A Long Way Gone-- Chapter 3-5

After reading this section, I still have some of the same first impressions. I am still completely appalled at how a society can live like this, and I am still very disturbed by some of the images and events that author describes so vividly, I might add, to us. I understand that the society didn't want to live like this and they would have been much happier with all of their family members still living, but things weren't really don't to try to stop this. Sure, there were soldiers but even they were scared of this crazy group. I would think once things have reached the highest level something would be done to stop it. It is hard for me to imagine something this obvious and malicious to happen in our country. Yes, Africa is different than America, but still something should have been done to try to stop the massacre. I also understand that these disrupting images are going to be throughout this whole book, because let's face it this wasn't a pretty picture, but I'm still shocked every time these horrific things are described. It's like when you go into a movie knowing all well that the main character dies from cancer. You are still shocked when they're diagnosed, and even more shocked and stunned when they die from it. After reading this bit of reading, I have become more compassionate for this young boy, Ishmael. In the beginning I kind of thought, "Oh, there were a lot of kids going through this exact thing, sometimes even worse things." But now, I still know that during this time there were dozens of stories identical to his, I really feel bad for him. To be put at gunpoint, just moments away from taking your last breath and then walking away from it knowing that could have been your last minute on Earth would be extremely difficult for anyone to go through. I also feel like I am really going to enjoy reading this book. Sad parts and all, I think this will be a great book to read.