Peacechild: What reflections and connections can you make with this novel?

Entry 6


Peace Child was by no means a literary milestone. I mean, it was relatively far from Hemingway or Dickens. However, Peace Child was a book I could connect emotionally with...more so than with Dickens anyways. Conformity, introduction of change, transformation, modernization and preserverance were elements that really put thing into perspective. To me, (although this is probably missing the point of the book, as it was a relatively minor detail) Richardson's odyssey to convert the Sawi into Christians struck me as an ingenious scheme to coalesce a culture with his own. Being the typical person that I am, I attempted to put this development into context that would be familiar to a high schooler.


A high school girl enjoys, or rather gorges on the feeling of "togetherness." She will attempt to fit in with the crowd and change accordingly, as females are social chameleons at this stage. She will try not the say, wear, or do the wrong things. She may wear skinny jeans and like nothing more than wearing slacks. She may laugh and smile without meaning a thing. And in this inexorable cycle, if she is higher on the social hierarchy, she will set the commandments of trends and impose unity. Although, as a high schooler, I believe that this affair is much crueler than Don Richardson's contention, this occurrence is not unlike his journey.

As the newcomer, Richardson must be wary of his ambience and observe. He must smile and nod at the astonishing and revolting because he is not yet allowed to have a say. He must act as a social chameleon if he is to become Moses of the hierarchy. And so does. Richardson does the right things, bringing gifts, medicines, and other necessities. He gains the Sawi's trust, penetrates the social ladder, and becomes one of the most stellar members of the Sawi community. Finally, he is allowed to have a say and so he does, but not without continuing to pick and choose the best methods that would be accepted by the Sawi because he must stay on the top of this social standing if he is to spread God's words. Skinny jeans were a necessary discomfort. A certain social acumen and subtlety was necessary throughout his quest. Although this was probably done inherently, I felt that although two events were for drastically different purposes, I could not help but feel that all social conquests are perhaps done in parallel ways.


Indeed, Richardson's case was focused upon his religious expedition and social acceptance was probably one of the most minor concerns of this book. Yet, it was also one of the details which stood out most to me and helped me connect a "great expedition" with a banal, usually ignored circumstance. Naturally, I also noticed a more conventional point of connection.


Righteousness.


I have a stalwart set of values. If I don't think that something has been done justice, I will say so without elaboration. I attempt to live according to what I believe is right. I am also very headstrong in my beliefs and do not usually change them on the account of words of external persuasion but rather through years of empirical data and internal 'enlightenment.' I am, by no means, saying that I am correct in any way nor am I saying that I am always aligned in my actions and words. However, this was an element that I was able to connect with in Peace Child.

Initially, I was skeptical of Richardson's success story. In all honesty, I had already labeled Peace Child as another one "those" Christian conversion stories. It was inexcusably narrow-minded of me to categorize a book I hadn't even opened in such as a way, and as it often happens, I was wrong. It was indeed a disturbing book, but I also found earnest passion and sincerity in it as well. Don Richardson always acted according to his values. His even being in the Sawi tribe reflected that. He enforced according to his religion, obviously one his top priorities, and his actions reflected it. His often discrimantory biases probably rooted from such values. Although Richardson's and my values have collided at various moments, they were of the same adamant foundation of righteousness. Neither, I believe, are superior.


I was able to sympathize with Richardson on this. I did not agree with his specific values, but his attempt to live by them--that was admirable.