War Never Does Make Sense

Quite a long time ago at school, we read a book named "No Gun for Asmir". Here is an essay about it.

“War Never Does Make Sense”
“No Gun for Asmir” is a book written by Christobel Mattingley (Penguin Group, 1993). It is about a Muslim boy called Asmir who had to escape the Bosnian War. This novel follows a true story about Asmir’s family and their journal to safety. The main themes in the story are; the violence of war, innocent people suffering because of war, war ruining people’s lives, lack of basic needs and the plight of refugees. One of the most important quotes in then novel is, “War never does make sense,” (Muris, p.6) and this quote is remembered throughout the book by the main character, Asmir.

Paragraph One: Violence
Mattingly does not support violence. Throughout the story she used phrases to show her feelings about violence. In the beginning she describes, “Hundreds of soldiers…firing rifles, firing guns.” (p.2) She wrote this to help the reader become interested in the book and for them to feel the fear of the people caught in the war. By writing about, “Seeing blood and more blood on the road,” (p.13) she made us imagine the disaster and loss of lives around the city of Sarajevo. The violence was so abundant that, “…for every egg there are a hundred bullets.” (Chris, p.99) This shows that the value of someone’s life is now worth only one hundredth of the value of an egg. In war life is cheap.

Paragraph Two: Innocence
As Christobel Mattingley says, “Innocent people get hurt.” (Page 6.) I think that is true. In war, many people get hurt, just because they live in the area where war is occurring, or their religions or beliefs are different from their enemies’. Children, parents and families get hurt. In the book, Mattingley says, “… … The playground had become a bomb crater and cemetery.” (p.3) Where Asmir used to play with his friends had been bombed. Where Asmir could play and have fun with his friends had been transformed into a grave.

Paragraph Three: Ruining Lives
War ruins peoples’ lives. “Will they make you fight and kill people too?” (Asmir, p.6) Asmir had asked his father. Muris had told him that he would not. Mattingley also mentioned that Asmir’s friend “… …would walk again only if he was given an artificial leg.” (p.3) Asmir’s friend would be crippled for life, never to walk properly or normally again. Two of Asmir’s other friends had been killed. Also, in the war, only women, children and elders were allowed to leave to safety while the men were forced to stay and fight, “And every moment the bus took them further and further away from their father.”(p.15) The family members were all separated.

Paragraph Four: Lack of Basic Needs
In war, there is always a shortage of basic needs, like food, water, houses and many other things. There are no supplies, no safety. Not many things that people need are there, for example “ … …There are no medicines left in the hospital and no more pain-killing drugs.” (Muris, pg.3) There is no more medication, which the sick and injured require. Food is also scarce, “… an egg costs ten times as much as a bullet… …”, and so is water, “… only a couple of places in the city where you can still get water… you have to take your buckets to queue for it” (George, p.68). War has a large impact on people’s daily lifestyles, which makes it very inconvenient for people.

Paragraph Five: Refugees
Being refugees is really difficult and people in different places might not welcome them, “You’re refugees aren’t you?” (Shopkeeper, p.24) the shopkeeper had asked Mirsada. Mirsada said very briskly that they were just visiting her sister and her husband. Most refugees are quite poor, and can only just support themselves, “Refugees don’t have money for pretty things like candles.” (p. 63), so the refugees weren’t all that lucky as Asmir and his family, and were often killed. Some, when trying to escape to safety, are blocked by borders, stuck in trains, camps and buses. Mattingley describes how some refugees were, “…stuck for 2 days the trains were not allowed to move… crowded together in the heat, without food or water” It shows that refugees don’t have much choice, either to move forward, stay stuck or go back.

Conclusion
I think war really doesn’t make sense. When I read this book, I thought that war was unfair because some people were allowed to leave and most men aren’t. Mattingley describes war as” ……sky filled with droning planes and the crack of sniper’s rifles.” (p.2) It shows how violent war can be, all over the world. Asmir had also said, “…as if the soldiers had bombed God.” when the skies had been full of jets dropping bombs, and the dust covered up the light. Prayers were not heard and people died. War is occurring everywhere, small conflicts, and large wars between religions. I think this book is really moving and I recommend it to people who want to learn about Asmir’s escape.

UN Day

Today was UN Day. It is the celebration of the founding of the United Nations. In 1945, just after WW II, the nations of the world decided that there should be peace, and progress in helping the world. Without all the countries' help, it would not be successful. On the 24 October 1945, the United Nations was created. Now at school we celebrate this day because it is a day of sharing all the different cultures we have in the school and also around the world.

Movie Night

Malaysia-Kota Kinabalu

Dear All,

I am on holiday at Kota Kinabalu, Sabah Borneo, Malaysia. We are staying at the most awesome resort. It is called Nexus. It has its own 6 km beach and a really cool pool. Behind it is a 130 million year-old rainforest. For the past three days, my family and I have just been relaxing and using the hotel facilities. We met Alex and his family, who are also staying at Nexus. On the plane, we met Riccardo and Chiara. I am really enjoying my holiday here!