A Long Way Gone By: Ishmael Beah

Life as a Soldier

A Long Way Gone is an amazing novel with Ishmael Beah’s emotions leaping from the pages. Although Ishmael Beah wrote this novel much later after the war, it was clear to see the negative effect the war had on him because tell this day he is able to recall his terrible thoughts and feelings he had during the war. Although Ishmael Beah did not describe everyday he was in war, he described enough to show how tough his life was. And as I read this novel, I began imagining myself in the situations Ishmael Beah faced, and I realized that I would have never been able to come out of that life and ever be normal. Today, I cannot stand it when any member from my family is in the hospital. I would rather be in the hospital then ever lose my brothers or my parents. On the other hand, Ishmael lived most of his life without his parents or brothers, yet because he knew the circumstances he was in, he was able to fight back his emotions, and instead, fight for his life.

What is War?

Is it a creative course of action used to settle differences between nations, or is it just a way for nations to take out all their anger felt towards each other? I personally think it is a foolish action done when nations are unable to deal with a problem in a civilized manner. There are wars that have been going on for decades and because the different societies have grown to despise one another, these people are unable to have a discussion without another war beginning. If these different nations respected one another, than military would know better than to kill innocent people because of something foolish done by their leader/s.