tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595859379914711075.post2844018494152513672..comments2024-03-19T18:51:58.496-05:00Comments on Cultural Front: Haley Reading Group: “They Helped Erase Ebola in Liberia. Now Liberia is Erasing Them”H. Rambsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16862209871277442972noreply@blogger.comBlogger71125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595859379914711075.post-39000550503087317982017-12-06T22:22:42.960-06:002017-12-06T22:22:42.960-06:00This passage was very interesting. Men who were ac...This passage was very interesting. Men who were actually saving a village from disease and possible death was being ridiculed for doing so by their own families. The payment they obtain in minute compared to the terrors they face daily, especially burning the bodies of loved ones. Cremation was frowned upon and they went against everything they knew for compensation and to help those against them, which I found particularly disturbing because they are putting themselves at risk of getting diseases while handling the bodies.Shardai J-H.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595859379914711075.post-48304813713729140732017-11-14T16:21:36.238-06:002017-11-14T16:21:36.238-06:00The part that stood out to me the most was page 23...The part that stood out to me the most was page 23. The second paragraph talks about how government officials paid the burners $250 a week, and the second to last paragraph states how "One day the trucks delivered 137 bodies." Then, he went on to discuss the smell and how it took two days and a half to burn all the bodies.<br />I can not imagine how the men must have felt, especially when cremation is a thing that is so frowned upon in there culture. They were paid to burn their friends and family members, and for the rest of their lives they will suffer.Persephone Colenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595859379914711075.post-57092026368719316792017-11-13T17:25:53.745-06:002017-11-13T17:25:53.745-06:00I can't help but think about the mental health...I can't help but think about the mental health of the body burners. Not only are they un-respected by the local civilians, as represented by the protest by the villagers(21), but they go unnoticed in the efforts to control the Ebola outbreak(22). On top of all this, their occupation is to burn bodies. If I had to go through all of this I too would become an alcoholic.Xavier Morrison-Wallacenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595859379914711075.post-4027216975268986022017-11-13T01:59:55.390-06:002017-11-13T01:59:55.390-06:00It concerned me most to hear that the burners were...It concerned me most to hear that the burners were shunned for doing something that would keep harm from coming to others.Close relatives like Mr.Harmon's own mother kicked their sons out and told them to never speak to them again(21). The Liberians were so caught into their culture that they didn't stop to think about how burning the bodies was a good thing and it kept them from catching Ebola. I wish that these people would open their minds and be willing to understand that these men were actually heroes and deserve some type of award for enduring that type of trauma.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08986737293856236260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595859379914711075.post-23256627651609316332017-11-01T14:48:38.563-05:002017-11-01T14:48:38.563-05:00The most concerning plight of the burners, for me,...The most concerning plight of the burners, for me, was their lack of reward. In the text it reads, "the young men said they thought they would get government scholarships when it was all over. They thought they would be hailed as heroes, that people would apologize for shunning them. They are still waiting” (Cooper 24). This evokes a deepest sympathy on my behalf because these men were shunned by their community, their friends, and even their family - whose love is supposed to be unconditional. To believe that you are doing something to benefit the community - a service - and to torn away from those you hold dear is something I could not imagine - being so close with my family myself. This also speaks to how intensely they are going against their beliefs.<br />Cheniya A.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595859379914711075.post-41185212772353920112017-10-23T21:33:17.098-05:002017-10-23T21:33:17.098-05:00On page 22, Sampson Sayway says, '"It is ...On page 22, Sampson Sayway says, '"It is just not in our culture to burn people"'. And this made me think about how people all over the world are letting their culture, religion, or beliefs allow them to mistreat other people and I do not get that. Why are these men being shun from doing what had to be done to save lives. I think that people of Liberia should have been able to realize that the bodies needed to burned regardless of traditions, and they should have honored those men who were brave enough to do it. But, instead they shut them out of their communities after they basically helped save their lives.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12978908251334882386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595859379914711075.post-9304369140198610872017-10-18T10:52:03.003-05:002017-10-18T10:52:03.003-05:00The follow statement is located on page 24: "...The follow statement is located on page 24: "The young men said they thought they would get government scholarships when it was all over, thought they would be hailed as heroes, that people would apologize for shunning them. They are still waiting." It is as if these individuals are being punished for performing an action intended to benefit others. It is entirely unfair.Kellsey Hedigernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595859379914711075.post-50202691302113964812017-10-17T00:33:35.528-05:002017-10-17T00:33:35.528-05:00This chapter was very interesting and I wish that ...This chapter was very interesting and I wish that the story was a bit longer for me to read. I thought it very ironic how these men are doing the necessary work to stop the spread of Ebola and by doing this, they are being ostracized at the same time. It's sad that they have to deal with alcohol and drugs to cope with the pain (pg 24) and I can't even imagine what their mental states are like. Now that i think of it, they probably have some form of PTSD and are using drugs to numb their pain. It saddens me that others don't see them as brave but they see them as bad people who made things worse.