Summer Reading Assignment

Summer Reading Assignment
The lack of ability to accept the differences and beliefs of others is a pervasive issue which has created fear and violence throughout regions of the world. Those that are intolerant of others beliefs are often threatened by the differences which these groups present. Furthermore, the desire of authority and control over others is the catalyst which drives human to do the unimaginable. These behaviors are often seen in violent dictators, religious groups, and nations under the control of cruel and opressive governments. In the novels, I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai and A Long Way Gone written by Ishmael Beah, the authors expose the interdependent and synergistic relationship between fear and intolerance.
Often,
people are very hostile to accepting ideas that differ from their own. Individuals whom desire or obtain a position of authority and power are especially susceptible to this behavior. For instance, in the novel I am Malala, a radio station titled Mullah FM, broadcasted the propaganda of the Taliban. This included messages such as, “To cure a disease before its onset is not in accordance with sharia law” (120) and that there should be “no education for women” (118) and praising those who had discontinued attending school. The radio station was originally used to encourage good habits for Muslims, but as the station began to increase in popularity, their messages were becoming much more strict and violent. Mullah FM was a stragetic medium to impose Taliban beliefs on others and weaken the ideas they opposed. This allowed the Taliban to increase their power and publicity, as well as control the beliefs and actions of others. Likewise, in the novel A Long Way Gone the army leaders were especially focused on training the young men to hate the rebels and indoctrinate the belief that the rebels were responsible for the young boys losses. For instance, “The rebels are responsible for everything that has happened to you”(113) is a phrase that was repetively used during war training with the boy soldiers. As a result, the children held the rebels responsible for the deaths of their families and were determined to defeat the enemy. The constant reminder of the fear and terror experienced reinforced a ruthless intolerance toward the rebels.
Furthermore, harmful and dangerous conditions may provoke fear and influence individuals to join and defend the creator of such violence.
For example, A Long Way Gone describes young boys who were recruited to fight in return for food, shelter, and safety. Although the circumstances were poor, young children choose to fight, in fear that if not, they would die from starvation or murder. In addition, lieutenants would display the corpes of those who did not want to be apart of the army. As young boys with no family and little guidance, the army was an opportunity to avoid starvation and the dangerous consequences of traveling alone. In a similar manner, the novel I am Malala, describes punishments for inappropriate behavior including public floggings, bombings, and murder. The Taliban often would display the lifeless bodies throughout villages, with messages such as, “Do not touch this body until 11 am or you’ll be next (147). These brutal consequences prevented witnesses from speaking up, which allowed for the Taliban to continue to abuse more innocent victims. People believed by following the Taliban and thier beliefs they would be reassurred “life security” (149). The fear created by the Taliban’s actions strenghthened the power of the group, but continued to weakened the voices of the people.
In conclusion, both novels share common themes of dread and bigotry such as encouraging intolerance, and imposing fright to achieve influence over a specific group or person. Despite
this unfortunate reality, the quest for freedom drives people to continue to share their stories and reclaim their humanity. Ishmael Beah and Malala Yousafzai both chose to represent and stand for the unspoken minority, when most chose to remain silent. Although both of their voices were diminitive, their messages revirberated throughout the world.