Chloe Knuth 14 Cows for America Carmen Agra Deedy and Kimeli Wilson Naiyomah August 1st, 2009 Nonfiction Kenya
14 Cows for America takes place in a remote village in Kenya, and opens with a college student coming back to his village. He comes from New York City and tells the story of 9/11 to his friends and family. The villagers were all horrified by the destruction and wanted to somehow show their support to this wounded nation. They give 14 cows, which they consider the most precious thing they own, to give compassion and comfort. It’s a story of nations supporting each other in a time of sorrow and ruin.
The book indicates that the Kenyan culture is focused on community versus the individual. Kenyan people stick together and revere their tribe leaders. The clothes they wear are long robes with bright colors on them. They live in mud houses and are not industrialized, which means that their country is a developing one. They value family above everything else and are empathetic with others.
The American culture is similar to Kenyan culture because they both believe that family comes first. Other than that, there not many other similarities between my culture and Kenyan culture.
I connected with Kimeli, the man who came back to tell his tribe about 9/11. I understand his fear of the events that happened in New York. I was little when 9/11 happened, but I still remember my parents taking me out of daycare and seeing their frightened faces. My parents didn’t know if it was safe to live in America anymore. I understand why Kimeli came back to his hometown because he also didn’t think that it was safe in America.
The central conflict was 9/11, which was the worst act of terrorism in history. This conflict is still happening today because people across the world are still victims of terrorism. Terrorism is the the unlawful use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims. I believe that the cause of terrorism, political power, will never disappear because government is essential to creating a society. I think that the giving of the 14 cows was handled wonderfully and that it was such a generous action. Of course, cows didn’t solve the problem of terrorism, but it helped to demonstrate that countries around the world can support one another. Terrorism is universal.
3. What is the central theme or message of the book? The message of the book was that generosity crosses boundaries, nations, and cultures. The gift of the 14 cows gives Americans the hope and support of a nation after their own nation was attacked. This message is relevant in cultures other than Kenyan culture since this story shows other nations, who have their own cultures, that the world can be connected through gifts of generosity.