Ethan Chan
Blog Post #5 – A Long Way Gone
Quote #1
“At the end of our handshake, Alhaji stepped back, saluted me, and whispered, “Goodbye, squad leader.” I tapped him on the shoulder again; I couldn't salute him in return.
-Alhaji and Ishmael, Page 180
I think this quote relates to adjusting to the new life, without war. Ishmael receives a salute from Alhaji, but he cannot return it. This shows how even though Alhaji is fond of these memories, Ishmael wants to forget some of his memories. He doesn't want to live in the past; he wants to move on with life. This quote struck me because it was a goodbye, and he probably wanted both of them to live a happy new life.
I can relate to this quote pretty easily. There have been times I have seen old acquaintances in random places. I wave hi, but I usually don't talk to them anymore. There is something holding me back, and that probably is the same thing as Ishmael: moving on with life.
If you saw an old friend, would you like to talk with him, or simply wave hi?
Quote #2
“They wanted to know about me, and I wasn't ready to tell them. It was okay. I liked being alone.”
-Ishmael, Page 184
I think this quote also relates to Ishmael adjusting to his new life. He hasn't completely converted over to city life, in which it is peaceful and there is no immediate danger. He still has some trust issues, but I think that's normal.
I think that I can relate to this because sometimes I'm not comfortable with telling people secrets that I've been keeping for a long time. I think that all people are like this, and they like keeping comfortable and not telling them their past experiences.
If you were Ishmael, would you be able to tell everyone about the war immediately?
3 comments:
Ethan,
Quote 1:
I think that the new life in the city Ishmael has started will be good for him as well. He has begun progressing towards a better life, and forgetting the memories of his past. I agree that Alhaji just wants best for his friend Ishmael.
Question 1: I would attempt to stop and catch up with a long conversation. I recently encountered someone who I haven't seen since the 3rd grade, we were the best of friends, and we stopped and talked for a long while.
Quote 2: I think this quote sort of contradicts our beliefs that Ishmael is beginning a new life. If the war has taught Ishmael one thing, it's that nobody can be trusted, and if people aren't there to help you, they are out to kill you. I also think that not trusting people is a reasonable reaction, considering what Ishmael has recently been through.
Question:
I think not. Maybe I would talk to someone like Esther, who had earned by trust and was my friend. Strangers, however; I would have a hard time sharing my experiences.
Quote 1:
I think that this quote is really powerful. I think that it is sad that Ismael's and Alhaji's friendship is being ruined by war. I hate that Ismael and his friends actually committed to killing people instead of killing them selves. But I don't know. Would you have killed yourself?
Question 1:
If I saw one of my best friends from when I was in elementary school I would want to know how they've been and what there life had turned out like. I would be interested to know. But maybe that's just me.
Quote 2:
I think that this is a really sad quote. Its showing how much the war has changed him. Before he needed people to talk to. But now he doesn't mind being on his own. If i was him, I don't think I would mind either.
Question 2:
No I don't think I would. I would want to be on my own. I wouldn't want people to think I was a killer even though I would be. I would want to be alone and secluded.
~JAilyn~
Quote 1: I agree with Ashlen, it was a very powerful quote and it really struck me. I think a new life in the city will be great for Ishmael and it will give him some time to think about he has done. To answer Ashlen question, I actually don't know that is a hard one to decide what I would do.
Question 1: I think I would have a short conversation with the person and keep it rolling. I think if I was close to that person, I would have a longer conversation, but not if we weren't close.
Quote 2: I think that different things can change the way a person thinks or looks at something. In this case, war has really changed Ishmael, I wonder if he will ever go back.
Question 2: I think that is a great question and no I wouldn't be able to express and let everything out that happened to me in the war. I think I would only tell someone that I really got to know after being there for awhile.
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