As a parent and grandparent, I feel so sorry for Malia and Sasha right now.

[CTyankee]

I hope they are being shielded from the blind bigoted hatred coming from people who call themselves Americans. Not wanting their father, the President, speak to other schoolchildren, not wanting him "allowed" to speak to other schoolchildren in the country that he presides over -- that is devastatingly hurtful. My heart aches for them tonight. I can't imagine, growing up, having my own father the target of such vile hatred and vituperation.

I can only comfort myself in the knowledge that the Obama girls have love all around them, with their parents and grandmother lovingly watching over them. And a school environment that encourages the fine tradition of tolerance and rationality that the Quakers embody.

Rest well tonight Malia and Sasha. Please know there are many, many of us who are carrying you in our hearts...

[treestar]

1. It's better than being a Bush daughter

And sort of wondering if the hatred is deserved!

but then again, none of us were nearly as vile as the right wingers are now.

[Deja Q]

16. Jenna Bush, distinguished teacher and host of a morning tabloid televison program, has this to say:

Maybe because the undeserving brat does this:

[grantcart]

2. I got news for you - Sasha and Malia are two of the luckiest girls on our little rock

They have two fantastic parents.

I know what the President is teaching the kids - a little of this:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzXcNgCr0nk

[CTyankee]

4. Oh, I know that grant. I'm just sorry they have to be subjected to such hatred.

I'm sure not a lot of it gets to them but I doubt whether Obama or Michelle is going to keep them in a cocoon, even if they wanted to.

I just think it is hurtful. I know it would be to me if I were them...

[asdjrocky]

9. Looks like they got a frist rate Grandmother looking out for them too.

[GivePeaceAchance]

3. Last poll I read is that DC had a 90% support rate for President Obama so...

they are in the best place they could be right now.

[RidinMyDonkey]

5. I hope they're doing better than other recent White House kids.

I'm still not over Chelsea Clinton's treatment by the media! She was made into a target, for not being "conventionally attractive." Meanwhile, that Bush twin was falling over drunk, and we barely made a peep.

Sasha and Malia will eventually come to realize how important and beloved their father was to the entire world, even if they can't comprehend it yet at their age.

[Lilyeye]

12. Me too. I esp hope they never got word of those nasty comments from the freepers about Malia.

The sexist and racist attacks on that child made me sick to my stomach and angry. :mad:

[PCIntern]

6. Minorities (including me) know that a lot of people hate us all the time...

whether we're picking up the trash, fixing their teeth, attending to them at the ER, selling tickets at a ball game, repairing the car, selling appliances, receiving Nobel prizes, or being President of the USA.

It was ingrained into me as a very young child that at any moment, someone could take exception, possibly SEVERE exception to my existence and I always would need to be ready to defend myself verbally or physically. spent my entire youth being called various names and it was all expected. Although I carry no grudges against any group of individuals, there are a few folks walking around who would do well not to run into me. I have a very loud mouth and remember every word, gesture, and action taken against me as a child.

[pink-o]

10. You may forgive, but you never forget.

As a white woman, I never had the baleful stares or waves of hatred that my minority friends had to endure. For anyone to treat a child like that just devalues our species, for anyone to revel in their own ignorance just brings the rest of us down that much more. It stuns me that humans can hurt each other and let fear triumph over truth. That someone could watch the tears form in a child's eyes and know they've delivered the blow, yet not feel even a tinge of regret is something I will never understand.

I know it's easy to write these racists off as sad, pathetic fools who're doomed to a sensibility that's anachronistic to the 21st century, but unfortunately, they affect our entire cultural evolution. We should take them seriously, we should work against them and ascertain that they have no validation in the society we strive to live in!

I'm sorry you had to go through what you did. I'm sorry humans are still stupid and xenophobic and afraid. But one-by-one, we can work on the next generation (who see an educated African American president). Kids don't always fall into lockstep with their parents, and human evolution is a gradual process. I just wish we'd get there in my lifetime!

