NAVIGATING THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD

We took a tour yesterday (Saturday) of the Mae Tao Clinic for Burmese refugees that hosted Laura Bush two days earlier. We know this because the "WELCOME Mrs. BUSH" signs were every where. It was a little surreal. For many Burmese this is the only hospital of any kind available to them. History lesson: basically on the border of Burma near Thailand (near Mae Sot) there are the "karen" people. Often the new military regime is after them... it is sort of like an ethnic cleansing. Incredibly tragic. I asked what I should call this country: Burma or Myanmar. Have you ever wondered what to call it? Well, I will give you a little lesson I got from the Burmese guy who picked us up from the bus station upon our arrival into Mae Sot. He said that "Myanmar" is what the new, sadistic military regime calls the country. But if you want to honor the PEOPLE than you call it "Burma"... So... join me in calling "Myanmar", Burma (despite what the title said as their team entered the Olympic stadiums in Bejing). Burma. Stand in solidarity with these people whose government perpetrates injustice to them on a daily basis, and whose youngest victims are the children. Who have no country and often no parents.

Here is where we (and Laura Bush) visited this week: http://www.maetaoclinic.org/


We also went to the safe house that Compasio has for 7 abandoned children of refugee parents. First what you need to know is none of these children have birth certificates. Seriously. So, we are not sure how old they are. Second, they are fascinated by their own pictures. You know that cute bunny, ruffly picture-book album your parents take out to embarrass you in front of a new boyfriend/girlfriend with that obligatory picture of you under the age of 1 naked on a blanket? These kids don't have picture albums of their childhoods. But they have scars. And they can tell you the stories of them. So we want to make new memories for them. And take pictures. Lots and lots of cute pictures (that I will post later). You know what else they don't have? Passports. They have no citizenship. Thailand will only tolerate them, and may deport them. And Myanmar government doesn't want them. On little girl who stole my heart still has a father who comes looking for her. Why? Because he can make money if she will go out in the streets and beg FOR him. Yep. He is really mad his daughter is in this safe house, because then she can't support him. How old is she? about 2-ish. Imagine. At 2 years old. You are just perfecting your walk. And your father is looking to you to earn money FOR him. Startling thought, isn't it? We played until we were warn out. And sweaty. And happy.