From the One campaign

Even in tough economic times, we want to make sure the next president, no matter who that is, keeps his commitment to fighting global poverty.

The total spent on all poverty-fighting programs make up less than one percent of the entire U.S. budget, yet we are saving millions of lives and helping the world's poorest people break free from crippling poverty. These efforts will be even more critical as the effects of any global economic slowdown are magnified in already struggling countries.

I just took action with ONE to tell my leaders to keep their promises to the world's poor, and you can too, here:

http://www.one.org/keepourcommitments/?rc=koctaf
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Been tagged

If I tag you, you have to fill this out and tag five others.

The Five Tag

10 Years Ago I:

1. I was at Jacksonville State
2. I lived in my first apartment
3. Drove a white Dodge Dakota
4. was 20
5. Drank too much

5 Things on Today's "To-Do" List:

1. Get out of school for a long weekend!
2. Go to class
3. Kiss my wife
4. Watch the Dodgers in the NLCS
5. Go to bed

5 Snacks I Enjoy:

1. Peanuts
2. Reese’s peanut butter cups
3. Cereal
4. Chocolate
5. Chips & Dip



5 Things I would do If I were a millionaire:

1. Buy a nice log cabin in the mountains.
2. Buy a beach house
3. give money to church
4. Give to the million charities and organizations I support.
5. buy my wife something awesome

5 Places I have lived:

1. 30 Dewey Boozer Rd
2. ??? Francis St.
3. ??? South Lee St.
4. 1804 Martha Berry Blvd.
5. 1204 Desota Drive.

5 Jobs that I have had (or still have today in some cases):

1. Telemarketer
2. Bag boy
3. Youth pastor
4. News/sports reporter
5. Parapro

5 people I am tagging:
Jenn
Robby
Adam
Joel
Kevin and Lacy

Amazing Column on NPR's This I Believe.

Kim Phuc is best known as the girl in the famous photo of a Vietnam War napalm-bombing attack near Saigon. She now lives in Toronto with her husband and two children. Her organization, Kim Foundation International, aids children who are war victims. Photo courtesy of the Canadian Broadcasting Corp.




“Forgiveness made me free from hatred. I still have many scars on my body and severe pain most days but my heart is cleansed.”


On June 8, 1972, I ran out from Cao Dai temple in my village, Trang Bang, South Vietnam; I saw an airplane getting lower and then four bombs falling down. I saw fire everywhere around me. Then I saw the fire over my body, especially on my left arm. My clothes had been burned off by fire.

I was 9 years old but I still remember my thoughts at that moment: I would be ugly and people would treat me in a different way. My picture was taken in that moment on Road No. 1 from Saigon to Phnom Penh. After a soldier gave me some drink and poured water over my body, I lost my consciousness.

Several days after, I realized that I was in the hospital, where I spent 14 months and had 17 operations.

It was a very difficult time for me when I went home from the hospital. Our house was destroyed; we lost everything and we just survived day by day.

Although I suffered from pain, itching and headaches all the time, the long hospital stay made me dream to become a doctor. But my studies were cut short by the local government. They wanted me as a symbol of the state. I could not go to school anymore.

The anger inside me was like a hatred as high as a mountain. I hated my life. I hated all people who were normal because I was not normal. I really wanted to die many times.

I spent my daytime in the library to read a lot of religious books to find a purpose for my life. One of the books that I read was the Holy Bible.

In Christmas 1982, I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal savior. It was an amazing turning point in my life. God helped me to learn to forgive — the most difficult of all lessons. It didn't happen in a day and it wasn't easy. But I finally got it.

Forgiveness made me free from hatred. I still have many scars on my body and severe pain most days but my heart is cleansed.

Napalm is very powerful but faith, forgiveness and love are much more powerful. We would not have war at all if everyone could learn how to live with true love, hope and forgiveness.

If that little girl in the picture can do it, ask yourself: Can you?

This essay was produced by Anne Penman for the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. NPR's This I Believe is independently produced by Jay Allison and Dan Gediman with John Gregory and Viki Merrick.