Dear Mr. President
We put a U.S. map up on Raimi’s wall and Kevin had the idea to put push pins in the places where family & friends live. Cousins Max and Jack got a pin just north of the edge of the map. Raimi got very interested in the little stars designating capitals of states so I pointed out the star for Washington, D.C., the capital of our whole country and where the President lives.
Raimi has heard me talk about the President, so that’s probably why he asked, “and the war? where is the war?” He was gesturing in the vicinity of Maine.
I answered, “oh, the war isn’t in this country. It’s very far away, across the ocean in a country called Iraq.”
“Let’s put a pin for Iraq.” We chose a blue pin put it pretty far away on the adjacent wall. We decided blue was for peace, so when we looked at it we would wish for peace in Iraq. “Yeah,” he said, “let’s tell the President.”
I asked him if he’d really like that and suggested we could write a letter to President Bush. We got paper and pen and some stickers (vehicles and bugs) and Raimi decorated the page and told me what to write. He suggested that I say “War is bad. And sad. Say sad. And peace. Say peace.” I asked a few questions about what he wants the President to know, and here’s what we came up with — Raimi’s first letter to an elected official:
Dear Mr. President,
War is bad and sad. It’s not
ok to fight. You should use your words.
We’re wishing for peace in Iraq.
There are children in Iraq who
don’t want a war in their country.
Sincerely,
Raimi Rippey
Age 4
Urbana, IL
as dictated to his mom: Rosalie Rippey, Urbana, IL