Wednesday, March 5, 2008

You are just amazing, Caroline.

Dear Caroline,

For the last few weeks you have been coming home and telling me about the forest just behind your school playground and about how currently it is being chopped down. You don't know why it's being chopped down, but you do know it upsets you. You have said this to me many times and very expressively. You have explained to me that those "chopper men" are "destroying our trees and air". And you have announced to me today that you will make a poster, gather your friends at lunch tomorrow, stand at the fence and hold your poster up to the chopper men and "protest".

Why those men are chopping down those trees, I couldn't say. It might be absolutely necessary, and it is likely that you holding up your little sign will be completely ignored by those men. It is also not inconceivable that some of the adults in your school will tell you to stop and go away and not rock the boat.

It doesn't matter.

You are using, for the first time, your right to protest and speak up. You will learn over time which battles are worth fighting and you will learn the right way to go about fighting them. You will learn that what works for one situation may not work for another. But for now, you are bravely standing up for what means something to you and you are not afraid.

I am proud of you. Proud that you are concerned about your world and the people who share it with you. You like your fairytales and play like any other kid, but they obviously don't rule you, and your worldview is very wide. I didn't provoke this or encourage you to do it---I can take no credit--you have decided on this action yourself. Where you got the idea, I don't know, and what makes you so sensitive to what is going on around you, I don't know either. But I am bursting inside to have such an aware, courageous, action-oriented human being in my life. I stand in awe of your fire and world-patriotism.

No matter what happens tomorrow, I'm rooting for you and your burgeoning spirit and responsible citizenship. I love you so much and I am so blessed to know you.


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2 comments:

Leslie said...

I am so proud of you, Caroline!!! Your mother has taught you well.

:)

Bubbleyumgirl said...

Aww, she's growing up!! What a wise little girl you've raised. I know what you mean about feeling blessed to know your daughter. I hope that feeling never goes away for you. :)