Books not guns
This came in the mail. We can actually help. Let’s.
“Muslim child warriors are on the rise. Weeks ago, the military showed video footage of the MILF training young kids for war. Last Monday, several peace advocates were kidnapped in Tipo-Tipo, Basilan and the police claim it was the handiwork of 10 “minors” believed to be members of the Abu Sayyaf Group.
“What is alarming is that there were young boys, as young as around 12 years old. They (victims) estimated their ages as between 12 and 19, or teenagers,” Philippine Navy Spokesperson Lt. Edgardo Arevalo said of the incident.
“Unfortunately, me and my wife Annora, a Tausug Muslim, no longer find the matter “alarming.” You grow up with guns, what do you become? You grow up with the culture of hatred, violence, distrust and ignorance, what do you become?
“So, what do we do to children who grew up thinking that the future depends on how they handle their guns? What do we do to children of war who grew up with guns and not books and better education? Kill them all? For those of us who have teenage children, this is a very hard question to answer. For me and my wife, this piece of depressing development in Basilan only emboldened us even more to step up our efforts to flood Mindanao with books through our “A-Book-Saya-Group” book donation project. Help make our ABSG fight the righteous fight not only against the ASG but the MILF, the MNLF and Christian vigilantes groups as well. Please help us expose poor children in war-torn Mindanao to books in the hope that they grow up to be professionals and peace-makers. Â
“Initially, we have designated our Satti Grill House outlets in SM Fairview Food Court and at the corner of MH del Pilar and Padre Faura as drop-off points for the books. Later, we hope to tie up with newspapers and private firms to help take in the books. Donors may contact us through Nos. 7992745/3393732 or 09175208013/09195897879 or at zamboyo66@yahoo.com.”
From Armand and Ann Nocum, Concerned parents of 2 Christian-Muslim children
Look, it can’t hurt. Suppose you’re paranoid about giving anything that may end up in the hands of secessionist groups, terrorists, kidnappers. Well they’re books, what are they going to do, fling them at you? Use them as projectiles for catapults? Inflict the Death of a Thousand Paper Cuts? The children of Mindanao need something to read. Help if you can. Children are entitled to a childhood.
Here is Robert Young Pelton’s chilling piece on the horror in Sierra Leone, a war fought by children, many of them 8-year-olds.
Answers to questions you might be asking, unless you wandered onto this site purely by accident >>>
September 23rd, 2008 at 11:37
Important question though: can these children read? Given the dismal state of Philippine education (especially in the remote provinces), I think we should consider this. I’m reminded of an ad, where children tear up the books and build paper boats.
That being said, it’s a great idea.