A BLEEDING NATION - CHAPTER 15: THE CRY FOR CHANGE

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Chapter 15: The Cry for Change

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«African Proverb: "No matter how long the night lasts, the dawn will eventually come."»

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«Yoruba Proverb: "When the drumbeat becomes too loud, even the deaf begin to notice."»

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«Another Proverb: "A people can endure suffering for many years, but one day their silence becomes a voice."»

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The nation was tired.

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Tired of promises.

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Tired of corruption.

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Tired of insecurity.

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Tired of poverty.

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Tired of watching a few people grow richer while millions struggled to survive.

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The pain had lasted for years.

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For some families, generations.

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Everywhere Daniel traveled, he encountered the same question.

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"When will things change?"

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Farmers asked it.

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Students asked it.

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Widows asked it.

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Traders asked it.

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Even children asked it.

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The question echoed through villages and cities like a prayer waiting for an answer.

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But answers were becoming difficult to find.

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Hope was fading.

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Patience was running out.

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And frustration was growing.

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---

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One Monday morning, a tragic event shook the country.

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A passenger bus carrying workers and students was attacked along a major highway.

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Several innocent lives were lost.

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Many others were kidnapped.

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Families rushed to hospitals.

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Parents searched desperately for missing loved ones.

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The nation mourned once again.

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Television stations interrupted their programs.

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Radio presenters struggled to hide their emotions.

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Social media filled with anger.

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People were no longer merely sad.

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They were furious.

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A young woman appeared on a television interview.

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Her brother had been among the victims.

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Tears streamed down her face.

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"We are tired."

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Her voice trembled.

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"We are human beings."

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The interviewer remained silent.

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"We deserve safety."

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Millions watched.

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Millions agreed.

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Her words became the voice of countless citizens.

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---

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In the days that followed, demonstrations began appearing across the country.

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At first they were small.

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Groups of students gathered peacefully.

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Community leaders organized meetings.

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Youth organizations demanded action.

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Religious leaders called for accountability.

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The movement grew rapidly.

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People from different tribes joined together.

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People from different religions stood side by side.

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People from different regions marched together.

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For once, the things that united them were stronger than the things that divided them.

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Daniel watched the events carefully.

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Something felt different.

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This was not merely anger.

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This was awakening.

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---

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At the University Square, thousands of young people gathered beneath the hot afternoon sun.

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Many carried placards.

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Others carried photographs of loved ones lost to violence, poverty, or neglect.

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The atmosphere was emotional.

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Yet peaceful.

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One by one, speakers addressed the crowd.

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A teacher spoke about failing schools.

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A doctor spoke about collapsing hospitals.

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A farmer spoke about insecurity.

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A graduate spoke about unemployment.

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Every speech revealed another wound.

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Another reason the nation continued bleeding.

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Then a young woman named Amara stepped onto the stage.

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The crowd became quiet.

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She looked no older than twenty-five.

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Yet her voice carried remarkable strength.

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"They told us we are the leaders of tomorrow."

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The crowd listened.

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"But tomorrow has been postponed for too long."

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Applause erupted.

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"They told us to be patient."

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More applause.

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"We have been patient."

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Cheers echoed across the square.

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"They told us to wait."

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The crowd roared.

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"We have waited."

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She raised her voice.

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"Now we demand change."

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The crowd exploded.

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For several minutes, chants filled the air.

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Not chants of hatred.

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Not chants of violence.

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But chants of hope.

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Chants demanding a better future.

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---

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Meanwhile, inside government offices, concern was growing.

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Politicians who had ignored public frustration for years suddenly became nervous.

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Reports arrived daily.

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Demonstrations were spreading.

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Public trust was collapsing.

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Citizens were demanding answers.

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For years, leaders had underestimated the people.

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Now they were beginning to understand something important.

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A hungry population can endure.

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A poor population can survive.

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But a population that loses faith becomes unpredictable.

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And millions were losing faith.

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One evening, Daniel met Hassan at a small café.

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The journalist looked exhausted.

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Yet hopeful.

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"I think something is changing," Hassan said.

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Daniel nodded.

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"I feel it too."

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For years, they had documented suffering.

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Exposed corruption.

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Recorded broken promises.

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Now they were witnessing something new.

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Awareness.

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People were waking up.

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People were connecting the dots.

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People were realizing that many of their problems shared the same roots.

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Corruption.

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Greed.

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Bad leadership.

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Division.

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And once people understand the cause of their suffering, they begin seeking solutions.

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---

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Days later, Daniel returned to Ogbara village.

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The community meeting beneath the old tree was larger than ever.

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Young people attended.

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Women attended.

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Farmers attended.

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Teachers attended.

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The atmosphere felt different.

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Hopeful.

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Determined.

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Pa Eze stood before the crowd.

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His old voice remained strong.

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"My people," he began.

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"We have spent years waiting for change."

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The villagers listened carefully.

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"We believed others would save us."

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Silence followed.

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"But nations are not changed by leaders alone."

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He pointed toward the crowd.

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"They are changed by citizens."

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Murmurs spread through the gathering.

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"The future belongs to those willing to build it."

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The crowd nodded.

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For the first time in years, many felt empowered.

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Not because their problems had disappeared.

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But because they realized they had a role to play.

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---

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That night, Daniel sat outside beneath the stars.

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The cool wind moved gently across the land.

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He thought about everything he had witnessed since beginning his journey.

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The grieving mothers.

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The missing children.

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The unemployed youths.

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The forgotten communities.

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The corruption.

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The broken promises.

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The suffering.

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The pain.

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The nation had bled deeply.

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Its wounds were real.

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Its scars were visible.

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Yet something new was emerging from that pain.

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Courage.

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The courage to speak.

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The courage to question.

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The courage to demand better.

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The courage to believe that change was possible.

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Perhaps that was how healing begins.

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Not with politicians.

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Not with speeches.

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Not with promises.

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But with ordinary people refusing to surrender.

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Refusing to accept injustice as normal.

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Refusing to remain silent.

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As Daniel looked toward the horizon, he noticed the first light of dawn appearing in the distance.

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The darkness had not disappeared completely.

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Challenges still remained.

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Corruption still existed.

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Insecurity still threatened lives.

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Poverty still burdened millions.

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But dawn was coming.

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Slowly.

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Steadily.

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Unstoppably.

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And for the first time in a very long time, Daniel smiled.

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Because the cry for change was no longer a whisper.

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It had become a movement.

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And movements have the power to change nations.

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The bleeding nation was still wounded.

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But perhaps, just perhaps, its healing had finally begun.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0L6ghiHwEX

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