Zeitoun Book Report

The book, Zeitoun, by Dave Eggers, correlates a strong connection to me, because of the struggles and experiences Zeitoun faces after the destruction of hurricane Katrina. This book, dives into many different aspects of culture, race, religion, and the average citizen, but what makes this book so intriguing, is how people were treated because of those things. It gets us thinking, that America isn’t this perfect society that we think of it to be. And we have so much more things to improve. I personally have some experiences with flaws of the government. It makes me enraged, and yet sad, that our government could act this way, in the time of need. This book takes us through the journey of a Muslim American surviving through hurricane Katrina,
and the enduring struggles as a prisoner for crimes he did not commit. Reading through Zeitoun, has further deepened my sense of urgency between the average citizen and the government.
First off, one thing that connected me to Zeitoun, was that he and his friends were accused of crimes they did not commit. Zeitoun and his friends were abruptly engaged while they were at his house, accused of terrorism, and looting. The military had no right in detaining them for criminal charges, and this is something I can relate to. With my personal experiences, I have been wrongly charged of disorderly conduct before. So, when Zeitoun was accused of something he did not commit, it connected with me on a level, that I have experienced myself. I could empathize and relate to him, as he juggled through his journey. When I was accused of disorderly conduct, the officers had no right to charge me, because I had not committed any crime, nor caused a public disturbance. They also interrogated me like I was some criminal, just like they had done with Zeiotoun. Not only had Zeitoun be wrongfully accused, but others as well, for such minor crimes. In the book, it says, “They we accustomed to hardened maximum security prisoners, and their tools were too severe to work with these men, so many of them guilty of the smallest of crimes – curfew violations, trespassing, public drunkenness” (235 Zeitoun). I was charged with the smallest of crime in which any one can be convicted of, disorderly conduct. And I believe it is a tool police use to get what they want. They charge people with insignificant crimes that are hard to prove someone didn’t commit. It also says, “Todd laughed, explaining that on it were only photos he’d taken of the flood damage. But authorities were seeing something else.” This is showing us that police liked to assume, and they liked disregard any reasoning. This is also what happened to me, as I was explaining myself to the police. Police are trained to manipulate, and interrogate based in a way that will ensure they will win in court. For example, every time a cop pulls someone over, they usually ask the person, “Do you know why I pulled you over.” This is because, if they can get you to admit you committed a crime, they can easily charge you and win in court. But overall, Zeitoun was wrongfully accused of a crime he did not commit, and had to face a legal battle. That is an experience I have myself, and that I can connect to as a reader, which further influences my views towards this book.
Secondly, Zeitoun and the rest of the prisoners were treated very unjustly, which infuriates me.
As more and more prisoners were sent to Camp Greyhound, more and more unjust actions started to take place. One action that shook me to the core, was how the guards, hosed down a mentally disabled person with pepper spray. “Then they stepped away, and the first guard, the one who had warned him, aimed the hose and sprayed him, head to toe, with a substance Zeitoun could not immediately discern” (233) The person they sprayed, was a mentally impaired man. This action was completely over the line, and everyone knew that man had no control over how he acted. Although I do not have this exact demonstration of unjust punishment, I do have some experience with unjust treatment. As I explained myself to the police, during an incident, they began to say that I was disrespectful, and that I had no right to call them, when my life was in danger. Only because my mother was against me, along with the person who threatened me, with a knife. The person who threatened me with a knife, had explained to the officers that I knew martial arts, and that he had to pull out a knife because of that reason. When in Wisconsin, you can only use equivalent or less than force of your oppressor. Meaning, I did not commit a crime, but the other person had, because I was unarmed. But since my mother, the only adult in the situation was against me, the cops favored her. Which was completely unjust, and unfair,
that just because she’s an adult, doesn’t mean you should believe everything she says. Zeitoun was also treated in this way, because the police didn’t believe him or his friends. They just believed their own thoughts, and put no reasoning or logic behind it. They wanted someone to blame, and Zeitoun and his friends were those people. Zeitoun became frustrated at how he was being treated, “He had been angry until now, but he had been thinking clearly” (236). This relates to me, because I was frustrated at the way I had been treated. Since the police had treated me like I was a criminal. Zeitoun as was treated like a criminal. Although his experience was much more extreme than mine, I can relate to how it feels like to be looked at like you’re a liar, by the government.
Last, Zeitoun was a survivor, and he was free once again. After a long battle, with a storm, and a prison, he was finally free. The charges were dropped and he was free to do whatever he wanted. “They passed through a long corridor of tall trees, and with each mile they felt more sure that Zeitoun was absolutely free” (290). When I had seen a supervisor and juvenile delinquent advisor, my charges were dropped. I felt a sense of relief knowing that the charges brought forth against me were wrong and were disregarded. I could imagine how Zeitoun must have felt leaving that prison, driving further and further away, to never see it again (however he did have to return for his wallet). Zeitoun then moved on with his life, and decided to return to New Orleans and live out the rest of his life. “Zeitoun bought a new van and drives through the city, through Uptown, the Garden District, the French Quarter, Lakeview, the West Bank (etc.) … --- and every time he sees a home under construction, no matter who’s doing it, he smiles. Build. He thinks. Build, build, build” (323). I too have moved on with my life, although my experience has changed my views on the government just as it had done with Zeitoun. Zeitoun is a survivor, and so am I. No matter what comes down my road, no matter what happens, I have the will power to get out of it. And that’s what makes me connect to Zeitoun. His ability to reach the end, and his mindset to accomplish hardships allows me to see the world at the same level.
In conclusion, the book, Zeitoun, by Dave Eggers, correlates a strong connection to me, because of the struggles and experiences Zeitoun faces after the destruction of hurricane Katrina.
As his story unfolds, I can relate more and more to him. Although our experieces are far more extreme. They have similarities that allow me connect with Zeitoun and the book. Zeitoun, is wrongfully accused of a crime he did not commit. He was treated very unfairly, and he eventually got out of it. All those experiences create a link between the book and my past. And that is what makes this book a great
book.