Hey guys! Excited for a great, post-Thanksgiving discussion of A Long Way Gone. A few pointers based on observations from our last outer circle discussion:
1. Though I don't give a minimum number of times one has to post to earn credit for discussion, one is insufficient. Aim for around 5 thoughtful, well-proofread responses. Most importantly, contribute throughout the discussion's duration. A few of you are on my radar from our last fishbowl; if your posts (or lack thereof) seem to indicate you've been off task today, you will lose the privilege of blogging and will spend Wednesday's discussion hand-writing your response to the discussion.
2. Provide the background that inspires your questions.
Example: I was saddened by the fact that Sohrab, Soraya, and Amir hadn't cultivated a stronger bond by the story's end. Why did Hosseini leave the book on this kind of somber note?
Non-example: Why did the book end how it did?
3. Avoid questions that can only be answered with "yes" and "no". Often these constructions begin with the words "do" or "does".
4. In some of your cases, your lack of proofreading hindered my ability and, thereby, I assume your classmates' ability to understand your questions and responses. Proofread your work. This is a formal writing assignment.
5. Use the threaded discussion comments to reply to one another's comments and questions directly.
Happy posting!
Why does Ishmael hate his thoughts?
ReplyDeleteHis thoughts cause pain. He hates his thoughts because they always go back to the war, what he has seen, and how much he wishes he could go back to his family.
DeleteI think that his thoughts haunt him and cause him pain to think about/remember. Also that he just wants to forget about them, but can't
DeleteIn Sierra Leone, the rebels are fighting the one-party government by attacking villages and recruiting child soldiers. Which is worse: the corrupt government or the rebellion that endangers its country's people?
ReplyDeleteDavid- I think the corrupt government is worse because they are the ones who caused the uprise of the rebellion.
DeleteWhen it comes to danger, the ones most dangerous are those of the Rellion. The Rebellion Kills people on site-most of the time just for fun-while the government more just endangers the economy and integrity of the country. Government steals money, Rebellion steals Souls. Which is more important to you to protect?
DeleteDavid? You gonna answer or what?
DeleteI think a corrupt government would be worse. The only reason the rebellion is happening in the first place is because of their corrupt ways. The endangerment of the rebellion on the country's people is because of the government. The rebels are trying to use citizens to fight them and are killing innocent citizens to prove to them that they are superior. If the government wasn't corrupt none of this would have happened. The rebels want to make a point against them, and the danger is because of them.
DeleteThe government caused the rebellion and all this chaos. But the rebels are the ones doing the horrible things to people with their own hands. How could they be doing this to innocent people in their country? It is hard to understand why the rebels would attack the people instead of just attacking the government directly.
DeleteWhy do you think the boys decided to stay in Kamatar?
ReplyDeleteI believe...
DeleteThey have lives again, actual lives. This place was the second place they had been too where they felt that, so because of that they say, “Why not just stay?” This place wasn’t their true home, but it was becoming A home for them. A community they could be a part of. A real family with day to day worries and not war-like ones-at least for a second. They all had allowed themselves to believe that they could be happy here, that they could make lives here. And for a moment I think they may have entertained the idea of having families here.
Then of course the Rebels had to come and ruin everything.
DeleteIshmael was separated from his brother and his friends, this must have been very tragic knowing that he is never going to see his brother again. He has been with his brother all his life and to be separated from him at a horrible time like this is probably very hard for him to deal with. Ishmael knows that he will never seen them again and he is on his own now, but he must have faith that he will be alright.
ReplyDeleteDo you think that the river will act as a life support system through out the book?
ReplyDeleteI think that the river will act as life support system because it supplies water and fish to survive, also to wash yourself in it as well. But it could also act as barrier if he wants to escape, it would take him a while to cross it
Delete@Mathew Borcic
ReplyDeleteIshmael hates his thoughts because when he walks through these abandoned villages and sees all these dead people who are maimed and they are bleeding out and he dosnt want to see these things. Along with his family and all the flashbacks good or bad.
I think he hates his thoughts because it is bringing memories back to him that he has wanted to forget. These memories could get him distracted and end up getting killed.
ReplyDeleterules were made to be broken.
ReplyDeleteDo you think that Ishmael and the other people in this war will keep their humanity and stay who they really are through all these horrible things going on around them?
