“A young man, now safely settled in Canada, once told me that he didn't mind being called a refugee because it described a situation that was forced on him; it didn't define who he was” (Goodwin, 2011). This comes from a discussion between Debi Goodwin and a former refugee about the current refugee crisis in the Middle East. This observation is also seen in the novels What Is the What, by Dave Eggers, and A Long Way Gone, by Ishmael Beah. The displacement occurring in corrupt societies within What Is the What and A Long Way Gone display the contrasting religious and political views, which leads to civil war. The violence caused by rebel, militia, and government organizations in certain African countries leads to mass displacement. Therefore, …show more content…
Whilst leading to civilians fleeing Sudan and Sierra Leone to start new lives. The histories behind both wars are quite similar as both were solely motivated by natural resources and power imbalance. As The Revolutionary United Front had established in 1991 as rebel army that shared one goal, which was to overthrow Sierra Leone's government. Often referred to as the “Blood Diamond” era in certain African countries. Although diamonds and natural resources were a significant motivating factor, there were other causes of the Sierra Leone Civil War. Such as the pre-war frustrations and injustices that had transpired for decades. More than twenty years of poor governance, poverty and corruption created a setting for the RUF causing a rebellion, as civilians desired for change in Sierra Leone. Corruption and mismanagement led to the downfall of the country leading to an increase of recruits for the RUF. For Sierra Leoneans who did not have access to cultivating land, joining the rebel cause was an opportunity to seize property with deadly force. After leaving over 50 000 casualties and 2.6 million citizens displaced from Sierra Leone. The war came to an end in 2002 concluding in a loss for the …show more content…
It starts off in the United States, with the same seven year old, who had grown up in the village of Marial Bai, Southern Sudan. Valentino is a Dinka from the victimized south, abused by the corrupt Muslim regime. There were only small signs of war of given, and then shocking chains of events that led multiple children to escape from their very villages. Since having to be separated from his family due to the Second Sudanese Civil War and then eventually joining “The Lost Boys of Sudan”. We are introduced to him as a young man, meeting confusing and unexpected obstacles as a recent immigrant to the U.S. As the obstacles include being robbed by a fellow African American and as he lay tied up on his own living room floor, he begins to tell his story, in his thoughts personally addressing his heartless captors and as he he recalls his Sudanese desert wastelands. Therefore comparing his new life in the US to his life back in Sudan. However, he recollects his memory on various accounts in which he'd seen or experienced true horrors, but how those felt like home. He explains how hard it was even to get to America, and the hardships before, and still, wishes to go back. “This boy thinks I am not of his species, that I am some other kind of creature, one that can be crushed under the weight of a phone book” (Eggers, 52). As the young boy represents the American readers. This shows the
“Passing,” by Nella Larsen is a novel all about pretending to be something that you are not. It is about giving everyone the impression that everything is in order when in reality everything is falling apart. Passing in this novel refers to the ability of a person to be classified as one thing, normally a social group, while belonging to a different group. Passing is usually done to gain class or acceptance by groups other than one’s own. The primary focus of the novel is on racial passing which is the ability to look white and belong to a white group when in reality the person is an African-American in order to gain privileges that were unavailable to them. Although racial passing is the main focus, another major theme in this novel is sexual passing and identity.
Throughout the course of the book, A Long Way Home, Saroo Brierley, the author, encounters a series of traumatic experiences that lead to bittersweet moments. Unlike a normal child’s infancy, Saroo was physically and mentally consuming. Through his experience, we are able to get a glimpse of the many struggles and hardships young children live in India daily. His petrifying experiences of living on the streets, Liluah, and Nava Jeevan finally lead to his safe haven of being taken by the Brierley’s.
Both stories, "Our Papers' by Julia Alvarez and "What is the What" by Dave Eggers, have complex issues that correlate with one another. In the excerpt from "Our Papers," the author Julia Alvarez has a major issue and that issue is how she was forced to leave her home due to the hardships faced in her country, so the family is traveling to the United States for better opportunities. The theme of the excerpt is how she is trying to find her identity in a cruel dictatorship. Displacement is a vivid theme that she portrays throughout the excerpt. However, "What is the What" is about a group of refugees who are trying their best to survive yet the muraheleen repels them back.
A book that will be read should not be judged by its cover because the importance is the word that is being written and the meaning that is being express by the writer experience. A Long Way Gone, an autobiography, written by Ishmael Bech need to be read. This book can lead to many connections that will bring back memories of many people. Including its wonderful description that is very understanding. However, one may disagree because this book contains much confusion due to the flashback. But because of the flashback it leads to having a better understanding for the reader to know more about Ishmael Bech.
Legion Borders Chestnut Honors English 4 3/1/2024 Perseverance in Humanity Insurmountable challenges showcase the ability to persevere. In A Long Way Gone, Ishmael Beah is stuck in a situation where there is no escape. The civil war in Sierra Leone has destroyed everything he knows and dragged him into the fighting. He continues to live and fight for survival despite knowing that he has no place to go, no family alive, and essentially no future.
