1 WHY YOU ARE LUCKY TO BE ALIVE...AND WELL
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In 1975, a Communist party, Khmer Rouge, took over Cambodia after the Americans withdrew. Khmer Rouge was a group of farmers who hated the rich. Life in Cambodia was horrible after that. One fourth of the population was killed, just because they were educated and well-to-do. Kids were killed when they cried. The Communists were merciless. Arn Chorn-Pond was only nine years old when he watched his brother starve to death and his family taken away. They had owned an opera house, so they were killed. Mr. Chorn-Pond learned how to play the flute. The Commander ordered him to play music for him. Mr. Chorn-Pond also was forced to help kill 10,000 people. They died right in front of him. If he showed any emotion, he would be killed too. He learned how to numb himself, to keep the feelings inside. This was how he survived. Soon, the Vietnamese invaded Cambodia. The Commander ordered Mr. Chorn-Pond to fight in the front lines. It was a death sentence. Mr. Chorn-Pond was only about 12-13 years old. Fortunetly, Mr. Chorn-Pond escaped. He lived in a jungle for 2-3 months, off of fruits the monkeys ate. He kept going deeper into the jungle, away from the battles, away from the fear of getting caught. But he was constantly scared. Somehow, he managed to walk about 200 miles through the jungle into Thailand, where he came to a refugee camp. There a kind American man adopted him and brought him to the United States.
Mr. Chorn-Pond finished high school and college. Though he had a new life, his past haunted him. Soon, he started speaking out, for the Cambodians, and for himself. He told his story to the world, and urged them to help the kids in need.
Mr. Chorn-Pond came to speak at our school. Afterwards, I was TERRIBLY guilty...for the shoes that cost 150, for all the clothes I bought that weren't neccessary, for all the accessories I begged my mom to buy...for my insensitivity. THERE ARE KIDS OUT THERE STARVING TO DEATH...KIDS LIKE YOU AND ME. THERE ARE KIDS OUT THERE WHO DON'T HAVE CLOTHES, NEVER HAD LOVE FROM PARENTS, NEVER WENT TO SCHOOL. THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE TO HAVE EVERYTHING THEY NEED AND MORE.
DON'T BE SELFISH AND GREEDY. HELP THE WORLD BY HELPING OTHERS.
There are many ways YOU can help:
1) Help the less fortunate
2) Support a child
3) Start a club...or join a club...if 50 people save a dollar a month...they can help send a child to COLLEGE
4) Know that this can happen here...in the United States, in Iraq, where ever you live
5) Kindness helps everyone,
PLEASE HELP MAKE THIS WORLD A BETTER PLACE
Submitted by mwang92@yahoo.com 52
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