ReplyDeleteI think the war will change them, I think that people will lose trust in the ones they love the most, and people will soon fight for survival of the fittest.
DeleteI think they might be able to keep their humanity but when you go through something so terrible, it changes your life and also changes your personality, including the way that you think.
DeleteI don't think it is possible for them to keep their humanity because of what is going on around them.
Deleteis it worth fighting the rebels or is it better to try and evade the rebles
ReplyDeleteDepends on what you think is best for yourself. Because you can just keep running away from them, but eventually you could get caught or run out of places to hide. And yet you could fight them, but you're risking your life
DeleteJD- I think you can evade the rebels, but it will only be a matter of time before you have to fight them.
DeleteI think it is worth fighting against the rebels- I mean fight for what you want and believe in. But I think it goes to an extent, like you shouldn't be putting child soldiers in the army to fight.
DeleteIf you are talking about people like Ishmael, who are hiding from the rebels, then they should not fight. He is hiding in the woods having nothing but the clothing on his back to survive. How do you expect Ishmael to fight back with no weapons or resources?
DeleteHow can war effect trust?
ReplyDeleteIn the case of Sierra Leone, twelve-year-old boys were nearly as innocent as newborns before the rebellion, but once the rebels started using children to fight, people became paranoid. "Did this twelve year old bring a gun with him?"
DeleteYou can't trust anyone in war. There are people with guns at every corner and maybe someone that you talk to might be a spy setting someone up to be killed.
DeleteIt is hard to tell who they can trust and who they can't. In this situation, anybody could be a rebel and anybody could kill them. The best way for Ishmael survive is to not trust anyone. Even if someone is trustworthy, they could change just so they can survive.
DeleteWar can effect trust in many ways. It can make people second guess all of their friends. They will start acussing one another and end up killing each other. War is very powerful and it plays with peoples brains.
DeleteI think that war effects trust because you get suspicious of others and don't know what they want. Either they aren't your enemy or they are. Also that you're trying to protect yourself and don't really help others unless you trust them or you know them
DeleteMatt- War can completely destroy the trust of a nation in itself. From the loss of trust people become savages not knowing what right is from wrong
DeleteWar affects trust because it can turn you into something you're not. It's a life or death situation, and could be a giant set-up. You couldn't trust anyone because you never know if their on the opposite side, or are going to turn on you last minute and tell others about you, sort of like what Jake said.
Delete@ Jake Jones
ReplyDeleteI think the river will act as a life support because it will keep them from getting de-hidrated and it could act as a hiding spot if the rebels come.
In this book, rap music is a way for them to escape what is going on in reality and lets them express their feelings without being violent. Rap music is a way for many people to express and describe their emotions.
ReplyDeleteRap music may help calm them down, and escape from the predicament they are in.
ReplyDelete@Madison S
ReplyDeleteThey will probably not keep their natural humanity they will most likely become savages only fending for themselves because of all of the bad circumstances with the shortage of food and hiding form soldiers just to keep their life day by day.
do you thunk think that the rebels are truly drugged up drones that do what the rebel leaders want or do you think that they could make a decision to stop kill and mutiny or something?
ReplyDeleteThere's going to be a mix. Some of the people will be slaves of the RUF. Some are there because they're deranged. The leaders are there because the government is corrupt, and will do anything to be rid of it. In essence, there is a population in the RUF that might be able to overthrow their leaders, but they would be a minority against the drug slaves and those who are there to fight the government.
DeleteI think the rebels are so brain washed by the leaders that they don't know how bad what they are doing really is.
DeleteI think the rebels have no choice. If they don't do what the leaders want then they will be killed. I think they are doing this to save their own lifes.
Deletedo you think that people can be swayed made to do thing against there will so easily
DeleteHumanity degrades the more instinct develops in presence. These boys are facing similar fears and struggles that their ancestors faced. Therefor their humanity is becoming like that of their ancestors-and i'm sure i don't need to tell you what that is like. The only difference is that the carnivores have turned to humans and rely on guns instead of their natural abilities.
ReplyDeleteDo you think that Ishmael will ever give into being a rebel for lack of surviving?
ReplyDeleteIt would be likely, not only so he has adequate food supplies, but for the survival of his sanity.
DeleteOn page 43 at the end of the last paragraph in the last sentence, what do you think happen(ed) to Junior? Do you think he is dead or alive?
ReplyDelete