Pat Devine

Pat Devine
Profile
November 25, 2008

A Righteous Path

Even in the midst of America’s current economic turmoil the average American has but a vague idea about the true meaning behind the phrase ‘scrimp and save’.
True economic depression is a state that exists only outside of the borders of the United States.
Majur Jok was born in small town called Manding in Africa’s largest nation, Sudan. There, he and his family experienced first hand hunger, disease, and the fear and brutality of civil war.
Now, as customers purchase gas and demand lotto tickets and cigarettes he continues to relay a childhood account through a thick Sudanese accent.
One time a soldier struck him in the back of the head with the butt of his rifle.
“For no reason he just hit me, says Jok, almost proudly.
Majur now works as a store manager for a local gas station. This is not his first American job however.
His last job was at the Marsh Furniture factor.
“I worked as a ‘part coordinator’. Basically, I inspected parts of furniture to make sure they were not defective.” Then he smiles, “We were the most polluting company in High Point.”
As a child, Majur endured bouts of starvation and literally had to walk tens of miles to go to school every day, which he did faithfully.
“Manding was a small industrial town, but not like a small town in the United States. There was no traffic. We did not have many cars…Transportation was usually a problem.”
His parents were “agriculturalists” says Majur. They raised wheat, vegetables and cattle. “My father loved cattle.”
His family life, however, was stressed by the ongoing civil war, a conflict that began in 1983 and lasted until 2005.
Almost 2 million civilians in southern Sudan (Manding is in the south) have been killed over the course of the civil war and about 4 million southern Sudanese have been forced to flee the country.
When Jok was six years old his parents sent him and his two brothers to a refugee camp in Ethiopia. They walked, along with a thousand other children and some women and old men, over one hundred miles to the neighboring country.
On the way there his group encountered wild animals including hyenas, lions and elephants. Some were attacked and mauled on the journey but no one was killed.
Life in the refugee camps, although mostly free from animal attack, was far from ideal. He and his brothers had problems with illness, and the Episcopal church he attended had no roof and housed thousands of people.
After years of focused schooling Majur graduated high school, and earned his way to the United States, where he hoped for a life with more opportunities.
He earned an associate’s degree in political science from Guilford Technical Community College, where he also studied history.
He has recently been accepted to the University of Georgia, and plans to attend next year to study public administration.
Majur Jok has walked a hard road, has seen true poverty and suffering, and has overcome it.
So scrimp, my fellow Americans, and save, but do not forget the starving and suffering multitudes, all over the globe, who face true economic depression. And also do not forget to dream for yourselves.
Just like Majur, you to can choose the path you walk; Even if it’s a hike.