A Long Way Gone

            For World humanities, I am reading a book called A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah. This book is the author’s experiences as a child before, during, and after the war in Sierra Leone. He tries to educate readers as well as help them feel close to the war he was involved in.

Ishmael tells the reader everything unimaginable and more, holding nothing back. He and his brother are at first separated from each other and walk from village to village with other boys their age. As the story progresses, his situation worsens. He and his brother are separated and he goes off alone for days trying to find food and safety. He comes near to the village his parents and brother are believed to be staying but never sees them before they die in a sudden attack. Ishmael describes what rebels force innocent people to do. Killing babies and watching as family is raped and shot, things we would never dream of unfolds in front of these people’s eyes.

I think this is absolutely horrible. I don’t know who would think it isn’t. I am sure though that I can’t come near to being able to relate even at all with the things I read in this book. I feel disgust, anger, sadness, and sorry for the things I now know went on but there is no way I can fully comprehend what happened. I don’t understand how people could even start such a gruesome act let alone carry it on. I am learning though, that people will do things they are otherwise not capable of if they are put into the situations Ismael is telling the reader about. Good people will do bad things sometimes weather they are trying to get revenge or they are forced to in order to keep themselves or their families alive.

            I am sure that even though I would never have to go through something even similar, I would probably do almost anything to keep myself and/or family alive.