A major turning point occurs in Chapter 12 when Ishmael is captured. He is captured by the government, and not the rebels. He isn't technically forced to fight, however his other choice is sure death.
What is your reaction to Ishmael's choice to fight? Did he have a choice?
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No because his parents are dead and he has nothing else to do. I was surprised that he was going to fight but he had no choice.
ReplyDeleteI think they manipulated Ishmael to fight using his hidden anger. I think it made sense to fight it was kill or be killed. It made sense for him but, I wouldn't fight.
ReplyDeleteHe did have a choice to run away but he knew that the rebels would have killed him if he did, so he decided to join the government army. My reaction was that it was a good choice because he has a great chance of dying if he ran away but only a good chance of dying while being in the war.
ReplyDeleteI think that Ishmale had the choice to fight or run away. He could have continued passing through villages and walking but their would have been a better chance getting captured by the rebels. Now that Ishamale is fighting i think he is starting to think its okay to kill people.
ReplyDeleteI think that Ishmael made a good choice to fight for the government. They keep him well fed and give him new clothes. He does have a chance of getting killed when he's fighting, but he could also be captured and killed by the rebels when he's on his own. Ishmael did have a choice to leave or fight for the government. However, the government basically told him that if he left, he would die.
ReplyDeleteMy reaction to Ishmael's choice was that I agreed to it because he lost everything and not much mattered to him anymore and he might save lives fighting. Yes, he did have a choice but the other choice would be a bigger chance of dying, and he wouldn't be helping anyone.
ReplyDeleteI was surprised by Ishmael's choice, but it wasn't much of a choice in the first place. The soldiers used the anger and fear towards the rebels to get them to join the army. It wasn't fair to do that because everyone should have a choice in important event such as war. I think the way the government in Seirra Leone is a perfect example of corrupt leadership. Children should not be made to wage war against anyone, and it was wrong to make them.
ReplyDeleteI'm really not surprised by his choice. In Ishmael's situation, you'll eventually say or do anything, whether right or wrong, to survive as long as possible.
ReplyDeleteI think he didn't have a choice. He saw what happened when people tried to leave. I wasn't surprised when he chose to fight because he was really haunted when his family was killed, and that will be motivational.
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ReplyDeleteIshmael's choice was to either fight for his people, or be captured and killed by rebels. My reaction to Ishmael's decision to fight is that he did it be safer. I know that sounds crazy, but his choice was to either fight for his country, or getting attacked by rebels. I think he knew that the rebels would make him suffer through a suffering death.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't surprised he finally started fighting,he was probably going to join up if he decided he didn't have anything to lose.I don't think anyone had the choice to fight or not,much less a single person.
ReplyDeleteI don't think Ishmael had the choice to fight or not because he seen what happened to the people who chose not fight they were killed. I think he chose to fight for the government because the rebels if they found him again might not let him live it would be instant death. His decision did not surprise me.
ReplyDeleteI think he chose to fight because it was either fight or if you try and run away you will be killed. Also I think he would rather fight for his country than with the rebels, and if you fight with the rebels you would be branded for life and people would always hate you.
ReplyDeleteIshmael's choice to fight was a good one because it was better to fight for the government than the rebels, who would brand you and you would suffer more punishment if the government did win the war. He did have a choice, it was to join, or die.
ReplyDeleteI think he had the choice, but he chose the safer one. By staying and fighting Ishmael is protected by all the other men fighting with him. If Ishmael left he could of been killed by the rebels.
ReplyDeleteI would've chosen to fight rather than die surely. I think this is another example of fate because Ishmael is later saved from war because of this choice. But he did actually have a choice, just a weighted choice to one side.
ReplyDeleteIshmael probably chose to fight because he knew his options, which was kill or be killed. And since he was fighting for the government, he most likely thoguht that he might kill the rebels that killed his family.
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