...children have the resilience to outlive their sufferings, if given a chance.
Interpretation
Children can overcome hardship and pain if they are given the opportunity to heal and grow.
This quote by Ishmael Beah emphasizes the innate resilience of children, suggesting that despite the adversities and sufferings they may face, they possess an incredible capacity to recover and thrive. It highlights the importance of providing support and opportunities for children to overcome their hardships, fostering an environment in which they can heal and ultimately flourish.
In practice
This quote can be used in a speech on child advocacy and the importance of supporting vulnerable youth.
How many more times do we have to come to terms with death before we find safety?" he asked. He waited a few minutes, but the three of us didn't say anything. He continued: "Every time people come at us with the intention of killing us, I close my eyes and wait for death. Even though I am still alive, I feel like each time I accept death, part of me dies. Very soon I will completely die and all that will be left is my empty body walking with you. It will be quieter than I am.
When I was young, my father used to say, βIf you are alive, there is hope for a better day and something good to happen. If there is nothing good left in the destiny of a person, he or she will die.β I thought about these words during my journey, and they kept me moving even when I didnβt know where I was going. Those words became the vehicle that drove my spirit forward and made it stay alive.
This is one of the consequences of the civil war. People stop trusting each other, and every stranger becomes an enemy.
Some people tried to hurt us to protect themselves, their family and communities...This was one of the consequences of civil war. People stopped trusting each other, and every stranger became an enemy. Even people who knew you became extremely careful about how they related or spoke to you.
Seems to me-" Lee said, feeling for the words, "seems to me the place you fight cruelty is where you find it, and the place you give help is where you see it needed.
You just need to be a flea against injustice. Enough committed fleas biting strategically can make even the biggest dog uncomfortable and transform even the biggest nation.
Men walk this tightrope where any sign of weakness illicits shame, and so they're afraid to make themselves vulnerable for fear of looking weak.
There is civil disobedience against the military machine, protest against police brutality directed especially at people of color.
In so many places in the world, women have been prisoners for so long that they feel they have to scream about their rights. But when you scream, nobody listens to you. Real authority comes when you no longer need to scream - and that's something we women still need to learn.
Sir, I am not a brave man...The truth is, I am an utter craven coward. I have never been within the sound of gunshot or in sight of battle in my whole life that I wasn't so scared that I had sweat in the palms of my hands.
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