Self -Defense Is Important!    [14-02-2009] The world is full of many different kinds of people. Most people are nice and kind. But sadly, there are some bad people who try to hurt others. Most kids don’t know what to do under scary situations. So, knowing some martial arts can become a great self defense skill. Martial arts can give you strong confidence and courage. Martial arts aren’t the only helpful skills. There are plenty of ways. Let’s find out! Recently, the police caught a very bad guy named Kang Ho-soon. He hurt so many people. Sadly, there are many bad people like Kang in our society. So, it’s always a good idea to know how to protect yourself. Learning martial arts is just one of many useful skills. Lately, many Internet shops are making so much money. Why? Self-defense gadgets are selling like crazy. The most popular gadget is the pepper spray. It’s a small spray can. Inside the can is a very smelly substance. Once this is sprayed on someone’s eyes, it can make the eyes teary and very itchy! What a scary spray! Since the spray is small, you can carry it in your pocket. When a strange adult comes and you feel threatened, you can use it. In the U.S., most kids carry this spray to protect themselves. But hey, just remember one thing here. This should only be used for protection. I repeat, only for your protection! It’s not a toy. And it should never be used for fun. If you do, you are no different from bad and mean people. Emergency alarms are also very useful. They are small gadgets that are the size of a whistle. Once you press a small button on the gadget, it makes a very loud alarming noise. It’s so loud that people from 50 meters away can hear you. This is an excellent way to get attention. Whenever you feel you are in danger, just press it. Any dangerous stranger will run away! Once again, you should only press them when you feel that you are in trouble. Lastly, whether going to school or coming home, try to walk with many friends. It’s always a good idea to stay with many friends. Walking or taking the bus in a group is the best way to keep bad strange people away. You can also ask your parents to pick you up. Or you can talk to your friends about a car pool. Why don’t you ask your parents to get you a self-defense gadget? I don’t like to admit it. But we live in a dangerous world. It’s a smart thing to stay safe at any cost. There’s another thing you should remember. Scary men like Kang Ho-soon aren’t making only you scared. People like him are also making your parents worried. So, if you are going somewhere, make sure you call your parents when you arrive. And no matter how much fun you are having outside, make sure you pick up your parents’ phone calls. Yes, we can blame bad people for their actions. But it’s also our responsibility to protect ourselves. Let’s stay safe, kids!     출처: 어린이 영자신문 키즈타임즈 (www.kidstimes.net)