<br /><br />- Carlie BibbsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595859379914711075.post-82474709590601913362017-10-16T14:30:57.782-05:002017-10-16T14:30:57.782-05:00The point concerning the plight of the burners tha...The point concerning the plight of the burners that moved me the most was the Health Ministry leaving them out of the ceremony. "Many Liberians still blame us for the burning of the dead...they were not part of the recognition ceremony held by the president to thank health care workers for their efforts during the outbreak..". Since cremation was so unpopular with Liberian culture, having the president give the burners their proper recognition would have shown the communities that burning the infected bodies was necessary. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06926647560294551516noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595859379914711075.post-36349921008233688262017-10-15T14:23:55.967-05:002017-10-15T14:23:55.967-05:00The government's action, or lack thereof is on...The government's action, or lack thereof is one of the most saddening parts to me. The men were sacrificed as part of a government response to Ebola. Instead of being hailed as heroes, they were given more cane juice, which can further lead down a path of destruction (Cooper 24). Its sad to see the government's compliance in the alcohol abuse and lack of attention paid to the lives of the burners.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15472530413849370193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595859379914711075.post-31828554993077647302017-10-14T21:12:42.512-05:002017-10-14T21:12:42.512-05:00The passage that says, " Mr. Robert's lan...The passage that says, " Mr. Robert's landlord put him out of his rented room, and he moved in with Mr. Harmon, the burner whose mother had shunned him. Soon other young men, turned out of their homes, were sharing the small room, too" (24). I understand that cremation isn't something that the Liberians did but they act these men took joy in their jobs. No one wanted to do it but it was something that needed to be in done in order to keep the rest of their people safe and these men stepped on and took on that burden. Its just sad to see that their families stopped talking to them because of it when the reality of the situation is that they needed their family more than ever then. They had to constantly see all the death caused by this virus and help clean it up and everyone they loved kicked them to the curb.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16671715338660471909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595859379914711075.post-50393794278669389402017-10-14T14:02:21.022-05:002017-10-14T14:02:21.022-05:00On page 22 they talk about how these men were bein...On page 22 they talk about how these men were being honored a little bit but not even the President showed them enough love and support after they had to do these horrible tasks, all to save the people around them. Even though they hold a Decoration Day when they clean grave sites, it should still be honorable to those men that they helped stop a killer of thousands within their own country.<br /><br /><br />-De'Abrion JoynerAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595859379914711075.post-5022322088794195962017-10-11T11:56:28.051-05:002017-10-11T11:56:28.051-05:00The part that moved me the most was how the men hi...The part that moved me the most was how the men hired for burning the bodies were treated. (p. 24) They were asked to do a horrible job and thought that they were going to be compensated for it. Instead they were abandoned by their family and friends shunned by their society. I can't imagine having to do such a terrible job and then being condemned for it.<br /><br />Deborrah B.Deborrah B.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595859379914711075.post-4100469094525239942017-10-09T19:10:46.654-05:002017-10-09T19:10:46.654-05:00Page 24 states the men "turned to drinking an...Page 24 states the men "turned to drinking and drugs to get through the nights." This sentence was very meaningful to me because so many times in history and even in today's society, people turn to these false senses of happiness just to get by. It's devastating. Most times, people know what they're doing is a poor choice, but they feel stranded and like they have no other option. I felt a lot of empathy for the men here because I don't think I could do the task they had to. How do you look at someone from your community who perhaps you were friends with at some point...and then end up having to dispose of their bodies. And more, you do not have the support from other civilians in what you're doing. Everyone knows it is not a glamorous job, but they could have at least been respectful. Natashahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04857658587522946401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595859379914711075.post-29994721107763032872017-10-09T16:38:10.755-05:002017-10-09T16:38:10.755-05:00On page 20 it says "He was expected to burn t... On page 20 it says "He was expected to burn the body of his friend. He did it." No one should ever have to go through the experience of witness one of their friends die in such a disheartening way. They have all been through so much that contributed to their own depression, I am sure this did not help. The burners did not get any support either which was also disheartening. <br /><br />-Sydney OatsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595859379914711075.post-48899987389810894982017-10-09T15:33:14.489-05:002017-10-09T15:33:14.489-05:00One very moving part from this story was on page 2...One very moving part from this story was on page 20 where it says "The two grew up together, had played together as children.... he was expected to burn the body of a friend." This part was particularly moving because even though it is necessary to help save the lives of others by burning the bodies of the dead; to have to burn the body of someone that you knew personally would be very traumatizing as it was for him in that he turned to drinking after experiencing that. I could never imagine having to burn someone's body that I know and walk away from such an experience without being affected.<br /><br />~Tashawna N. