resident Bush made a simple request of the nation's youth yesterday: Feed the starving children of Afghanistan and show the world the size of America's heart.Posted on 10/13/2001, 9:59:50 AM by kattracks
Bush's plea to U.S. children
stirs instant debate
resident Bush made a simple request of the nation's youth yesterday: Feed the starving children of Afghanistan and show the world the size of America's heart.
"By embracing Afghan children, we assert the American ideal," the President said. "Our nation is the greatest force for good in the world history."
But as word of Bush's request spread, teachers, students and parents debated the merits of asking every child to send $1 to the White House for Afghan relief, and there was not total agreement.
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| President Bush holds first dollar bill donated to America's Fund for Afghan Children, given yesterday by 6-year-old Justin Washington of Miami. |
"As a parent, anyone who has nothing to eat, while we have plenty, we should help," said Johnny Zamot, a musician and substitute teacher at Public School 20 on Manhattan's lower East Side.
But Mel Tuerack, a physical education teacher there, disagreed.
"This is war. Food is a powerful tool, and I don't think the President is using the tool properly," he said. "We should tell the Afghans: We will feed you if you become an ally and get rid of your government. You want to be fed? Then you have to be on our side."
Another Fund Drive?
Similar debates were being held in classrooms and at dinner tables across the city.
Schools that had launched fund drives to help victims of the World Trade Center attacks weighed this latest request.
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The children's dollars should be sent to: |
"When we've raised that money, we'll take up money for the children in Afghanistan," said Gloria Mendez, assistant principal at St. Paul Community Christian School in East New York, Brooklyn.
"The children don't know what it's like to be hungry or not to have medicine," Mendez said. "And we are teaching them that America is not in a war against the people of Afghanistan. American is at war with terrorists."
Other schools, like Manhattan's PS 20, were more divided.
"It is something to consider. But we have children who lost parents in the World Trade Center attacks. Sometimes charity needs to start at home," said Principal Len Golubchick.
Bush said the aid would be a way to show the world, and Muslims in particular, that America's war against terrorism is not aimed at the innocent people of Afghanistan.
The last time a President launched such a campaign was during the Depression, when Franklin Roosevelt asked American kids to send dimes to the White House to fight dreaded, then-incurable polio.
In four months during 1938, 2.6 million dimes arrived at the White House. Bush modernized the idea by asking for a dollar — which he said is worth about what a dime was 63 years ago.
He said his administration would work with the Red Cross to make sure the money bought food and medicine for Afghan kids.
But skepticism remained.
"How do we know that the money will actually go to the families and children in Afghanistan? The money might go to the military there to buy more weapons," said 10-year-old Ramery DeLuna, a sixth-grader at PS 20.
Kids' Sympathies Vary
Fellow sixth-grader Dianne Cruz agreed: "The people who lost family in the World Trade Center should get any money first."
Ten-year-old Anik Ahmed, part of PS 20's large Bangladeshi population, said, "There are many good people there who are not involved in this, and who would help us if we were hungry."
Afghans were being brutalized by their own government and deserved help, Anik said, adding: "The Taliban is beating up people, beating up ladies who don't wear scarves. They need food and help."
Eleven-year-old Laura Cruz agreed. "The children there didn't bomb us. We should help families who need it. They can't help where they live."
Where do you think little "Ramery" heard that?Mommy and Daddy or the Liberal NYC 6th grade teacher?
It is a kid thing "No Adults Allowed"
I was referring to the article:
Similar debates were being held in classrooms and at dinner tables across the city.
Schools that had launched fund drives to help victims of the World Trade Center attacks weighed this latest request.
"When we've raised that money, we'll take up money for the children in Afghanistan," said Gloria Mendez, assistant principal at St. Paul Community Christian School in East New York, Brooklyn.
That's all :)
And I'd lay a bet that the same liberal Mommy and Daddy and teacher think it's unconscionable that we still have economic sanctions against Iraq. Because the idea came from Pres. Bush, the liberals are going to hate it--no other reason than that.
I'm reminded of an old Sam Kinison routine........
My daughter is only 8 months old, but her mother had a great idea after listening to President Bush's speech. We printed out some pictures of Rachel and I took them to work where my co-workers donated a dollar for a picture. Rachel can now send $10 to the President and we'll do our best to document the event so she can learn about how she was able to help even though she was too young to understand.
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