As part of a letter-writing lesson at the school where I was teaching until last week, my young students wrote to George Bush during the outbreak of the Second Gulf War. Recently, someone commented that he would like to see some of the letters my students wrote to George Bush. Now, they’re a bit dated, as they were written on March 22nd of 2003, but, I think they’re still interesting. Sure, some kids are only repeating (via translation) what they’ve heard from their parents, or on the news… but the anger they’re expressing is surprisingly strong considering how far away everything was happening; the blunt questions seem to me to be the ones that not one reporter had dared to ask Bush at the time, and the simple (and somewhat sensible) logic of their morality is, if not completely applicable, at least a reminder that perhaps there is such a thing as right and wrong, even in politics, and perhaps our leaders are too often not called to task when they ignore the fact.
Anyway, here are the most interesting of the letters, from two classes of kids: the first three are from kids who are twelve and thirteen, and the rest (including the incredible last one) are from eleven year olds. All of these kids, every single last one of them, is writing in his or her second language.
I’ve left out last names. I assume using real names is alright, because these are just kids. They weren’t coached, and they are just speaking their minds.
*
Dear George Bush,
Hello. I’m Sae Nal. I live in Korea, and I’m thirteen years old.
Why are you war with Iraq? It is not good. Hosein haven’t any dangerous weapons. Are you crazy? You father is better you. Because he let the UN. Please stop war.
Yours truly,
Sae Nal
*
Dear George Bush,
Hello. I am Jae Ho.
You are so crazy. Please stop to the war. Don’t stop to the war, very many people die. So you stop to the war…
Your truly,
Jae Ho.
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Dear George Bush,
Hello, President of the USA.
My name is Hye Rim. I live in Korea. I’m 12 years old. I have one sister.
I heard yesterday
USA and Iraq had war. So I’m scaring of war. I don’t have the war. I think you’re crazy and psycho. I want you throw in the garbage. Many people think so too… so you don’t have the war. I don’t like war.
Yours truly,
Hye Rim
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Dear George Bush,
I am Se Rin. I live in Korea.
You’re terrible and bad. I’m angry.
Se Rin.
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Dear George Bush.
I am Ji, I live in Oyang Dong (in Korea). No war Iraq. You are very psycho and terrible and stupid. You USA president. You war don’t do that.
Sincerely,
Ji
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Dear George Bush,
I am Soo-Wan.
You are bad and foolish. and don’t fight Iraq. And many person are dead of you. You has to be a good boy.
bye-bye
Sincerely,
Soo-Wan
*
Dear George Bush,
I am Korean. you’re terrible person. Don’t fight Iraq! I like America. But I don’t like war Iraq! Why you war Iraq? Start war many person are kill. and many many person are don’t like you. so you don’t fight Iraq? Ok?
bye-bye
Sincerely,
Soo In.
*
Dear George Bush,
You is a so-so boy.
Goodbye,
Jin Hee.
*
Dear George Bush,
Hello. I’m Jeong-yeon. I live in Iksan, Korea. America makes war against Iraq now. Do you like war? Many people are afraid of war. Don’t you like Iraq? I don’t like Hoosein, but I don’t hate Iraq. War is bad. Then we have to finish the war soon. Because if we do the war for a long time, lots of people dead and hurt. Do you want have oil? I don’t want to have any war. Many countries are against with war. World people think peace is better than war, and they want peace. I think you too. I want you to stop the war and try to have world peace.
Goodbye. 2003-3-22
From Jeong-yeon