In the memoir A Long Way Gone, author Ishmael Beah describes his survival journey as a lost child in his country, because of the civil war in Sierra Leone, then becoming a child soldier facing war daily, afterward the process that Beah went through during rehabilitation and finally in fear escaping the civil war. Ishmael Beah emotional journey has three stages of development in which Beah utilized music. In the first stage, Beah uses music as a survival mechanism to keep sane and safe. In the second stage, begins when he loses his brother and friends, Beah reaches the lowest point with the loss of his entire family again, some friends, music, and being forced to join the war. In the final stage, is the process of rehabilitation where Beah connects with music once again. Ishmael Beah exposure to music at a young age stayed with him throughout his life. (Beah, 2007, p. 5-218)
Nobody fully understands what drives people to undertake a mission, but it often causes people to take many risks. For example, Farah Ahmedi climbed a mountain on a prosthetic leg with a sick mother just to reach freedom. Rikki-Tikki fought for his life to save his family. John Steinbeck eavesdropped on people's conversations just to get material for his book. These stories show different people who had each set a goal for themselves. Ahmedi and Rikki-Tikki fought for their lives to survive and save their loved ones. While Steinbeck traveled to great lengths to write his book. Their goals may be different but they all had set a goal and they all eventually accomplished their goal.
In the introduction of A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah, he writes, “There were all kinds of stories told about the war that made it sound as if it was happening in a faraway and different land. It wasn’t until refugees started passing through our town that we began to see that it was actually taking place in our country” (Beah 1). During this statement Beah says that he is completely oblivious to the war around him. These people living in Sierra Leone had adapted to the war to the point where their perception had been altered. With this memoir he shares his experiences and obstacles he faces throughout the war to become a beckon of hope in this despairing country. Ishmael uses his social skills, timely luck, and emotional strength, to find the courage to overcome these adversities and survive in and out of the war.
In the memoir A long Way Gone Ishmael Beah states “When I was young, my father used to say, “If you are alive, there is hope for a better day and something good to happen. If there is nothing good left in the destiny of a person, he or she will die” (Beah 54). Throughout the war Ismael Beah survives many difficult situations, that make him think is it worth it to keep running. Ishmael Beah, always remembers what his dad said to motivate him to try and keep surviving the war. Ishmael Beah used adaptability, the kindness of others and bravery to overcome the adversities of the war in Sierra Leone.
No one is prepared for war and the most challenging decisions you will have to make to survive. Although each character in Refugee, by Alan Gratz, is from a different time and place, they each share similar hardships and challenges in their experiences, such as they were all forced from their homes, they all lose a family member, and their problems begin in their own country.
The civil wars in these African countries creating an outcry from civilians after experiencing injustices and corruption throughout decades. Whilst leading to civilians fleeing Sudan and Sierra Leone to start new lives. The histories behind both wars are quite similar as both were solely motivated by natural resources and power imbalance. As The Revolutionary United Front had established in 1991 as rebel army that shared one goal, which was to overthrow Sierra Leone's government. Often referred to as the “Blood Diamond” conflict. Although diamonds and natural resources were a significant motivating factor, there were other causes to the Sierra Leone Civil War. Such as the pre-war frustrations and injustices that had transpired for decades.
He is caught between two countries, Ethiopia where his father was from and Eritreawhere her mother was from are at war with each other. Alem who is a mix child between two of this country is not accepted anywhere wheter it is at Eritrea nor Ethiopia. He goes to England with his father as the situation in his homeland dies down, but things didn’t go as planned. A lot of refugees in the world have the same conditions as Alem. Refugees face losing friends and family and being forced out of their home country. they are not accepted in their own contry. The story of Refugee Boy is a story about how a family that was once connected, broke and became disconnected. Once they leave their home-country, these refugees are lost, just like Alem in London. His father left him by himself in a strange place Alem has never been to. He has no family in England and no one that cares for him. Alem’s feelings were clear. He was emotional, isolated, alone and trapped in this mysterious place. and more importantly, they do not feel accepted anywhere they go. just like alem, they also take
Foday Sankoh and his Revolutionary United Front (RUF) began to campaign against President Momoh and captured towns on the border with Liberia. Iryna Marchuk claims that “rich diamond mining areas fueled the conflict between various groups and individuals. The exploitation of diamond resources escalated to such extent that the diamonds became known as 'blood diamonds'.” In 1992, President Momoh was overthrown by a military coup led by Captain Valentine Strasser. In 1996, Strasser was then overthrown by a military coup. Ahmad Tejan Kabbah was then elected president and signed a peace accord with Sankoh’s rebels. In 1997, President Kabbah was overthrown by the army. Maj Johnny Paul Koroma lead the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) and Kabbah fled to Guinea. In 1997, the UN Security Council imposed sanctions on Sierra Leone. In 1998, Nigerian-led West African intervention force, ECOMOG, drove rebels out. In 1999, RUF rebels seized parts of Freetown from ECOMOG and after weeks of fighting, 5,000 were dead and the city was in ruins. In 1999, a ceasefire occurred which resulted in the Lomé Peace Agreement which granted amnesty to persons who committed crimes under Sierra Leonean law prior to July 7, 1999. However, numerous attacks occurred after this. In 2002, the war was declared to be over and the UN and the Government of Sierra Leone agreed to set up a war crimes court. Shortly after, Kabbah’s Sierra Leone
People look through the eyes of the beholder when they regard others on this planet. It is no small thing to forget everything that you have learned when meeting neighbors. Humans form preconceived notions and in that, make choices and judgments on others. This is human nature, trying to figure out, understand, what others are like so we can figure out how to relate to them. David Lamb’s book The Arabs is a learned look at the Arab culture through his eyes. David was a correspondent and has been all over the world. As a reporter he has used his ability to merge with the cultures he reports on, to get an overall picture that he presents. The Arabs, by David Lamb seems to try and give an accurate presentation of the current world of the Arabs, but does reinforce some of the Western stereotypes in his book.
The boys were stripped of their innocence as children, grown to be familiar with an empty stomach, separated from their family, and above all had no place to truly call home. Through each experience they faced they lost all ties to their innocence and were forced to mature in a world of corruption, and isolationism.