86 pages • 2 hours read
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Consider Ishmael’s maturity level at this age. While he has certain predictable interests, such as rap music, he also possesses a clarity of vision and a sense of autonomy that enables him to survive these circumstances. Using examples from the text, explain what caused Ishmael to mature so early.
What happens to normal standards of behavior during times of crisis such as war? Why is there a change in what is considered socially acceptable? What do you think causes the sort of sadism exhibited by the rebels and, later, Ishmael himself?
Dreams and nightmares are referenced repeatedly throughout this memoir. The author is traumatized by dreams of violence and dead bodies; he awakens having fallen to the floor during such a nightmare even after his relocation to New York City. What psychological mechanism do you think may be at work here? Do dreams serve a cathartic purpose? Why does Ishmael continue to suffer from terrifying dreams long after his military experience is over?
The war in Sierra Leone is fought by armies reliant on the recruitment of young boys. Many of the children who fight for both sides—the RUF and the Sierra Leone forces—face starvation and death should they refuse to serve. In your opinion, do any of these child soldiers have political convictions that are represented by their military service? Is their service predicated on any belief systems, or is it merely random and a method used to survive?
Consider the way in which Ishmael imitates the nurturing behavior of his own older brother when attempting to care for Josiah and Sheku. Are these techniques learned or instinctive? If Ishmael had not had the memory of being cared for by Junior, would he have been as effective in dealing with these young children?
The use of addictive, mania-producing drugs is encouraged among the troops on both sides of the conflict. Young men who survive the war undergo painful withdrawal and rehabilitation after years of daily drug use. In addition to producing a reduced need for sleep, increased aggression, and soaring energy, what other reasons might the superiors have for providing addictive drugs to their troops? Would a soldier who was considering desertion be less likely to risk leaving his unit if he feared being unable to secure drugs on his own?
The United Nations task force puts great care into selecting the staff and designing the rehabilitation program for discharged child soldiers at the Benin Home. Boys who had fought on opposing sides—the Sierra Leoneans and the RUFs—were both admitted to the center. What were the repercussions of housing children from both factions within the same facility? Is this a circumstance that should have been considered during planning, or might the planners considered that old loyalties would be forgotten when the boys were removed from battle?
Consider the concept of “fate vs. free will.” How might this argument apply to Ishmael’s experience as a child soldier? Did he or any of the other children truly have a choice about whether to participate in the war? Were they old enough to have been responsible for any decision they made?
After the loss of everyone and everything that he held to be important, Ishmael undergoes successful rehabilitation. He goes on to graduate from high school and college, establish a charitable foundation, and write and publish for the purpose of improving the lot of children impacted by war. Do you think that many of the other child soldiers enjoyed the same sort of outcome? In addition to his own moral and physical resilience, was Ishmael helped by the presence of others who wished to see him succeed? Would his chance of success have been as great without these people?
Ishmael’s selection as a participant in the first United Nations Children’s Conference represents an important turning point in his life. He meets other children from all over the world, some of whom have been hurt by war, as well. The group confers for a week about ways in which they might find solutions to problems faced by children internationally. The author felt that “we were transforming our sufferings as we talked about ways to solve their causes” (198). What are some of the solutions they propose? And do you find these solutions compelling and well-suited to mitigating the suffering of children in war-torn countries?
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