SHORT STORY In El Salvador ‘Dez witnessed events that, as most Latin-Americans have experienced, robbed him of his innocence and opened his eyes to the unfortunate reality that comes from politically motivated atrocities. Shortly after, he and his parents escaped to Canada as political refugees and were finally granted citizenship in the “Great North”. Leaving the rest of his family and his war ridden country behind Dez realized that he was blessed to have been granted asylum that so many back home prayed for, and that many more trying to escape died for. ‘Dez was taught by his community that as a minority he needs to work twice as hard earn the same respect and earnings that were so easily achieved by the majority. At age 11 Dez started working the fields as many of his fellow immigrants did, not by necessity but because his family felt that they should never take for granted the gift of freedom and to always remember that if one suffers we all must know their pain in order to make a difference. Since then he has felt indebted to his people and has made it his life’s objective to speak on behalf of the voiceless youths of Latin America who too frequently are pawns in the game of political warfare.