How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
That night for the first time in my life I realized that it is the physical presence of people and their spirits that gives a town life. With the absence of so many people, the town became scary, the night darker, and the silence unbearably agitating. Normally, the crickets and birds sang in the evening before the sun went down. But this time they didn't, and darkness set in very fast. The moon wasn't in the sky; the air was stiff, as if nature itself was afraid of what was happening. (3.4)
People are what make a village. Without people walking around living their day-to-day lives, a town is just a bunch of spooky houses. Community is what gives you comfort.
Quote #2
The sound of the guns was so terrifying it confused everyone. No one was able to think clearly. In a matter of seconds, people started screaming and running in different directions, pushing and trampling on whoever had fallen on the ground. No one had the time to take anything with them. Everyone just ran to save his or her life. Mothers lost their children, whose confused, sad cries coincided with the gunshots. Families were separated and left behind everything they had worked for their whole lives. (3.8)
As soon as danger strikes, people must abandon their connections to their community to survive. Even parents are separated from their children by the panic of it all. War definitely is an effective tool for breaking down any community. Once the enemy does that, it can rebuild the community any way it wants.
Quote #3
Some people tried to hurt us to protect themselves, their families and communities. Because of these things, we decided to bypass villages by walking through the nearby bushes. This way we would be safe and avoid causing chaos. This was one of the consequences of the 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. (6.1)
Life is tough for Ishmael and his friends, not just because they're homeless and starving and their families are dead. People who have been attacked by soldiers just don't trust a group of strange boys. They could be anyone. No one can take a chance to help someone they don't know.