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595859379914711075.post-80111608765080109782017-10-09T15:16:49.707-05:002017-10-09T15:16:49.707-05:00When the story started talking about the reason fo...When the story started talking about the reason for the burning of the bodies at the bottom of page 22 and the beginning of page 23. Although I understand the reasoning behind the burning, it still seems gruesome. They began the burning in everyday clothes, then were given protective gear from the smell and fire.<br /><br />Sydney J.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595859379914711075.post-11791573524553548182017-10-09T14:00:27.944-05:002017-10-09T14:00:27.944-05:00On page 22 when it says "while they received ...On page 22 when it says "while they received certificates of appreciation from the Health Ministry, they were not part of the recognition ceremony held by the president to thank health-care workers for their efforts during the outbreak, an omission the young men took to heart." This part moved me because they did a job that everyone saw as taboo and they were shunned because of it. Since they weren't mentioned in the ceremony I can completely understand feeling hurt because I would feel I went against something I believed and know not only am I being exiled but I also feel like I did all of it for nothing.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00381729118239011375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595859379914711075.post-23225794227573552262017-10-09T08:48:14.461-05:002017-10-09T08:48:14.461-05:00On page 24 when it says "they thought they wo...On page 24 when it says "they thought they would be hailed as heros, that people would apologize for shunning them. They are still waiting." This part really stuck with me because they thought what they were doing was good and that they were helping people and would be thanked for it. However they were shunned, even though they put themselves at risk to help everyone. Maya Searcyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08225623267149919269noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595859379914711075.post-32609433336147192402017-10-09T08:00:17.699-05:002017-10-09T08:00:17.699-05:00I found page 20's acoount of him recognizing a...I found page 20's acoount of him recognizing a friend's name and then having to burn his body. I am sure one distance himself from the faces he throws to the fire due to them being the faces of strangers. However, when you look to see an old friend staring back at you, there is no distance. I'm sad for his experience, and I am even more sad for the lack of appreciation and support provided to the burners.Breanna Blackwellnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595859379914711075.post-39541877949027231032017-10-08T19:51:16.298-05:002017-10-08T19:51:16.298-05:00The most moving part for me was on Page 21, when M...The most moving part for me was on Page 21, when Matthew Harmon, one of the burners, talks about how his mother disowned him after she found out he was burning the bodies of dead Ebola victims. These men helped end the Ebola crisis in Liberia, they just be seen as heroes, instead they have been shunned by the community and even their own families. They did such important work that no one else wanted to do and they didn't even get to be part of the recognition ceremony. Dakarai P.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595859379914711075.post-64095044005650126832017-10-08T16:34:26.590-05:002017-10-08T16:34:26.590-05:00What was so moving to me was that these burner'...What was so moving to me was that these burner's were so ostracized by society that they were driven to drugs and alcohol. What makes it worse in my opinion is that is was the isolation coming from their families that drove them to be this way. A passage that stuck out to me was this one, "Several of the men, shunted aside by friends and family, now live together, sharing the same room in a house not far from the crematory site." It is just hard to imagine 4 or 5 depressed, drug addicted men sleeping and living in the same room. A. Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06901950602842524876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595859379914711075.post-44703793835257652162017-10-08T15:05:02.869-05:002017-10-08T15:05:02.869-05:00"The young men said they thought they would g..."The young men said they thought they would get government scholarships when it was all over. They thought they would be hailed as heroes, that people would apologize for shunning them. They are still waiting." (24)<br />The part that moved me the most was the people doing these jobs never received thanks for doing a needed job. What bothered me the most about this is these people may have had the same morals as the people who shunned them- they are all from the same place so they most likely were also against cremation but somebody had to do it. The bodies infected with ebola were contagious and could have passed along the virus if someone came in contact with them: not only were those cremating the bodies putting themselves at risk, but they were also helping stop the virus from spreading but they received no thanks and no appreciation. <br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12621902331781037399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595859379914711075.post-48534968253448467662017-10-07T17:22:38.847-05:002017-10-07T17:22:38.847-05:00What moved me was a quote from page 24. It says, &...What moved me was a quote from page 24. It says, "Through the ordeal, the young men said they thought they would get government scholarships when it was all over. They thought they would be hailed as heroes, that people would apologize for shunning them. They are still waiting." It is just hard to know, that these men were doing this in order to aid and help their friends and families by disposing of the bodies. A job that nobody else was will to do. They thought people were going to be thankful but instead they were looked down upon. They were treated like scum. As it is they had to do a horrifying job,a job that they themselves barely mustered the courage to do so and to be treated so poorly afterwards? Absolutely disheartening.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595859379914711075.post-77787142124660637212017-10-07T11:47:03.200-05:002017-10-07T11:47:03.200-05:00It seems to be a shame that after all the burners ...It seems to be a shame that after all the burners go through, they don't seem to end up with anything in the end. I'm under the impression that the never got the "government scholarship" (page 24) and people still clearly shun them. It only continues to make their experience worse.<br /><br />Que'rra MasonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com