First lady Michelle Obama wrote an open letter to parents following Saturday’s shooting, expressing her sorrow for the loss they suffered that day.
“”As parents, an event like this hits home especially hard. It makes our hearts ache for those who lost loved ones,”” Obama wrote. “”It makes us want to hug our own families a little tighter. And it makes us think about what an event like this says about the world we live in — and the world in which our children will grow up.””
In the letter, which was released yesterday and coincided with the funeral services for Christina Green, the youngest victim of Saturday’s shooting, she urged parents to help their children embrace the differences between people.
“”We can teach them the value of tolerance — the practice of assuming the best, rather than the worst, about those around us,”” she wrote. ””We can teach them to give others the benefit of the doubt, particularly those with whom they disagree.””
Obama also wrote that parents should teach their children the importance of supporting those in need or in the grips of grief.
“”We can teach our children that here in America, we embrace each other, and support each other, in times of crisis,”” she wrote. “”And we can help them do that in their own small way — whether it’s by sending a letter, or saying a prayer, or just keeping the victims and their families in their thoughts.””
Obama wrote that she was “”deeply moved”” by the strength exhibited by the families of the victims and by their “”resilience in the face of an unspeakable tragedy.””
She also echoed the praise her husband gave Green during his speech on Saturday, and wrote that children should do their best to emulate her passion for serving others and taking an interest in local politics.
“”And that’s something else we can do for our children,”” she wrote, “”we can tell them about Christina and about how much she wanted to give back.””
“”But most important of all,”” Obama wrote, “”is how parents can honor the memories of those who died on Saturday by telling their children to follow in their footsteps of public service and selflessness.
“”And we can work together to honor their legacy by following their example — by embracing our fellow citizens; by standing up for what we believe is right; and by doing our part, however we can, to serve our communities and our country.””
