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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTen Yr Old Girl Writes To Obama About Her Two Gay Dads, Obama Writes Back
Obama Responds to 10-Year-Old's Heartfelt Letter About Her Dads
The Cute, It Burns
Apparently, a ten year old girl wrote President Obama last week to thank him for his position in favor of gay marriage (aka marriage equality).
You see, the girl, Sophia Bailey Klugh, has two dads. But Sophia mentioned something else in her letter. Some kids at school make fun of her because she has two days, and she says it hurts my feelings. She then asks the President what she should do about it.
Thank you for writing me such a thoughtful letter about your family. Reading it made me proud to be your president and even more hopeful about the future of our nation.
In America, no two families look the same. We celebrate this diversity. And we recognize that whether you have two dads or one mom what matters above all is the love we show one another. You are very fortunate to have two parents who care deeply for you. They are lucky to have such an exceptional daughter in you.
Our differences unite us. You and I are blessed to live in a country where we are born equal no matter what we look like on the outside, where we grow up, or who our parents are. A good rule is to treat others the way you hope they will treat you. Remind your friends at school about this rule if they say something that hurts your feelings.
Thanks again for taking the time to write me. I'm honored to have your support and inspired by your compassion. I'm sorry I couldn't make it to dinner, but I'll be sure to tell Sasha and Malia you say hello.
Sincerely,
Barack Obama
MORE:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jamie-mcgonnigal/obama-responds-to-10-year-olds-heartfelt-letter-about-her-dads_b_2074213.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices
http://americablog.com/2012/11/obama-romney-gay-rights-marriage.html
closeupready
(29,503 posts)faithfulcitizen
(3,191 posts)winterpark
(168 posts)truebrit71
(20,805 posts)1gobluedem
(6,664 posts)So heartwarming.
Cha
(297,652 posts)freshwest
(53,661 posts)Whisp
(24,096 posts)There is none other like our Barack Obama, the world's Barack Obama. The man with the soft heart made of steel.
6502
(249 posts)AsahinaKimi
(20,776 posts)dangerdoll
(32 posts)yardwork
(61,703 posts)Ninga
(8,277 posts)letter.
I shed a few more at the response.
I can live with my choices....I am proud of my un qualifying respect for differences. Life is just too short to be otherwise.
goclark
(30,404 posts)to say anything - maybe a President would send a card.
Not this President, I can't stop crying happy tears.
Care Acutely
(1,370 posts)So happy this man will remain in the White House.
TDale313
(7,820 posts)AtomicKitten
(46,585 posts)That's what a leader is supposed to do ... lead. Yes it took him a while for his come to Jesus moment, but it was the same sex parent families he met that moved him and that is a beautiful metamorphosis. His legacy will be repeal of the discriminatory DADT and DOMA, something we all can be proud of particularly in the face of such strident opposition.
Cha
(297,652 posts)Lilyeye
(1,417 posts)reflection
(6,286 posts)NotThisTime
(3,657 posts)step forward. I was that girl many years ago.
Nika
(546 posts)I just voted for President Obama today, and this story makes me even more proud and happy I did.
MynameisBlarney
(2,979 posts)Srsly. It's all in my eyes right now.
Mad_Dem_X
(9,565 posts)I love that she invited him to dinner.
Our President is such a good man.
Initech
(100,102 posts)BelleCarolinaPeridot
(9,609 posts)Rob H.
(5,352 posts)Okay, I admit that I got choked up both from Sophia's letter and the President's response. He's exactly right.
(Can you imagine Romney writing something this heartfelt to anyone, much less to a little girl about her two dads? I sure as hell can't!)
David Zephyr
(22,785 posts)K&R.
Jennicut
(25,415 posts)This is why Mitt Romney cannot become President among many other reasons.
This is what I teach my daughters. To treat others as the way you hope they treat you.
JNelson6563
(28,151 posts)*sniff*
trailmonkee
(2,681 posts)mnhtnbb
(31,402 posts)We have the choice between a President who counsels a young girl to live by the Golden Rule or a man who bullied a fellow student--who was gay--by holding him down and cutting his hair.
I love the President's advice: "A good rule is to treat others the way you hope they will treat you. Remind your friends at school about this rule if they say something that hurts your feelings."
allan01
(1,950 posts)aww. and GASP , a real postal letter to boot
bravo. made my day and , and he wrote back !!!!!!!!!!!!
ChaoticTrilby
(211 posts)Romney would never even reply to such a letter; he'd probably scowl at it in disgust and then toss it in the trash. Assuming it would reach him at all, of course.
