Ah, Mr. President, Come And Sit With Me For A While
Posted: Wednesday, April 22, 2009
by Susan Thom
I have always wanted kids, Mr. President, ever since I was a little girl. I would play with my dolls for hours, nurturing with every ounce of my being. My dream was to have kids, and love them, take care of them, guide them, and instill good morals and appropriate boundaries. I was able to do so to the degree I could. A daughter and two sons to give back to the world. Three kids to add to the causes that need to be addressed for their world.
You were there when my daughter's tire came off; twice! You protected them at these concerts where bashing into people is the norm, and walking around New York was fun. Mr. President, you have two girls, and I believe we share the feelings we have for our children. Words really don't do those feelings justice, do they? We can't imagine anything happening to them, and when our minds should get stuck on a scenario where they would be hurt, we cry.
Why then, Mr. President, don't you put a cap on rent across the board, according to size of the apartment or house to be rented? My kids can't afford to live a decent life outside the walls of this home, because they can't afford anything. Rents are high, so they live with others, never giving them the responsibility or the privacy they should have. If they don't get along with the others, it doesn't make for a very happy lifestyle.
Why don't you raise the minimum wage? Who can live on such a small dollar amount, when everything else is so much more expensive in comparison? Car insurance is a joke. You pay in for years, and if you should get a ticket, or get into an accident, your premiums either go so high you can't afford them, or you are dropped. Never mind all the years you paid in and never used it.
Food has skyrocketed, and many young adults on their own, can't even eat properly, it's too expensive! What can be done? My daughter and my son have been asking themselves that for two years, while trying to make it out in the world. They have worked physically taxing jobs in order to get a pay check. They aren't even out of the house more than those couple of years, and they lived in bad neighborhoods, and with others, simply to survive.
Living at home would be defeat, so they struggled on. And then, the ideas, the suggestions, the gravity to the enlistment office. They are willing to take the chance that they will have to fight for their country, in order to make enough money to live. I think the percentage of recruits that joins the military to fight for their country is considerably lower than we would think. I don't understand the mindset that would be excited to go off to war and see bloodshed and blown off limbs, and chance getting shot themselves. It is the only place left where many, especially the young, can survive.
Mr. President, I will have two children in the military during wartime. I, myself, didn't have the money needed to send them to prestigious colleges, and they really didn't know what they wanted to do. I admire their choice, their dedication to the cause if need be, their stamina, and their desire to make their lives better. If rents were lower, and paychecks were larger, and there was a cap on car insurance fees, maybe they'd be okay.
Maybe these choices were made out of destiny and fate. I can accept that. I hope they will make you proud with their contributions, but Mr. President, what do I do in the meantime? How do I not worry about the things my children might see, what they might have to do, maybe kill other human beings? Think about your two daughters.
I feel no less for my two children than you do for yours. Is there anything you can do? Can't we explore other options than sending more troops off to war? Can't we bring back the ones still there?
Ah, Mr. President, come and sit with me for a while.
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Top-level comments on this article: (5 total)Sock it to him Susan, let him and others know how you feel.Please log in to respond to this comment.hi david,thanks for reading and commenting.i am very proud of my kids for having the insight and courage to do what they are doing, and believe me, they love their country, as i do, but when the military becomes the only option for our young to get ahead, i feel there is something wrong. i wish there were other options.all my best to you,suePlease log in to respond to this comment.Yes Susan, there was a time when a young man/woman could dare to dream and make their dreams come true. Of course we cannot blame the president (directly) the whole world is troubled today. I keep looking at the bright side and hope some day all the people will wake up and live right.Please log in to respond to this comment.h david,i have that same hope. i think honest communication is the key.my best,suePlease log in to respond to this comment.
Hi Sue, great letter. Straight from the heart and well written to boot.I like you style! Hugs, tPlease log in to respond to this comment.hi t,thanks for stopping by, and reading and commenting.it's a sad state of affairs in our world, i can only pray it gets better.my best to you,suePlease log in to respond to this comment.
Howdy Susan, what a wonderful and heartfelt letter. Did you send it? You can you know, the only other thing that I would have added is to put a cap on Medical Care as well. Most of these students don't even have a health insurance that they can afford, even at their young age. Its like the car insurance, if they are young, they are a risk, and if they are older, and they get involved even once in their adult life, they are a risk, there is no happy medium. My son works for an outfit called Tom's farm, and they don't offer health care, so here he is with 2 boys, and he has to pay a huge sum of money for health care for the wife and kids, and has to omit himself, because he simply can't afford it....I'm with you on this one, I think you should send it in, they say the president does go through his email, I have sent a couple of issues since President Obama has been in office....Great article, and wonderful read, and sooooooooooooooooooo true......Your fan, and friend in pen......GaryPlease log in to respond to this comment.hi gary,thank you for reading and commenting.i am proud of my kids, and the strength of character and will power that it is taking them to get a handle on this life of ours, but i think it's a sad state of affairs when we as a nation, can't get our act together, in 2009, and stop the wars that take our young, cripple them, mame them, blind them, burn them, affect their psyche, and possibly, kill them, all so they can make something of their lives. (almost 5,000 now)i have e mailed the President before, and will send this along, too, at your suggestion.thank you for your time,my best regards,suePlease log in to respond to this comment.
Hi Sue--Very well written letter/article--I thought you put it together with great style and feeling--and Sue, my sincere hope for your children is that they all stay healthy and whole!Stev ePlease log in to respond to this comment.
hi steve,thanks for reading and commenting.it's nice to hear from you again.i would have never thought this was in the cards, but then, there's so much that doesn't fit into our plans, and yet happens in our lives.i pray all kids stay happy and healthy as well.my best regards,suePlease log in to respond to this comment.
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