How do you react to Ijeoma being told her sexuality is an 'abomination'?
Created: 08/26/16
Replies: 21
Join Date: 10/15/10
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Join Date: 08/01/16
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Join Date: 06/16/11
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I was not surprised but also totally repelled. There is so much energy and passion put into suppressing any thoughts and feelings about sexuality that does not conform to the male/ female standard that is so harmful and hurtful. Oh how nice it would be to see this passion and energy channeled into such things as ending racial prejudice, world hunger, or the abuse, neglect and cruelty to children we read about everyday.
Join Date: 06/11/11
Posts: 6
It made me very sad that Ijeoma was made to feel as if she were an abomination. I thought the part where her mother made her sit down and go through the entire Bible and learn how "wrong" it was to feel the way she did was disturbing and sad. Even sadder is that so many people still feel that way about homosexuals.
Join Date: 12/27/13
Posts: 6
The nature of the country and what it considers to be its morality totally justify the use of the word abomination. It is a sad situation that any female should be made to feel so abhorred because of her sexual choices.in a country where a female is considered lower than a dog.
Join Date: 06/13/11
Posts: 3
I react with sadness that this culture and country cannot allow its citizens to fully express their personhood. I also felt ignorant of the severity of the laws in that part of the world. I knew that homosexuality was frowned upon, but didn't realize the extent of the police state.
Join Date: 02/18/15
Posts: 497
It is sad to know that so many cultures the world over consider Ijeoma's sexuality an abomination. To be told that she was an abomination by her mother was particularly upsetting. The visual of this child being forced to sit day after day reading the Bible to see how "wrong" and "disgusting" her feelings were is very troubling. The fact is that so much of the world still considers this behavior as abnormal is more troubling. As bad as Ijeoma's punishments were, they are much worse in other parts of the world. In the U.S. we are are so much more accepting, but we still have a long way to go.
Join Date: 06/29/15
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Join Date: 07/14/12
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As a general reaction I was not surprised; I was expecting it. As a liberal adult, I was outraged. And as a reader I was delighted with Chibundu"s response and his belief that some religions are run like businesses, and doctrines are in place to keep the business running smoothly.
Join Date: 09/19/13
Posts: 65
I was not surprised that her mother felt that. She was a. Devotee of the literal bible. I was surprised that the culture felt so strongly about homosexuality. I felt tho that the whole thrust of the book was a treatise on making a case for lesbianism
Join Date: 05/29/15
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Join Date: 03/20/16
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Join Date: 03/22/12
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I am always sad when any person considered "outside the norm" is made to feel less than others. I am 70, and feel acceptance has gotten somewhat better. It seems like many of the younger people are more open to diversity than in the past. We in our country still have a long way to go. In other countries I think acceptance of the LGBTs is very rare.
Join Date: 12/06/12
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Join Date: 05/16/16
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I wanted there to be at least one character that told her there was nothing wrong with her. I think this terrible treatment deepened her depression and doubts. Her mother didn't completely abandon her, but shouldn't parents have unconditional love for their children? This feeling that is very taboo seems to be deeply ingrained in the culture so maybe I'm expecting too much.
Join Date: 01/01/16
Posts: 434
No one should be told that. I think it was horrible. But guess I must remember where she lived and that it was in the 70's. But very hard to believe a mother could be so cold. But then again her mother most likely knew the danger she was in from society.
Join Date: 05/26/11
Posts: 80
I found this opinion sad but not surprising. I think it is very, very difficult for heterosexuals to understand homosexuality, even if they do not condemn it and say that they accept it. I think it is also a huge disappointment to a heterosexual mother or any parent to be given such information. it is quite natural to want your children to be a part of the mainstream. Not many parents would brag in a Christmas letter that there child was homosexual. It generally takes a long time to accept such an extreme difference and to wrap one's head around accepting that. This is even more true if one is a very conservative Bible reader.
Join Date: 06/23/13
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Join Date: 06/07/15
Posts: 30
Personally this made me feel very sad, but unfortunately we know that this happens every day - and not just in places like Nigeria. In the US in 2016 families are still split apart because of parents like Ijeoma's mother. It may be getting better in some ways, but for many people this is still a nightmare they live every day.
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