Duval
(4,280 posts)What a beautiful and inspiring exchange. I wish everyone could read this.
forestpath
(3,102 posts)hifiguy
(33,688 posts)MurrayDelph
(5,301 posts)I just read the letter to my wife, and we got both misty.
And I had to agree with when she said that she wished we hadn't already voted for President Obama last week, 'cause it makes us want to go right and vote for him again.
Marrah_G
(28,581 posts)I do honestly believe that people can change and the best way to change hearts and minds is show them, up close and personal that LGBT families are the same as any other and that it is about love, family and commitment and not just about sex.
Behind the Aegis
(53,986 posts)Evergreen Emerald
(13,069 posts)I was driving a group of elementary kids home from the pumpkin patch one day. One of the girls said, "I have two moms." She was talking about her two lesbian mothers. She may have been testing the waters to see what the response of her peers would be. The girl behind her said, "I have three dads." She was talking about her bio dad, adopted dad, step dad. The boy in the back said, "I have two moms and two dads." (Step and bio). The conversation continued as all of the children talked about the types of families they have. My daughter said, "my sister is a cat."
There were no value judgements amongst the children. They were discussing the different types of families have.
WoodyD
(215 posts)That is officially the best thing I've read all day.
Window
(7,265 posts)SaveAmerica
(5,342 posts)clydefrand
(4,325 posts)Our president believes in the golden rule. When I was a teacher, I had that on the board in front of my students. That is the best rule forever...If only we would all use it.
TahitiNut
(71,611 posts)Makes it hard to see the monitor.
MadrasT
(7,237 posts)StepnKretchit
(60 posts)Our President truly cares.
pinstikfartherin
(500 posts)Emcee Cee Low E
(18 posts)As I filled out my ballot, I thought about how happy I was when I got to marry my lovely bride, Jill. I can't imagine how unsatisfying it would have been if I would have been forced to settle for a civil union.
I also thought about my friend Darren and his partner Michael. A couple who have been together longer than BOTH of my marriages put together. I thought about how dedicated they are to each other. And I thought, "Do they deserve the same joy and happiness that marriage brings me?" And, of course, I answered 'yes'.
Cheers to Darren and Michael and to all those other beautiful lovers out there who will finally be welcomed into the club.
Iwillnevergiveup
(9,298 posts)A race we all belong to. Two beautiful letters - very endearing because they are so human.
Egnever
(21,506 posts)America will have done itself a huge disservice.
I cant bear the thought of it.
Please let those polls be right! Please get people out to vote!
outsideworld
(601 posts)RetiredTrotskyite
(1,507 posts)That's just beautiful. Obama has a big heart. My husband and I hae voted and we pray that Obama wins a second term.
LittleGirl
(8,291 posts)A couple of years ago, my neighbor and I were chatting and he invited me and my husband over to celebrate his marriage to his partner. We were new to the block so he was somewhat hesitant to say what he was saying. They were driving to Iowa to get married and having a party when they returned from their honeymoon. He was saying that (at the time) 5 states recognized their marriage (not Indiana) and I just got choked up. I had to bite my lip and he stopped in mid-sentence and hugged me. I said, I'm so sorry that this country doesn't recognize your marriage like it should be. We've been friends since.
zonkers
(5,865 posts)Terra Alta
(5,158 posts)I had tears in my eyes as I read this. I really hope Obama wins today, so families such as Sophias will be recognized as equal to families with a mother and a father. The kids teasing her are cruel. Hopefully they will grow up and realize they were wrong, and that all families are equal.
a la izquierda
(11,797 posts)What a sweet kid and a wonderfully human president.
AlbertCat
(17,505 posts)..... nothing, because he's nobody's hero....
Imagine what a Prez Romney would have written!
WoodyD
(215 posts)I didnt know those people had kids. I know something about teasing and bullying in school, so my advice to you on that subject would be to always have your wingmen handy, because someone has to hold the guy down and youll need both hands free to cut his hair off.
I know some people might say Im opposed to gay people, and thats simply not true. Im happy to take their campaign contributions. Im only opposed to them having civil rights. Id tell you to ask your dads to vote for me, but that would be silly because they cant vote. Which also makes sense, because democracy is a sacred union between one man and his billionaire backers. So I hope that clears things up.
Now I have to go put the finishing touches on my acceptance speech. One percent of Americans are going to love it!
Insincerely,
President Romney
Citizen Jane
(519 posts)She thinks that he is mean and "evil" because of his attitude about families like her friends'. As my daughter says, "You love who you love and E. and C.'s (fraternal twins girl and boy) Dads ought to have the same rights as you and Daddy do!" She says the same goes for her friends with two Mommies as well.
Of course she also feels bad for E. as the only girl in a house with three boys, LOL!