Headline: A MOTHER'S LETTER EXPLAINS THE CRISIS TO HER DAUGHTER
Reporter: By Greg Freeman

Publication: ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Last Printed:  Tue., Sep. 27, 2001
Section: METRO, Page: B1, Edition: FIVE STAR LIFT

In the aftermath of the attacks Sept. 11 on the United States, many parents have found themselves wondering what to tell their children.
  
Should they give a rose-colored picture, telling them everything is OK? Or should they tell their youngsters that these are frightening times, that we may be attacked again, and that America's veneer of invulnerability has been punctured?
   The experts seem divided on this. Some suggest that parents say nothing at all, especially to young children. Others say parents should wait for their children to ask them about what's going on around them.
  
But perhaps the best folks to make this judgment are parents themselves.

Sandra Robinson of Northwoods chose to write a letter to her 13-year-old daughter to discuss what has occurred. Robinson shared the letter with me, and gave me permission to share it with you:

Dear Brandy,

I never thought I'd have to write this letter. But I think it's important for me to do so. You are a smart young woman, and I've always told myself that I would be perfectly honest with you.

I am a proud American. This may come as something of a surprise to you, because I've never been a person who flies flags or that kind of thing.
   Despite that, I am a proud African-American. I am proud of my heritage and I am proud of my country.
   You may wonder why I am proud of my country, being a black woman who has had to deal with prejudice all my life, both because of my color and because I am a woman.
   But I learned a long time ago that life isn't fair. You have two choices in life, deal with it or die. If you deal with it, you stand a chance of making your circumstances better. If you die, you've just given up. You know I've never been a quitter.

What we're seeing now is scary. But it's important that we be strong.
   Your grandfather fought in World War II. I'm sure he was afraid. But he kept on, and we won.  Your great-grandfather fought in World War I. That had to be scary. But he kept on, and we won.
   It wasn't easy for either of them to go to war, especially when Americans, the people on our side, were questioning whether they would be loyal.  But they were.  They fought hard and they protected this country.
   Because of what they did, we can live in this house, you can go to school and get an education every day, and we can enjoy the freedom that we have.

We're lucky to have that freedom. Everyone in the world doesn't have it.
   There are places in this world where women aren't to be seen in public. They're not allowed to go to college or get a job or do anything. They have no choices in their lives. They are raised to serve men and to have their children and serve almost like slaves to them.
   We don't have to do that. You can be anything you want. You can grow up and be the first black woman president of the United States.

That's why I'm proud to be an American. I don't show it on the outside much. I don't have a flag on my car or wear red, white and blue T-shirts, or anything like that. But inside my heart is red, white and blue. I love our country, even when I don't wear it on my sleeve.

I must admit that when I was growing up, I thought the song "God Bless America" was as corny as anything.
   But when I hear it these days, I start to cry. It makes me realize that my life isn't perfect. But I'd rather live here than anywhere else in the world. As you get older, you'll find that to be true too.

Remember, this is our country. Our folks fought for it. People fought so that you and I can vote for whoever we want to, to come and go whenever and wherever we want, to go to church wherever we want to go.  We're about to go off to war to protect these things that so many people fought for.

Be strong, my angel. We will get through this.

Mama


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