Pasco students make 600 kites for Afghan children

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer ^ | Friday, March 29, 2002 | THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

PASCO -- When Pasco High School teacher Carol Brucker heard that kites had been banned in Afghanistan by the now-deposed Taliban, she enlisted the help of her students to return them to the countryside.

"When I heard how much the Afghan children loved to play with their kites and that they were taken away from them, it broke my heart," said Brucker, a math teacher and kite enthusiast.

More than 600 students here have made 600 kites to be delivered to children in Afghanistan by the Portland-based humanitarian group Mercy Corps.

Wednesday, students Kenny Phillips and Eddie Mendez took their time making sure their colorful "friendship" kite was sturdy enough to do aerial acrobatics.

The two freshmen spent more than an hour carefully folding the edges of a rainbow-colored plastic sheet over a wooden dowel and fiberglass rod, then taping it all together.

"If it gets too sloppy, then it won't fly," said Mendez, 14.

To get the project started, Brucker contacted friend Lisa Heath Fraser, who owns the Once Upon a Breeze kite shop in Cannon Beach, Ore.

Together, they hatched a plan to send kites to Afghan youths. "I was just floored when I heard about (the ban)," Fraser said. "To me, flying a kite is one of the most relaxing, enjoyable things you can do."

Kite flying in Afghanistan has been a serious national sport, Fraser said. Adults fly fighter kites, with strings rolled in paste and coated with glass that can rub and cut another kite flier's line as it skitters overhead.

Brucker has been making kites with her math students for years, but this project has more significance.

"My kids think Afghanistan people are our enemy," she said. "They think Afghanistan is our enemy, and we're over there bombing them. This makes them aware they aren't the enemy and that this is a meaningful gift."

Marivel Castillo, 17, a junior, said she appreciated learning more about the country.

"I am now aware of what's going on there," she said.

Phillips, 15, agreed: "It makes me feel good about helping kids in Afghanistan. They have no toys to play with."

Mercy Corps will distribute the kites in rural communities around Kabul and Kandahar.

"Our staff on ground will be identifying recipients who they think could use them," Mercy Corps spokeswoman Susan Laarman said.

More than 200 Mercy Corps workers are in the country, and many of them are Afghans, she said.

"The kites are a gesture of freedom and fun," Laarman said. "Those things were not allowed. Apparently a lot of the kites were prohibited because the kites available were made in India, and there's an ongoing tension between the countries. And having fun was not allowed because you were supposed to be praying all the time."

All materials were donated by American kite companies.

Brucker and her husband will drop off the kites Monday in Portland.

Want to help? Mercy Corps is accepting donations for the "Afghanistan friendship kite project" to offset shipping costs. Call 800-852-2100 or visit their Web site at www.mercycorps.org.

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

Okay, let's start a list of all the things that the Afghani kids need more than kites.

[denydenydeny]

Rule # 1 of liberalism: Results don't matter. The only thing that does matter is if the gesture makes you feel better about yourself.

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

Can't you just see the kids running through the mine fields gleefully flying their ki... BLAM!

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

When they come take away your weapons and all hell has broken loose in California.

I'm going to send you a kite to fly. That should cheer you up.

[xm177e2]

Pasco students make 600 kites for Afghan children

Bah. Send them old NES machines and cartidges.

[BunnySlippers]

What a waste of tissue paper. Give this teacher an "F" on teaching ability.

[Travis McGee]

Just knowing that I feel better already.

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

FYI

[Libertina]

Mercy Corps advertises on KVI a lot. I agree there are things the kids need more, but perhaps this simple gesture of understanding what would make their hearts lighter are these kites. When Mercy Corps first started to advertise on KVI I was indignant. And I haven't given them any $. But I have been reminded lately that our enemy's deeds aren't these children's deeds. When their people learn who we really are (minus the slum Ex-IMPOTUS and porn) maybe we can make headway to a world closer to that which God planned for us.

[RipeforTruth]

Our son Mark went on a 30 hour fast here in the Seattle-Tacoma area at a World Vision youth fund raiser (sponsored at the church). He raised the most of anyone there (over $500.00).I am very proud of him and told him that some of those funds will help the same young children flying those kites.

[Libertina]

Your son did very well and you are right to be proud of him. My cousin works for world vision and I know they do a lot of good things. While kites are of lesser importance than food or shelter, after the horrible repression these children have lived under - the joy of play must be like nourishment to their souls. I am having to fight to not grow so angry about these terrorists that I lose my compassion. Some days are more successful than others.

[Spunky]

I live in Pasco and my grandson goes to Pasco High School.
I never heard a word about this or seen anything on our local news.
You would think with 600 students being involved it would have been big news here.

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

They don't need a gesture of understanding. They need a roof that won't fall down on them during a moderate earthquake, a source of drinking water, stable food supply and after that they need medicine and schools.

You must admit those are more important and any "gesture of understanding" is a waste of money and time if it doesn't meet their immediate, pressing, needs.

[Libertina]

I agree that they need roofs and shelter, but getting the kites doesn't stand in the way of the other things. This project is something the students can do themselves, as opposed to just sending money through a 3rd party. (Which they probably do as well.) Maybe OUR students can also learn that a kite - a simple toy - can be so valued - and to get off their high tech hand held computer game horses. Just another take on the issue.

[In veno, veritas]

Both you and Libertina have interesting points. If they are trying to do this to send the message of "We understand", I'm afraid we haven't a clue since we haven't lived in those conditions. However, it is a harmless gesture that might brighten some child's day, if only for a moment. Besides, some people just need to feel good about themselves.

[Libertina]

Happy Easter In Veno, Veritas! Nice to see you here today :)

[McGavin999]

I think it's a wonderful gesture. In small lives where there has been little joy, the simple toy will matter a lot. I'm proud of these kids.

[In veno, veritas]

Sorry, missed your reply. I had a good time at big ern's actually. His wife cooked some excellent salmon with a mango sauce.