So, he said yes……
For some reason, I feel it necessary to update my readers on an earlier post. Last month, you may remember that Zoë and Zane wrote a letter to the President of the United States. It was a simple, childlike (they are just six and five years old respectively) yet impassioned plea for an end to the war in Iraq. If you haven’t read the post, please take a minute to catch yourself up. You can find it here. Go ahead. I’ll wait.
To date, the war in Iraq has totaled over 3,800 military deaths and by some counts upwards of 75,000 civilian casualties since the initial invasion in 2003. Couple that with the almost untold numbers of military and civilian wounded and injured and the numbers seem unfathomable. This war has affected every single person in this country directly or indirectly. There are no six degrees of separation here. Everyone I know either has a family member, neighbor, friend, or acquaintance that has in some way been involved in or affected by the war in Iraq. It’s easy to see how a small child learning that the world can be a cruel place would be just a tad bit concerned. Today, Zoë and Zane received a response from their letters.
“Zoë. You got a letter today.”
“I did?! From who? Who’s it from? Can I see it? Let me see!!!”
(Zoë doesn’t get a whole lot of mail so it’s a pretty big deal to her.)
“It’s from The White House. Do you know who lives in The White House?”
“Uhmm…(Pause, pause) (Big look of surprise) The President!! He got my letter?”
“Yes, he did, Zoë. Let’s see what he said…..”
I think the easiest way to do this is to actually show you the letters that Zane and Zoë wrote. Zane’s letter was typed but was his exact dictation. Zoë’s letter is exactly as she wrote it, unedited.
Notice how Zoë signed her letter…. Love, Zoë. She also can’t help but draw at least one picture on every piece of paper she touches. Not a malicious bone in her body. And now….the response. (Zoë and Zane received the exact same letter.)
So after reading the letter Zoë says, “So he said yes?”
“Not so much, Zoë. But at least we know he got your letter.”
Let us not become complacent. Continue to lobby for a quick resolution to the war and let’s get our guys and girls safely back home. Contact The White House with your concerns.
