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Changing
the World - $1 At A Time
By Michelle Roy
Expiry Corporation Staff Writer
December 2001
George
W. Bush announced Thursday Oct. 11 that he had a mission for
the children of America. That mission: to help feed the starving
and malnourished children living under the Taliban. He urged
each child in the United States to earn and donate $1 that
the government would then use to purchase food and medicine
for Afghan children.
It
makes us realize just how great, no Excellent, we have it!
One
out of every four children born in Afghanistan dies before
they reach their 5th birthday. 85,000 children die of diarrhea
each year. Diarrhea! A minor inconvenience to us, and a word
that makes American children giggle! There is only one doctor
for every 50,000 people and only 45% of children receive standard
immunizations. All things we take for granted every single
day.
There
are an estimated 10 million live mines buried in Afghanistan.
Children are particular vulnerable because they fetch water,
collect firewood, herd animals, and walk to school (those
that are able to go).
Ever
since I can remember I was told that "I can be anything
I want to be". This saying has been used so often with
North American children that it is now a cliché. Yet
the idea is unheard of for children in Afghanistan.
I've
been urged to believe in the American Dream (even though I
live in Canada!) and strive to live harmoniously in a democratic
environment based upon freedom. My fundamental needs are highly
satisfied without much thought. I may want for a lot, but
I need not!
I
am lucky to have been born and raised in Canada. If I were
an Afghan girl living under the Taliban I would not have had
the experiences and memories of school: Kindergarten right
through to University has been banned for females - years
I would never give back. I would not be allowed to wear make-up
or jewelry (though often I don't, at least I have the choice).
I couldn't walk or talk loudly nor laugh in public (on those
rare occasions when I would be allowed in public). The windows
of my house would be painted black.
I
can empathize with the women who live under such harsh demands
but it is so far removed from the life I have been encouraged
to live since birth that it is difficult to really, truly
understand. We can see it on television or read about it in
magazines (luxuries we would not have in Afghanistan), but
unless we have lived it we cannot actually feel what those
women feel. And although I'm sorry (and quite disgusted) that
any woman should be forced to live a life so debilitating
I am truly glad that it is not me.
One
day soon our American children will be able to give more than
$1 earned from selling lemon-aid, cleaning their room, doing
the dishes, or making the bed. Once the Taliban government
is defeated our children will be able to share their toys,
their dolls, and the comfort brought from a stuffed toy!
This
effort made by American children, spearheaded by our leaders,
will not only help young Americans contribute, it will help
them understand, feel involved and make a difference. Children
helping children, now that's the way to change the world!
Your
child can donate by sending $1 to
America's
Fund for Afghan Children
C/O The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Washington, DC 20509-1600
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