First Lady: Turn Off TVs on 9 / 11

AP via NYTimes.com ^ | 9/6/02

[GeneD]

Filed at 10:28 p.m. ET

WASHINGTON (AP) -- First lady Laura Bush is asking parents to turn off the television on Sept. 11 and instead read to their children and perhaps light a memorial candle.

``Don't let your children see the images, especially on Sept. 11, when you know it'll probably be on television again and again -- the plane hitting the building or the buildings falling,'' Mrs. Bush said in an interview Friday with Univision, a Spanish-language TV network.

Photos and videotaped images of that day already are appearing in TV newscasts, newspapers and magazines as the country prepares to remember the more than 3,000 people killed when hijacked planes crashed into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and Somerset, Pa.

Parents who decide to allow their older children to watch television on the anniversary should limit the time they spend in front of the set, Mrs. Bush said.

Children need assurance they are safe, and it's important to remember and mourn those who died and support victims' families, she said.

The heroes need to be remembered, too, she said.

``We saw a handful of people do something so horrible, but then we saw so many other people, on the other hand, do good things. The firemen, policemen, rescue workers -- the children themselves,'' Mrs. Bush said. ``It's really great for families to figure out ways to let their children be involved and be helpful.''

She encouraged parents to read and spend time with their children to comfort them.

``I also think it's a time if parents want to do this, especially if your children are a little older, to have a little, you know, memorial service of your own. Maybe light a candle,'' Mrs. Bush told Telemundo, another Spanish-language TV network, in a separate interview broadcast Friday.

The first lady, speaking in English, recalled how insecure she and other Americans felt after learning of the attacks but said security has improved since then.

However, people still need to be aware she said, repeating advice her husband, President Bush, gave Americans last year.

``I do believe we're a safer nation. I really do,'' Mrs. Bush said. ``I think many Americans are vigilant, not only is our government ... but I think in general the American people are doing the same thing.''

``I really want to encourage people to continue to do that, to go about your life in a normal way but to be vigilant.''

In a third interview, with ABC's ``This Week With Same Donaldson and Cokie Roberts,'' Mrs. Bush recalled that a reporter asked her what parents should tell their children. ``And I think really that's when it first occurred to me that we had say something to our children.''

``I mean, my children are grown, and I still felt like I had to reassure them,'' said Mrs. Bush, whose twin daughters Jenna and Barbara are 20 years old. ``And then, to be perfectly frank, I called my mother because I wanted her to reassure me.''

The ABC interview was taped Friday for broadcast Sunday.

[GeneD]

Aaaaaaa-MEN, sister.

[areafiftyone]

She is such a caring person. Her daughters are lucky to have a mother like her.

[rintense]

Yes, and keep your kids out of public schools where they'll be told that the attacks were OUR fault!

[SouthernFreebird]

The first lady, speaking in English,

Whats up with that?

[ventana]

This is great advice she gives. However, this is not a safer nation. Bill Gertz's assertion that there are at least five thousand Al Queda activists or sympathizers at large in our land indicates this. V's wife.

[Corin Stormhands]

Whats up with that?

The previous one usually spoke in Chinese or Russian...

[bayareablues]

Unrelated but similar: History channel aired program last night in Spanish with English subtitles. I was stunned.

[shiva]

LOL!

[evolved_rage]

Mrs. Bush said in an interview Friday with Univision, a Spanish-language TV network.

[Shermy]

LOL!

Best reply
of the day.

[Arkinsaw]

I have to disagree. My kids have seen the images and had them explained. They understand fully the price of freedom. I showed them the film of the military personnel fleeing the Pentagon in an almost moblike way, as they leave the fenced in area someone shouts or bullhorns that people are trapped and that volunteers are needed immediately.....that crowd of military personnel TO A MAN (and plenty of women) ALL take one glance back at the Pentagon and then ALL turn back and start RUNNING back to the fire. God that makes me proud and I'm proud for my kids to see it.

The NEA and the television networks are not going to sugarcoat it for my kids. We aren't going to light a memorial candle but are going to fly the Betsy Ross. We will watch the scenes of destruction again and we will talk about it, what it means, what we have done about it in the last year, what we are probably going to do about it in the next year, and how much we owe those who are going to do it for us.

[PoorMuttly]

That's nice and all...very sweet and thoughtful...

but while I was still a very young boy, my father brought me to see "Judgement at Nuremburg" with his G.I. buddies at Fort Dix...and I was horrified...but being with Real men...enlisted men and officers...who actually fought these bums to the death for all of us...

I am still, eternally grateful to him for exposing me to the disgusting truth about what is done in this beautiful and horrible world...while holding my hand.

[Miss Marple]

My one disagreement with you would be for pre-school children, who can't understand political and military stuff.

The reason I say this is because my grandson, who saw a lot of the initial coverage, had a skewed idea of what had happened, which we only discovered by accident.

Children 9 or older, I agree with you. Children 5-9, parents should use their judgement. Under 5, send them outside to play.

[Cindy]

Mrs. Bush said (according to this article), "``We saw a handful of people do something so horrible, but then we saw so many other people, on the other hand, do good things. The firemen, policemen, rescue workers -- the children themselves,'' Mrs. Bush said. ``It's really great for families to figure out ways to let their children be involved and be helpful.'' "

FACTS are encouraged on FR. Anyone who has been following this War on Terror this past year KNOW FOR A FACT that there were a lot more bad guys involved in the planning, plotting, propagandizing, recruiting, grooming, training, and funding the September 11th attacks (and future attacks) than just "a handful of people." Any child who studies history should be studying THE FACTS.

SEPTEMBER 11, 2001: ATTACK ON AMERICA! (click here)

[don-o]

You know what?

I do not look to Washington DC, no matter who is talking from there, to advise me on how to raise my kids.

It is a sad commentary that Mrs Dubya allows herself to be used as the "First Mama."

[Hunble]

Lady Bush - the TV will be OFF!

[Arkinsaw]

I'm in agreement with that. My kids are 8 and 11. I don't let them watch movies with violence (I did let my daughter finally see 'The Patriot' after much thought and with instructions to cover her eyes when instructed). They are actually pretty sheltered. But this is not gratuitous violence its reality.

[Ditter]

Did you voice a complaint? If not you should have.

[Hunble]

It is a sad commentary that Mrs Dubya allows herself to be used as the "First Mama."

Not to cause any problems, but did you ever say this about Mama Clinton?