Heroism and Injustice After the Hurricane
When I think about what happened to Abdulrahman Zeitoun, the eponymous real-life hero of Zeitoun, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, I am filled with admiration, but I also feel indignant, sad, horrified, and cynical. I’d like to think that in the wake of a huge disaster such as Hurricane Katrina, I’d be out helping others, like Mr. Zeitoun, who paddled a second-hand canoe up and down the flooded streets of
I don’t know for certain, though, that I’d be able to stop focusing on myself and my own family long enough to get out there and help my neighbours. I suppose it’s when people are severely tested that they are at their best or their worst.
Now, here’s why Mr. Zeitoun’s story fills me with sadness, horror, and cynicism. After a week of paddling through New Orleans giving help to everyone he could, Mr. Zeitoun was falsely accused of looting (ridiculously) his own house and, then, arrested – targeted because of his Muslim faith. The National Guardsmen who arrested him actually pronounced him “al Qaida” and “Taliban.” Mr. Zeitoun was then thrown into a makeshift prison and denied his right to make a phone call. As day after day passed without a word from him, Mr. Zeitoun's family grew more and more anguished.
Day to day, I guess I have the vague sense that life is reasonably predictable and that if you’re a good person, everything will work out okay. But Mr. Zeitoun’s story gave me a much-needed reminder that life can be unjust and that I need to be more aware of the difficulties other people might be facing.
What are the some of the books that have opened your eyes to the injustices other people face? How have these books made you feel?
12 thoughts on “Heroism and Injustice After the Hurricane”
One book that really opened my eyes to the injustices other people face was Seeds of Terror by Gretchen Peters. The author revealed to me how farmers in the Middle East are often forced to grow drug crops like poppy usually under threats. This book really helped explain how terrorist networks in the Middle East integrate themselves into society, even if it is through one farmer, to get what they want at any cost. Ultimately I was left feeling compassion and admiration for those who were brave enough to have their views expressed in the media via the interviews with the author.
A month ago I read the book “Acceleration” by Graham McNamee for my final report and it was amazing. It’s about a teen boy who finds the diary of a serial killer. Because of his records, the police think he’s lieing so he takes matters into his own hands to find the killer. In the beginning it was boring but by high way I got hooked. Not sure if it’s connected but just hope someone else is interested in the book 🙂
I am! Glad to hear that someone has read that book because it is one of the best books I have ever read. I agree that the beginning was boring, but it was worth waiting for because there was a lot of suspense and the mystery was well-planned. Do you have any other recommendations for books like this one?
The stuff that makes me cry are always the really deep ones that make you sympathize with the character. For example, stuff by Katherine Paterson makes me really cry. All the situations are so realistic, and sometimes, it’s not really fair.
For example, Bridge to Terabithia has one of the main characters die. You don’t think she’d die, but then it’s so sudden. And then The Same Stuff as Stars makes you feel with how much they have to go through. There’s something about how Katherine Paterson writes that just pulls at you. I always feel so sad and cry when I read any of her books, but I feel like I’ve read something worth reading at the same time.
a book dosent come to mind but a movie i recently watched -King Kong
the fact that people unjustly called kong a “dumb animal” and the fact that they put him up for show, shows how fickle and narrowminded humans are and how we feel superior to all other animals, even though we ourselves are animals.
Seeds of Terror sounds really good, and I see that it’s received really great reviews. I agree with you – the work that the media does to make others aware of these kinds of stories is very important. I also think it’s wonderful that *you’re* taking an interest and reading books such as Seeds.
Acceleration is a really good, gripping read. Thanks for reminding me of it! I’ll have to read it again.
I feel the same way about Bridge to Terabithia. It’s so easy to get attached to Jess and Leslie, and it’s shocking and sad what happens to one of them (I won’t say who, in case some of you haven’t read the book yet).
Yes, it was awful how they treated King Kong. What bothers me most, probably, is that the people who ultimately captured King Kong were not evil inhuman villains. True, they were selfish and opportunistic, not to mention not all that empathetic, but I think the reason they felt they could do whatever they wanted with King Kong is because society, at large, felt that way. They were taking their cues from the world at large.
I know this is cliche but The Diary of Anne Frank really helped me experience and feel what she went through.It mace me grateful in the end to have what I have and be able to live in freedom.
After reading The Uglies, an amazing series, I have really felt how people work to look good. And after reading The Hunger Games, I know how it is to not have everything you need, let alone what you want.
The bit about Bridge To Terabithia is very true. I would never have thought that Leslie would be dead, but she did. I was in grade five when I first read the book, and I was so devastated
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