Red Bands arrived in the mail

When I went to teach my Sunday English Class today some of my students immediately noticed my red rubber bracelet. I said I had 7 to give away but they had to do something to help Burma to get one. I suggested an essay or something. I had earlier taken time out in class once or twice to talk about the revolution in Burma and tell them my feelings about it. Two of the students just sent me their contributions now, only a few hours after class ended. These are busy students too, so I was surprised. I had already given William a bracelet when he approached me after class to ask me some questions about Burma. His writing is found below. His feelings are sincere I am sure; he didn't do it just to get the bracelet, though I am quite sure he will wear the bracelet with pride, as this style is currently quite popular among basketball-playing youths in Taiwan.

Here is William's essay. I edited the English, as he said he didn't want his grammar mistakes published. There weren't many.

在緬甸所發生的這起流血事件，身為國際的一份子我們不能坐視不管，既然我們可以做，為什麼不做？
但，我們能作什麼呢?
1. 若有認識緬甸朋友，堅定地告訴他，你的支持。
2. 若有任何的聲援活動，盡量參加。
3. 寫信給緬甸政府，要求他們釋放抗議者。
4. 連署給聯合國，要求安理會採取行動，保護緬甸人民。
5. 如果你追隨證嚴、聖嚴、星雲或其他法師，請他們能在他們的網絡中發出一些聲音，發揮菩薩聞聲救苦的影響力，一方面為國際上的佛教徒請命，一方面為緬甸的人權著力。
歡迎所有支持緬甸民主的朋友站出來。

拜託!

The news in Burma, everyone knows it.
We are the persons who live in the world.
Please help them.
What can we do?
1. Call on the phone to tell your friends to help Burma.
2. Go to events in support of Burma .
3. Call Burma's bad government to tell them to stop.
4. Write a letter to UN to tell them to help Burma's people.
5. As for Taiwan's people, they should go on the World Wide Web sites and tell everyone to help Burma.

Please everyone, come out and yell "Burma - We will help you."
Please!

And here is Eric's contribution:

I think we should help Burma because Burma have a bad president, he is very evil, he killed many monks and many peoples, so I hope all of Taiwanese can help them, thank you.
我想我們應該要幫助緬甸因為緬甸有一個壞總統,他很邪惡,他殺了許多人和和尚,所以,我希望所有台灣人可以幫助緬甸,謝謝
Eric

Here are the bracelets:

Please buy a band to show the world your conviction that the revolution in Burma really matters. The funds raised will go to various charities that directly support the victims of the evil junta. The Website makes special note that a substantial portion will go to the Mae Tao Clinic, which was founded and directed by Dr. Cynthia Maung. She recently was in Taiwan to receive the 2007 Asia Democracy and Human Rights Award from the The Taiwan Foundation for Democracy. Here is a good interview she gave on her visit.

As I explained to my class, one red band cost US$5 plus shipping, and 10 cost US$25 plus shipping, and I thought $5 is a pretty stingy donation. So I had 9 to give away, but felt on principle that I must demand all recipients do something to help Burma.

The first two went to a couple friends of mine who collected toys and stationary to send to the Safe Haven orphanage in northern Thailand (hopefully) in time for (secular) Christmas.

William's is the third, and Eric's will be the fourth. Some of the older kids at my regular school are planning to write something, but we've been busy learning Christmas carols and stuff. But that's over with now as we held our party early on Friday.

And now I'm gonna take a photo of myself to post on the Don't Forget Burma Website.
...too much time passes...
Viola:


But then I realize that I need to include some message to look as caring as the others on Don't Forget Burma, so I decide to give myself a temporary tat:

Myspace Image Hosting

That should take a while to wash off. My kids will ask lots of questions now. Tis' the season. Merry Christmas.