Ch. 9-14 (Character Identity)

This post is going to involve a letter which Jal is writing to his mother. It will discuss his experiences and challenges that he has come over since the last time Jal has seen his mother.

Dear mama,

I miss you, I miss your snuggling and warmth you used to give to my siblings and I. I hope that everything with you is okay because I have been worried ever since I thought you were taken away. What a difference my life is without you, challenges arise and I just don't know who to look to. In the last little while which I have been apart from you and the rest of our family I have learnt many things. Something which is most prominent and I have even noticed about myself is I have finally found myself an identity. When you really know yourself things seem to just click in to place like everything is worth living for. Ever since I have been brought to Pinyudu, I have learnt so many life lessons that are going to help me out in the near future. One lesson that I have learnt which seems crazy is "Love, friendship, pity.... all weaken you in war." (pg. 88) After this was acknowledged to me I have decided that chief is right and in order to be successful in war, friendship can no longer last. Mama it has been so long and I can't believe I can't see your face anymore. You would be so proud of what I have accomplished since I agreed to become a child soldier. I have worked through so much, "I was beaten almost every day." (pg. 79) I also worked through tough challenges and more. All to fight for my country and get revenge on what was done to us. I was small but I achieved the best test score. I worked harder than I would have ever imagined that I ever would. "I had the highest rank among the small boys like me and I felt proud." (pg. 91) Ever since I have come here to become a child soldier I was so excited to get my chance to fight. I finally did get my chance to fight but it really didn't feel right at some points to see what had happened to us happen to others. It wasn't right, and thats why I am going back to where I belong, I had to try and escape from war. 

With all my regards,

your loving son

Jal

Ch. 1-8 (Power Struggle)

For this blog post I will analyze the song Wavin' Flag by K'naan and how it relates directly to the book War Child specifically from chapters 1-8.



There are multiple stanzas in this song which directly relate to how Jal is living, thinking and feeling throughout the first 8 chapters of this book. "I came the farthest Among the hardest survival," this quote from the song is one of the many examples that relate to Jal's life now. As the reader notices in chapter 5 Jal escapes from the sinking of the ship. He came the farthest among the hardest of times swimming against the current to save his life when the struggle was to hard for others. Jal overcame the hard times to rescue himself to survive and make it to school in Ethiopia. Specifically it explains the troubles and tough times Jal has escaping from the water onto land again on pg. 45-46. 


When thinking about how lucky Jal was to have survived the sinking of the ship it wasn't all that exciting when he took his journey to Ethiopia. Walking forever he said it felt as the journey seemed like it would never end. As the journey took longer and longer Jal became food deprived as well as waterless. He was struggling to survive but the thoughts that one day from this school he was going to be able to fly a plane in the air kept him moving. This reminds me of the quote from the song, "So we strugglin', fighting to eat And we wondering, when we'll be free
So we patiently wait, for that faithful day It's not far away, but for now we say." This quote states exactly the feeling Jal and his classmates are going through. Fighting to eat, it discusses the lack of food and water they have in chapter 7 specifically on pg. 51-53. As it says in the next line they are patiently waiting for that faithful day, this reminds me of when the school boys are waiting to finally get to the school, they can't wait till then after all the way they have traveled sacrificing so much. Of course for Jal though, he can't wait for the day to get to school but on top of that for the war in the villages in his country to come to a end.


Near the beginning of the book in the first couple of chapters Jal realizes that it is all about family during the tough times they are going through, and realizes he can't continue moving villages until with his family he has been travelling with the whole time. He would wait up at nights until his mother would come and cuddle the children to sleep. This reminds me of the quote from the song which says, "I heard them say love is the way Love is the answer that's what they say." This quote is stating exactly what Jal believes in. Love is the answer, love is the answer to stopping the struggling and sores Jal and his family face throughout the war between the Arabs. This is stated in Ch. 3 specifically on pg. 27 where it describes Jal's mother cuddling them and that God will protect them.


This is how the song Wavin' Flag by K'naan relates directly to War Child Ch. 1-8.

Why is Empathy is important

Empathy-if someone else is sad you are sad


Empathy is feeling others emotion and understanding the emotions of others. It is important to understand other cultures around the world because we want to share emotion and show that it is okay to share emotion with others. It is important to understand other cultures around the world so we can feel what their emotion is and understand what they are feeling. This is important because it will take away from future conflicts which may irrupt.