[PCIntern]

14. I'm white...and I'm Jewish and grew up in

a hostile area of semi-rural PA. I won't bore you with stories, but suffice it to say that you don't have to drive far from Philly to get to Alabama.

[pink-o]

19. Yeah, I'm Jewish as well.

Although my last name is obvious to other Ashkenazi--and also to most people in the Middle-East--it's not blatantly Semitic. Also, I'm an agnostic and don't practice the religious rites--which means I've had the dubious experience of listening to idiot Anti-Semites spout off without realizing they were within hearing distance of the Rabbi's great-granddaughter.

I usually let them rant on, then make a surprised comment like: "Wow, did you know my family are Jewish? I never noticed that about them!"

Shuts 'em right up.

[goclark]

11. I'm sure the lovely girls have a clear understanding

(even at their age level) of what it means to be African American.

Even with all their gifts and special privileges,they -- like most African American children, grow up hearing about slavery,MLk,freedom rides and how we have to act in front of those that may not look like we do.

We have a Language that we learn when we are very young ~ Black English. In this situation, your grand parent/cousin/aunt etc might say...

"Baby doll, jus cause yo daddy is de President, dat don't make no never mind!...

Don't ya forget where U came from -- we don't let nobody turn us 'round, just keep pushin' and don't pay no tension to what White people say -- day act real crazee sometime! Not all of dem but some of dem just ain't got no good sense!...

Sweetie Pie, you came from good strong Roots ~ YES YOU DID!"

Then if the elder really wants to reassure you they will say ~ "Sweet Cakes, you come over here and give me a big hug, member you are a OBAMA, don't ya forget it! - you gonna make our family real proud, we 'spect you to be even smarder den your daddy AND your mama -- yes we do!"

What is so beautiful about Black English is that my 90 year old mother and my 10 year old cousin can understand each other perfectly ~ :luvya:

[CTyankee]

13. You gave me such a lift! Thanks!

Of course, you are right. They've got strength in family going for them. I do know that. It is evident. And radiant beauty as well, both in their parents and in the mirror when they look. And grandma Robinson!

I just want to hug those kids, I'll tell ya. I want to tell them that there are so many white people who DON'T feel the way those haters do, that we love them and want them to be happy. And that we love and respect our President.

Our President. I like the sound of that...

[Rocky Sullivan]

21. You can't be serious

I can pretty much guarantee the Obamas aren't telling their girls "dat don't make no never mind!"

They are educated people.

[cyndensco]

22. The Obamas raised their daughters with the same lessons we learned.

Remember 10-year-old Malia telling her father ‘First African American president — it better be good’? Oh yeah, they know. :)

[lamp_shade]

7. Oh... I've had that thought so many times.

[Cha]

8. I have a feeling they're like their

Mom and Dad..Strong and they were braced for what was coming but they are brave enough to carry on.

[PCIntern]

15. they're kids...and they've been well-instructed,

but until you live thru it, you cannot conceive of what it's like to see that kind of hatred on people's faces DIRECTED AT YOU PERSONALLY.

It's a real revelation for everyone and anyone who 'has' to go thru this...sad, very sad.

[theothersnippywshrub]

17. Republicans are everywhere. "Death to Obama . . . Michelle and her two stupid kids."

http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/politics/Death-to-Obama-Sign-Holder-Detained-53134147.html

Elected republicans say this is understandable.

The party of Lincoln has become the party of John Wilkes Booth.

[Thothmes]

18. You can bet they are well shielded from the real world

The real world does not protrude into their lives in the White House. You can bet the real world does not protrude into the private school they attend. There is nothing wrong with this. Most loving parents shield their children from the "real world" until they feel that they are ready for those realities.

[Stinky The Clown]

20. I fully expect they know all about it

I also fully expect that their parents have thus far raised two very well adjusted kids who can handle the truth. The truth is that the people making these calls are in a minority and are fringe kooks.