thoughts on freedom

Today is September 11, 2007. A world-altering anniversary. A day that fills me with pride and respect for my nation. To these students in Thailand, it is a day of tests. Last week, I assigned an essay, What freedom is to me.
Following are some excerpts. May they serve as windows into the teenage minds of refugees who dream of a better tomorrow.
Like me, these teens are proud of their nation. Unlike me, they have many dates throughout the year to commemorate a bombing of something they thought was important.

Essay excerpts

Freedom is equality. Freedom is agreeing to live free however you want. Nobody gives freedom. Freedom we have at birth. All humans want to live free. – Saw Dah Reh, 17

Freedom is like the bird. The bird can fly up, down, left, right…they can find food as they want. The bird shouldn’t be in a cage. He sees his friends flying in the sky and he wants to fly too. God gave her the wings to fly. This is important to me. – Naw P’zaw Paw, 15

Freedom to me is when I worship. I am free to worship God. Freedom to study. Freedom to cry and also I have freedom to laugh. – Naw Silver Paw, 15

Freedom to me is internal freedom. If I let my heart love God and keep his commandments, he will be the helper of my heart and the spirit of truth will be with me forever. He will not leave my heart an orphan. Naw Pee Law, 16

Freedom is no limitation and no boundaries. When I lived in Burma (Myanmar), I saw that the Karen people can’t do what they want. In my life I want to have freedom. It is the design that God put in my heart. – Saw Winner Lynn, 17

Hey, I would like to tell you something, so (please!) listen carefully…Now I will give you my little opinion with reasons. I don’t know about other countries, but the ethnic groups in Burma need freedom. Several of my Karen girls were abducted and killed by Burmese soldiers. I hope on day my people will escape persecution. I hope someday God will change the evil heart and give Burma a pure heart. I will abide by my promise until I die. – Naw Khu Wah Paw, 17

Freedom for me…I must look in the book of the law. If you look in the law, you don’t see “don’t work and stay in your own land”. You don’t read “you must flee away from you own land. I don’t see this law in the book. So why can’t I stay and work on my own? – Saw Seh Reh, 17

When I grow up, I want to be a teacher and teach my people in the jungle. The Burmese military took them and made them slaves. God gave us freedom. If God did not, then how did we get it? – Saw Pray Reh, 16

If I want to study until I become a doctor, that is freedom for me. I want to go everywhere and study to improve my future. And then become a famous doctor and help people all over the world. That’s why I need freedom. – Naw Htoo Lar Paw, 16