The Fight of Our Lives
Writings by Independence High School // art by Fernando Amaro

The writings below are from the students of Independence High school. De-Bug asked the question, What is something worth fighting for? Their poetry and testimony tells it all.

The Pain Of You Not There
By January Suy

I can't understand why you have to go
Do you know how I felt
Can you feel the lost of others?
I felt their sorrows
how; can you help when you're in the war?
You left to protect our country
You were brave enough to go out there
I may not see you again
I felt the pain
The Misery of others that I saw
I can't help but to cry tears of sorrow
Can you felt their pain of the family
I felt the pain of others and it burn so much like the Burning hot sun
I touch the pain and it burn like hell.

I Got Love For My Homies
By Manilath Saengsouliyeth

A few days ago I lost four of my close homies. I'd never thought that it would be a big impact on me, but I guess it was. After losing them I cried. I'd never thought that this day would come, when they would leave me. We'd joke around and they would tease me. They would tell me that me how one day they wouldn't come back. I have always thought that just they said this to me just to make me cry. When I heard they were locked up it really affected me because they were the ones who were all ways there for me. When I found out that they were gone I went to talk to my best friend Nancy. She knew how I was feeling because she was feeling the same way I did.   There were times when I got so angry I wanted to hurt myself or go pick fights with people who got my homies locked up. I am still dealing with the situations of losing them. Now everything has changed nothing is the same.

Keeping Up My Pride For my Family
By Manilath Saengsouliyeth

I am willing to fight for my family and my pride. I am wiling to fight for my family because they are the one who help me throughout my life. My pride is what I am. I am proud to show it and if one disrespecting it, then they are disrespecting me, only by judging me of what I am. I am never Ashamed to be what I am today. My family, are the ones who brought me into this world and I am thankful to have them. Even though my family has been through times involving gang, they have always fought for their rights and always try to set a good example for me. I've seen a lot of problems that they deal with and it wasn't a pretty site. Just watching the conflict they handle in my eyes made me realize how much I am proud to be who I am.