| Show f Young Salvadorian shows how much we take for granted N Monica Unbar and Linda Lind Ciampini Contributing Writers IKE many Americans Ive I've LIKE L been vaguely aware of the civil war in El EI Salvador but butI I never bothered to think about the suffering going on there I never realized how spoiled we are and how often w we wc take for granted what we have One little year old boy showed me how lucky we really are Duglas Ant Antonio nio Cortez injured in the eight- eight year war in El EI Salvador came cameJo cameto to Jo Utah to have an opera operation ion on his ar arm e He was injured while play playing ing with a friend He began throwing rocks o ks at a landmine land mine which exploded As s a result sult of the explosion n he suffered suffered suffered suf suf- suf- suf the loss of his right pinky finger a punctured eardrum and tr trauma uma to his right arm Since Duglas speaks only Spanish Im I'm learning Spanish and hes he's having fun with our English language His aunt accompanied him to America because his mother has to tend to four younger children at home Duglas underwent surgery on his arm and his recovery went well although he may have to stay in America for two more months due to the punctured eardrum which may also require surgery Santos Cortez Duglas' Duglas aunt says she has enjoyed attending attending attending at at- tending football games and watching television especially especial especial- ly the World Series I thought that they Salvadorans Salvadorans Salvadorans Sal- Sal w were re as modern as we are but they arent They have no electricity r 1 I refrigerators or indoor restrooms The Salvadoran military government has cheated citizens of education money religion and freedom The people in jn El El Salvador are constantly constantly constantly con con- tormented by the sol sol- sol sol- diers My mother who has been with Santos and Duglas comments Its been a good experience to deal with people from another country My mother got involved involved involved in in- in sponsoring this family through the local Catholic Diocese Holy Cross Hospital has donated its time timeto to care for Duglas Snow has been on Duglas' Duglas mind He has never seen snow before so his one wish is to see it before he returns homeI home I UI like America a lot and J I enjoy going to the park and to the football games said Duglas He is not yet accustomed to American food Hes He's used to eating only beans and rice He loves hamburgers but f ft t r. r r 1 i tt M 4 does not like or r Jello Jeno To get the food they need Salvadorans have to have the soldiers' soldiers permission to work in their own fields If their fields are destroyed then Red Cross supplies food for the people Duglas and his family are not even allowed to fish in the lakes near their home The communities are threatened that they will be bombed if they do not join the army's side I know now that we Americans are very lucky people We dont don't have our roads mined and we dont don't have to suffer from not having our freedom Duglas will be returning home with wonderful memories of the US U.S. and he will leave us with a greater appreciation of all we have tf t r-A r fJ fN K f fi- fi fim m- m |
