Our Daughters’ Views Thursday, We Took Our Daughters To Work And Invited Some Of Them To Comment On The Terrorism In Oklahoma City.

Hope for justice, hope for future

To the bombers: I just want to ask you if you know what you have done. Do you know that you have killed more than 110 innocent people including young children? You have broken families and broken the hearts of everyone in America. Most of the children who were in that building won’t live to see their next birthday or their first day of school. And the ones who do are very, very lucky.

We, the people of the United States, have a right to feel safe in our homes and workplaces without having to worry about a nearby bomb. Parents shouldn’t have to fear sending their children to school or day care. This bomb has not only affected the people of Oklahoma City; it also has affected the entire country.

How can we know this won’t happen again? The government can’t promise it won’t; nobody can. All we can do is hope. Hope that if we find you and convict you, we can send you to jail, knowing that you’ve made the government even stronger.

Darcy Camden/Age 13

Exercise the right to vote

You militia members call yourselves patriots. What kind of patriots would detonate a bomb that killed and wounded hundreds of innocent American citizens?

The U.S government is not trying to take away the rights of militia members. In a democracy, it’s the job of government to protect the rights of all U.S. citizens.

Laws and regulations are made by elected leaders. Government officials try to enforce these laws.

You have the right to vote. Why not vote for what you believe in, rather than using violence?

Kara Jordan/Age 11

Thanks to rescue workers

When I heard about the bombing in Oklahoma City last week, I was scared. Thinking about all the things happening, I felt like crying. After a while, I felt like I couldn’t watch any more news about it. I thought: Who could do this?

If I felt like this, it probably felt a thousand times worse to the rescue workers that day. They were seeing dead bodies, the building in rubble and children dying in front of their eyes - not on television like me.

I’d like to thank the workers, the surgeon who stayed with a trapped woman until she could be taken out, the women who comforted children they didn’t even know, the agents who searched the collapsing building for clues. They risked their own lives to save other people’s lives.

Michelle Edsall/Age 12

Don’t become paranoid

Will this happen again? If so, when, where? These are the questions we children ask.

The government is doing everything it can to find the bombers. More guards and metal detectors have arrived at federal buildings everywhere. The whole country joined together to send rescuers and comfort those affected.

I’m sorry, but we can’t just say that everything will be OK and it will never happen again, because we don’t know if it will. This has caused everyone to be more careful, but many also are terrified. It is OK to be worried, but don’t let fright dictate your life and actions.

We now realize that we could be hit anywhere at any time. It is frightening not to be safe in your own country and from other U.S. citizens, but children must realize that most people aren’t so angry at the government that they will bomb buildings. For the most part, we are pretty safe.

The government is working to prevent this from happening in the future. Don’t let this terrorist act scare you into not going anywhere or doing anything.

Kathryn Kafentzis/Age 14

Many more good people

Children appreciate the way President Clinton and his wife talked to them about the bombing in Oklahoma. The Clintons’ radio show gave children a chance to ask questions about the crime, and it makes us feel better to know that the president has ordered police to try their hardest to catch the criminals. Mrs. Clinton reminded us, “There are many more good people in the world than bad and evil people. Just think of all the police officers and the firefighters, the doctors and the nurses, all of the neighbors … who have come to help those who were hurt in Oklahoma.”

I agree with President Clinton. If the suspects are found guilty, I think they should be put to death. It would be only fair if the bombers get a taste of their own medicine. I read an article that said the bomber knew there was a day care center there. Whoever did the bombing is a very evil, sick person.

I realize the government isn’t perfect, but the way to make it better it is to elect good leaders. Bombs only make things worse.

Beth Webster/Age 12

Senseless action

I felt a jolt of pain when I read about two children named Chase and Colton, ages 3 and 2, who were killed in the bombing. The last time their mother said goodbye to them, Colton said, “I love you, Mommy.” She hugged Colton and then went to work. Then she heard an explosion and thought: “That’s so sad. That’s some little child’s mother who’s been killed.” The next time she saw him, he was in the morgue.

I would like to say I am really sorry to the friends and family members of the victims. This should not have happened, and it makes me really angry that someone could put people through so much pain and agony. If this happened to someone in my family or to one of my friends, I’d be a nervous wreck and I don’t know what I would do to get over my grief.

Brook Collins/Age 14

Coping with tragedy

As the country tries to cope after the horrible bombing in Oklahoma City, parents everywhere don’t know what to tell their children. Should they hide this information to protect us? Or should they explain what happened? I believe it would be good to give children at least a little guidance.

Answer our questions as well as you can without scaring us. Tell us that it is OK to be frightened but not to let fear rule our lives. Let us know that there are more good people in the world than bad. Make sure we know that you love us and will protect us in any way that you can. Have us write a letter or poem or draw a picture for the victims.

Help us understand this terrible tragedy without putting us into total paranoia. Don’t feel inclined to hide your feelings from us. It is OK to cry in front of us, but try to explain why you are crying so we can understand.

Megan Taggart/Age 14