Sa:baydi again SJDers,
Just completed my piece on Gambling series. I do apologize for this late
posting.  Anyway did anyone happen to observe the Comet, Lunar eclipse
and Mars tonight?
Have a nice week!
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GAMBLING: the games of chance
by Ky Soumpholphakdy

	As a human being, we all have to take and give a little chance if not a
lot in everything we do.  We take a chance in business, educational and
as well as personal matter.  Heck! We are taking a chance when walking
or driving down the road these day. We know fully well that
unforeseeable thing can happen in any giving time.  It is a part of life
and that is why we don’t think about it until we see something tragic or
dramatic happening.  I called this-- a games of chance in our everyday
lives.
	With that said, let me tell you about another game of chance called
Gambling.  This so calls Gambling is like a virus that spread throughout
our loved Laotian community.  However, I will speak of only one type of
gambling.  The games that involving a bet or wager of money.  It is a
game played w/ a deck of cards.  The cards games that can destroy the
strongest home that have the player living in it.  This cards games
might look harmless, but have a powerful force that can control even the
very best of us.  It has a power to make the parents leave their
children starving in Atlantic City Casino Lobbies or near by Motels.  It
can also make a cheater, a liar, a thieve and more out of you.
	I know of the two cards games that are very popular to my beloved
Laotian community.  One is called kata or killer (play w/ 6 cards).  And
other is kai or 3 cards.  They are a household words for many Laotian
families, especially on weekend. This is a sad statement, but
nevertheless, it is a true statement. I don=t mean to degrade our people
or the society in which we live in, but instead to inform you all about
this virus that have been eating up our good people.  Another words, I
just want to put forth the known problems that=s like a torn on our
community for many century. It must be stop right now.  Let start by
stopping the birthday party gambling.  Let start at home first. I don=t
know about anyone else, but I have seen countless birthday gambling
since I came to the States fourteen years ago.  Of course, it probably
no surprise to many of you.  Therefore, let the birthday party be the
celebration of another year of life, instead of the celebrating a birth
of the new gamblers.
	Gambling - if you have it and the gamblers will come. We can put an end
to it by not having it. Gambling shouldn=t be held on the occasions 
like kids birthday party. Birthday party is for a kids to have fun w/
their friends.  It is one of the most important moment for the a child
life, especially the fifth b-day.  The year that s/he will be starting
school.  Let us not have them get a head start by seeing the adults
gambling on their b-day.  It is the most dishearten to see the kids
running and playing in house and at the same time the grown-up are
playing cards for money. Everything, that happened during this special
time of the years seemed of a great importance to the kids.  Imagine
what going to happens if there are gambling on his/her yearly
celebration from the of age 5 to the age of 12.  The kids will surely
remember that there’re a circles of cards playing in his/her house
during his/her b-day. What kind of example or model are we setting for
the children.  No wonder there are so many child gambling problem in our
society.  Teen gamblers are on the rise; if you need proof or
statisticYjust look around.  If you willing to look for them, then you
will see them.  The kids are so into the material things these day and
by exposing them to this type of recreation gambling at such as young
ages won=t make it any better.  It is almost like guaranteeing him/her a
place in the circles.  Let think about the consequences and the impact
it going have for our younger Laotian generation.  
	To those that doesn=t play this game of chance...my hat off to you all.
Don't never let the pressure or the temptation get the best of you when
it come to gambling.  To those that are the victims of gambling devil;
there are still hope for you all whether you are seasonal, pathological
or compulsive gambler. You can stop dealing you life away. Just give
yourself a chance by asking for professional help.  By all mean, I truly
believe that gambling is a learned behavior problem.  There are
knowledgeable counselor available to help those that want be help
(@1-800-BETS-OFF).  Stop gambling my beloved Laotian, why take a risk
with a no win situation.  Although gambling will probably continue, but
people can refuse to risk their lives w/ it.


That's my thought...
Comments are welcome...

Hak Phaang,
-- 
Phoukong K. Soumpholphakdy
Maryland,USA
soump@dc.net
kyao@geocities.com
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/4913/index.html