“Zeitoun” Part II
Pages 95-180
When we last left Zeitoun, he was jarred awake by the sound of a river running. That’s a peculiar sound to hear while inside your house asleep in a bedroom. The levees finally broke and New Orleans was under water. The water was flowing through the house and rising rapidly. I’m sure that first sight of deep clear water was an awesome sight.
The phones wouldn’t work. The electricity would be off for weeks. Zeitoun thought about the widespread damage that this would cause. He thought about the houses he worked on. He thought about the houses he owned. He thought about Kathy and the kids and were thankful they were safe and away from all this.
Part II is all about the struggle to survive and the humanity that fills Zeitoun as he paddles about in his canoe helping other people; helping dogs. Everything he finds, he tries to give away to help others. He played the part in saving lives. The one particular story that stood out was the old woman that was hanging on to a bookshelf for hours on end waiting to be rescued. Zeitoun had to use a ladder to prop her up into the boat and had to get leverage by immersing himself underwater.
Zeitoun started out feeling invigorated by all he was doing. He felt that God had called him to stay back, so that he can be useful and help others survive this travesty. Every morning, he would paddle about on his canoe looking to be helpful. Every day, he would be. He stayed in the vicinity of his neighborhood, not venturing into the really troubled downtown areas.
Kathy was in Baton Rouge with her family and she felt cramped and not wanted. She worried extensively about Zeitoun and asked him repeatedly to get out of the city. Kathy watched and listened to the news. There were constant reports of shootings and mayhem. Kathy’s fears about the safety of Zeitoun increased with everything she heard.
Zeitoun found a usable phone line at one of the houses he rented out, so everyday at noon, he would call Kathy and update her about everything that was going on in the city. Everyday Kathy would ask Zeitoun to leave the city and everyday Zeitoun said not yet. Zeitoun was strong in his belief that God had called him to be there.
Zeitoun is a stubborn man and throughout Part II, this stubbornness feels like it will come to a head. There is definitely a tension building throughout the book and Zeitoun may find out that his staunch individuality and “I can survive this” nature will be his downfall at some point. I’m not sure of that, but it definitely feels like that is where it is heading.
There are some harrowing images in Part II, but it always seems like Zeitoun is safe and away from the action. It seems like things are fine in his neighborhood and things will stay fine. That is until he finds a dead body in the water. From that point on, it seems like danger is close by, right over the horizon. They way Part II ends suggest this, as it seems danger has finally found him.
I don’t know what I think about Zeitoun’s decision to stay behind as long as he has. Kathy and the kids all want him out of New Orleans and with the family. Zeitoun is content to be alone. He believes it is the will of God. How is that determined? How do we know that we are in the will of God and shouldn’t be with our family? Part of me wants him back with his family, but there is another part of me that finds what he is doing admirable and necessary. I’m conflicted about how I feel about this.
Kathy decides that she wants to leave Baton Rouge and her family and go seek a haven with Yuko, her oldest friend that has become family. Yuko is glad to help and tells Kathy that Kathy is the only family she has left, so Kathy packs the kids up and heads to Phoenix.
What do you think about Zeitoun’s decision to stay in New Orleans for as long as he has?
Is Zeitoun doing the will of God? How is that determined?
What aspects/images of Part II were particularly moving for you?
What is family? How do friends become family?
Is it foolish for Zeitoun to be alone with the danger that is in the city?
I appreciated the way Part 2 points out what defines “humanity.” In the midst of crisis, we see Zeitoun doing things that are not actually necessary for his own physical survival, but are part of his human spirit surviving. The dogs are the perfect example. You might think that in Zeitoun’s situation, to feed steaks and water to dogs is a waste. Shouldn’t he save all he can for himself? But one of the best parts of our humanness is this instinct to help the helpless, the weak, and the hurting. I believe this is why Jesus said that the greatest must become a slave. In serving others, we reflect the image of God within us most brightly. As Zeitoun helps others – especially the neighbors, but even the dogs – he is reflecting God’s image, and the essence of what is good in humanity. This becomes even more powerful when it is contrasted with the behaviors of others who choose not to help and serve, but to ignore.
We see this first when Zeitoun tries to wave down help for the lady trapped floating in her house, and 10 fan boats full of police and military just ignore him. Then later, when the soldier promises to send someone to evacuate the Williams couple, but never does. No one can be trusted. It seems ludicrous that there are so many soldiers and police in the city, and yet not one can be spared to help a handicapped pastor and his wife. Everyone is suspicious, the air in the city is filled with fear. The soldiers all seem to be focused on the fear rather than on helping those in need – Zeitoun and his friends seem to be the only ones focused on helping. The scene on the I-10 overpass with all the slaughtered dogs heightens the contrast. What is it that allows a man like Zeitoun to remain focused on helping, while others resort to killing? Why, in the face of such suffering and fear, do people respond so differently?
Zeitoun believes he is doing the will of God, and I agree. Some may think this is impossible because he is not a “Christian,” but I believe this guy’s action are a lot more Christ-like than many of the non-Muslims in the city. He is reflecting God’s image by serving, by putting others above himself. He is saving lives. This is always in line with God’s will.
Whether he should have prioritized his family is a point for debate. They are safe and sound and healthy, doing fine without him at least up to now. He is saving lives and making a difference in New Orleans. I think his courage is admirable, and given his circumstance, helping the helpless was the most intregrous thing to do. It might be foolish according to some, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t right.
I appreciate Kathy’s description of Yuko as a friend who has become family. I resonate strongly with this on a personal level, because some of the closest people in my life are not blood relatives. Take my surrogate/spiritual dad, for example: he is someone who is always there for me, and I genuinely believe would lay down his life for me. He and I live out the New Commandment of Jesus, to “love one another as I have loved you.” This is self-sacrificial love, love unto pain, love unto death. Kathy’s blood family does not show her this kind of love – they are quite self-centered and selfish. Yuko and her husband are the opposite – Muhammed even flies out to get Kathy and the kids and then drives them all the way, straight through the night, from Houston to Phoenix. That’s how friends become true family – when you see, through their actions and you feel in your gut that they would sacrifice their own comfort, their own rights for you, because they love you that much.
It is a wonder how some people can retain a sense of humanity during crisis and some people forget about all sense of dignity and animalistic instincts take over. I really can’t imagine the thinking process of everyone around Zeitoun that isn’t helping the struggling and dying, but are running amok causing the degradation of the city.
I agree that Zeitoun is doing the will of God once he stays behind in New Orleans. He is helping the helpless and acting accordingly. I have a lot of respect for him because of his actions while in the city, but I do think he should listen to his wife every once in awhile.
I do love the description of Yuko’s and Kathy’s friendship. It is family and I love that Yuko will do anything to help Kathy. It’s a great example of what love should be.
The “will of God” concept is thought provoking. Zeitoun believes he is doing the will of God by performing a higher purpose and putting others before himself. But what about Kathy? Does his wife believe he is doing the will of God? His wife wants him safe and out of the city; is God telling her that? And then when Zeitoun doesn’t abide by his wilfe’s wishes, is HE doing the will of God?
I agree with Josh and Mere in regards to friendship and family. I have two friends that I have both received and given the greatest compliment – that of sister.
The will of God isn’t always about the wife’s wishes. He is doing the will of God while staying in New Orleans. He is helping people when no one else will. Kathy believes what he is doing is admirable and she is glad he is doing it, but she is worried about his safety. Those worries aren’t unfounded, but at this point in the story whose needs are greater: the people in the city, or his wife and children?