends with Allie and their cousin across that lives across the street?

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  29. Do you think that Ishmael sees any of his father in his uncle?

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    1. As his only real remaining father type figure, yes he probably sees that in him

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  30. Do you blame Ishmael for what he did and the people he killed?

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    1. No you can't blame him because he had been on the run for awhile, his family died right in front of him and when they were taken by the army, and was told daily that the rebels are the bad guys. Then taking drugs everyday, messing with his mind, you can't blame him.

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  31. On page 167 it says, "Esther put her arms around me and pulled me closer to her." Is Ishmael starting to trust humanity again?

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    1. Yes< I think at first he would never have let her do this, but because he has healed so much he can now realize that he can trust people and not have to worry anymore.

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  32. I do hold him responsible for his actions, regardless of what happened, he did it with his two hands. At the same time, he was in an inhuman situation and had nothing to live for, so he lived to survive. Any human would of and will turn to bloodshed if need be, its human nature. Its not like I would punish him or anything remotely, but as long as he accepts what has happens, that's enough for me.

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  33. In my opinion the only thing that kept Ishmael going was that he could do something about the rebels. He was told that the rebels killed their families when really both sides were killing innocents.

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  34. On page 190, Ishmael states, "I felt he knew that I wanted to tell him certain things that but I couldn't find the right words." At this point in the book Ishmael can still heal and it will take him a long time to do so.

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  35. How does Esther become a important part of Ishmael recovery and how does she help him with this recovery?

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    1. Esther is an important part of Ishmael's recovery because she helps him to be able to connect with people again. When he was in the war he didn't know how to make connections and strengthen relationships with people. Esther helps him mentally overcome his struggles.

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  36. On pg. 170 Ishmael is reminded that he was a troublesome boy, and he replies with “I know, I know…” Do you think that this shows how Ishmael is trying to forget his violent past?

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  37. Do you guys think that the propaganda that was happening with the rebels to the children effected how they killed and tried to survive?

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    1. The propaganda installed a hatred in the rebels and another reason to fight, so it deeply effected how they tried to survive.

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  38. I dont blame him at all for the things he did, he did it as a matter of survival and he was forced into the army then when he was in the army he was hopped up on drugs and couldnt really control anything he did. Either side he goes did the same thing to the other then blames the other side for what happened to their child soldiers. He says " Both sides told their children the same thing, that the enemy was responsible for everything and thats why they were killing them"

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  39. Back in the beginning of the book, I assumed Ishmael would make it out of the war victorious. But as for how he left it wasn't as great of a "leave" as I originally thought. Were you expecting him to leave the war in a more glorious fashion?

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  40. I think is harder to let go of losing his family becuase he couldnt control that and becuase of that he goes out and tries to get his revenge on the rebels and eventually it turns him into a natural killer who doesn't even care about who or what he kills.

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  41. "I would always tell people that I believed children have the resilience to outlive their sufferings, if given a chance."(pg 169) How do you think that this came from the experiences that he has been through. What is the significance of this quote? does it show that he believes in himself to recover?

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  42. Why were the walks with his uncle good for Ishmael?

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    1. I think because he want to just talk to his uncle and his uncle wants to be apart of his life now

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    2. They were good because it is a chance for Ishmael to talk about his past and life before the war and a chance to remember his life before the war and I think that really helps him in healing to remember all the good memories and talk about them instead of the bad and brutal ones.

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  43. The walks he has with his Uncle i feel is a way for him to vent and take some of the emotions off of himself and it almost lightens the burden on him

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  44. "He crouched on his heals next to me and began" " I am sorry i never came to see you all those years. I wish I had met you before today. But we cant go back now." DO you think these words effected him emotionally with the war, and how he has no one left but him?

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  45. How do you think Ishmael's war experiences would have been different if he wan't put on drugs?

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  46. "I told him that before the war my father had spoken about my uncle, who lived in the city."(pg 171) how do you think his uncle helps him live through his tough experiences.

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  47. On page 97 he witnesses the rebels laughing after burning his village down, and that really sparks a fume inside of him. "My friends had pinned me on the ground..." (96). He was so mad that he tried to attack an old man that attempted to help Ishmael. It was much harder for him to forget of his family's death because the entire time of being a soldier was fueled by the Rebels killing his family and friends.

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  48. You all are making me feel very proud right now. Much love from Ms. Leclaire.

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  49. on page 167 ishamel says that "he has nothing to live for" do you think looking back now that he would take that back now that he is living in America?

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    1. Yes i think he would take it back because without him writing this book there wouldn't be nearly as much awareness of child soldiers and the horrific war in Sierra Leone.

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    2. Yes, I think he would. I think since Ishmael has come to america he has learned to appreciate life more and he has learned that even in the worst situations there is still always something to live for.

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  50. On pg. 175 it says, "I loved the walks with my uncle, because they gave me a chance to talk about my childhood." At first Ishmael did not want to talk about his childhood at all because it hurt him to much, but now Ishmael is moire than willing to talk about his childhood. How do think this shows how he has recovered?

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    1. I think that this shows that he is partially recovered but not fully because he needs someone to talk to about his childhood and he still need to get these things out of him. But i think that it is helping him recover more then if he wouldn't have an uncle with him.

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  51. Do you think that his rehabilitation would have been harder if it wasn't for his uncle?

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    1. Yes, because I think he would have felt like no one was there to help him. When he realized he had an uncle I think he knew that there was someone to help him.

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  52. I believe that Ishmael needs to forget and move on from the past, but its not that easy. Like he said, "its easier to become a killer other than to recover from it". So he wants to move on but its hard emotionally, mental and physically hard. After killing and experiencing all this non sense he is brain washed and it will be with him the rest of his life

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    1. I agree with this statement, the power of memory is very strong and his past will always be with him but I think that now he is focusing on the future and that is helping him out.

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  53. On page 117, how do you think Ishmael felt when he remembered his uncle after so long? We never hear of him until this point in the book and he is the only living family member Ishmael has.

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    1. Well he didn't remember his uncle because he had never met him or even seen him before, the only thing he remembers about his uncle is on page 171 when he tells Leslie, "His name is Tommy and my father told me he is a carpenter."

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  54. Do you guys think it is pretty remarkable for him to over come the fear from what happened in his childhood and sit down and write a book,speak English and talk across the world about his experience?

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  55. In chapters 18 and 19 Ishmael finally seems to have progressed enough in his rehabilitation to say that he has reclaimed his humanity. It seemed like a really tough transition, especially because he knew that if he went back to living his life like he did before the fighting started, he would just miss his family and lose his motivation to live. On page 167, he says to Esther, "'I feel as if there is nothing left for me to live for. I have no family, it is just me.'" (Beah 167). He has come to realize that he has no family and doesn't understand the point of him living anymore. At the end of chapter 18, he met his only family he has left, his uncle. How would it feel to meet someone you have never met before, realize that this person is your family and will replace your previous one? He probably felt relieved but frustrated and anxious at the same time. He has a family but knows that no one would ever be able to replace his old family. In chapter 19 he starts his new life with his new family, and accepts that this is his family and learns to love and appreciate them. I think he is finally reconnecting with society, which must be relieving. He now starts his preparation for his journey to the U.S, and he seems indifferent. Is he just so used to change that this is nothing new to him? I know in his life before the violence he would never be this laid back about a trip like this.

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