Ishmael and Arnold’s journey to justice
As martin Luther king jr. suggests“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Martin Luther King's states that injustice, no matter where should not be allowed and should be repealed. By looking into injustice, you will see that it shapes a person and leads them to think in ways that are irrational. As shown in Ishmael Beah’s memoir A Long Way Gone, ishmael faces his injustice when he is forced upon a gun and drugs when all he wants is his family back. Similarly, in the book the absolutely true diary of a part time Indian, Arnold transfers to an all white school losing his reservations trust and loyalty and is stuck between his hatred full town or a school that does whatever it can to reject …show more content…
After the tragic confirmation about Ishmael’s family’s death, he and his friends get spotted by the soldiers and are being taken back to their general. One of the soldiers says. “You will get used to it, everybody does eventually”. (Beah, page 124). This quote shows how low Ishmael has gone from a boy wanting to go to school to a boy who isn't treated like a living being. When you are stripped of everything you know about like your family, your friends and your identity, you find meaningless, but it also shows how there is no more going down from that point on and the only way now is to go up. The author also uses the word “used” in the sentence. A person is not normally uses or used an object, people are not meant to be used, but are meant to have their own freedom. When that simple human right is taken away from you, you do not feel anything and do not feel wanted or needed in daily life. Equivalently, Arnold had always felt as if he were lesser than everyone else because of his Indian heritage and race. His first day at his new school, he feels a feeling that he never has had before. All alone Arnold tells himself. “I became something less than less than less than Indian.” (Alexie, page 69). This quote shows how discriminated Arnold feels on his first day at his new school. When you first arrive …show more content…
After having to go to a hospital for his gunshot wounds, he is introduced to a nurse that will completely turn his life around. Ishmael notices. “It was the nurse. She was wearing a white uniform and a white hat. It was the first time I had looked at her directly”. (Beah, page 184). This quote unlike all the other ones show how he is starting to head back to safety and not constant war with everyone around him. This moment also is the time in which he starts to come to a realization that he can trust people and not have to fight off everything and everyone. The author also uses the word “white”. This word symbolizes peace and how he has returned from great loss, but now is safe away from all of the killings, looting and injustice. Likewise, Arnold is being slowly introduced into his new school, but now he has to make the step and try to get friends. Arnold asks to go out on a limb, "I want to be your friend". (Alexie, page 79). Friends for Arnold were hard to come by but even less common when they are white, but somehow he is fighting the injustice and tries to befriend a white person. This is also showing how justice is being served. Arnold used to be rejected by everyone, but after fighting back for justice, he discovers the goodness in his fellow students. The author also includes the word “friend” which shows how justice is
As martin Luther king jr. suggests“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Martin Luther King's states that injustice, no matter where should not be allowed and should be repealed. By looking into injustice, you will see that it shapes a person and leads them to think in ways that are irrational. As shown in Ishmael Beah’s memoir A Long Way Gone, ishmael faces his injustice when he is forced upon a gun and drugs when all he wants is his family back. Similarly, in the book the absolutely true diary of a part time Indian, Arnold transfers to an all white school losing his reservations trust and loyalty and is stuck between his hatred full town or a school that does whatever it can to reject …show more content…
After the tragic confirmation about Ishmael’s family’s death, he and his friends get spotted by the soldiers and are being taken back to their general. One of the soldiers says. “You will get used to it, everybody does eventually”. (Beah, page 124). This quote shows how low Ishmael has gone from a boy wanting to go to school to a boy who isn't treated like a living being. When you are stripped of everything you know about like your family, your friends and your identity, you find meaningless, but it also shows how there is no more going down from that point on and the only way now is to go up. The author also uses the word “used” in the sentence. A person is not normally uses or used an object, people are not meant to be used, but are meant to have their own freedom. When that simple human right is taken away from you, you do not feel anything and do not feel wanted or needed in daily life. Equivalently, Arnold had always felt as if he were lesser than everyone else because of his Indian heritage and race. His first day at his new school, he feels a feeling that he never has had before. All alone Arnold tells himself. “I became something less than less than less than Indian.” (Alexie, page 69). This quote shows how discriminated Arnold feels on his first day at his new school. When you first arrive …show more content…
After having to go to a hospital for his gunshot wounds, he is introduced to a nurse that will completely turn his life around. Ishmael notices. “It was the nurse. She was wearing a white uniform and a white hat. It was the first time I had looked at her directly”. (Beah, page 184). This quote unlike all the other ones show how he is starting to head back to safety and not constant war with everyone around him. This moment also is the time in which he starts to come to a realization that he can trust people and not have to fight off everything and everyone. The author also uses the word “white”. This word symbolizes peace and how he has returned from great loss, but now is safe away from all of the killings, looting and injustice. Likewise, Arnold is being slowly introduced into his new school, but now he has to make the step and try to get friends. Arnold asks to go out on a limb, "I want to be your friend". (Alexie, page 79). Friends for Arnold were hard to come by but even less common when they are white, but somehow he is fighting the injustice and tries to befriend a white person. This is also showing how justice is being served. Arnold used to be rejected by everyone, but after fighting back for justice, he discovers the goodness in his fellow students. The author also includes the word “friend” which shows how justice is