Escape from Camp 14

Janis Joplin sang, "Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose." Well, reading Escape from Camp 14 is an education in how much we take for granted. I just read about Shin's realization that outside the camp was a world of food, a world where stealing, lying, and snitching for food was not necessary. He is 21 at this point in the book and just learned the concept of money, the presence of South Korea and China, and the location of Pyongyang (50 miles from his camp). He begins to long for freedom - not to see all these places, but to be able to eat. The author writes, "For Shin, freedom was just another word for grilled meat." He's not alone. We need to get over our consumer mentality and realize the desperate needs of the world outside our borders. If you are an American, you are part of the 1% globally. "To whom much is given, much will be required." If you need a jolt of reality, read this book. -- Rosa Edwards