On one of my many trips to our nation’s capital, I bought a book about Anne Frank for my daughter; Claire was about 10 at the time. I remember learning about Anne Frank, not really in school exactly, but from reading a Scholastic magazine with an excerpt of the script from the 1980 Melissa Gilbert movie based on Anne Frank’s diary. I was compelled by her story then, probably more because I loved Melissa Gilbert and it was fascinating to see her in something besides her prairie dress.
Over the years, as I matured past my devotion to “Half-Pint,” I began to understand the wonder of Anne Frank’s story. It wasn’t until I became a teacher that her words truly impacted me. That is when I actually read her diary in full. To be in her situation and to be able to still believe as she wrote that people were still good just filled me with such wonder.
Last night, I met with a group of women. We ate snacks, talked about our families, and talked about the future. While talking, we all took pen to paper and wrote to our Senators and Congressional Representatives. We wrote to members of both parties. Each person there wrote their own messages. I tried to take an encouraging tone. I do appreciate the work that those working in government do on behalf of the people, and I believe wholeheartedly that most do it for the right reasons, even though I might not agree with all of their policies. It was nice to feel like I was taking action in the wake of recent circumstances, when my belief that the people who are in the highest office maybe aren’t in it for the right reasons.
While we were writing, one of the women said that she wanted to say to our leaders, “What do you want your grandchildren to think about the decisions that you make when they study this time period in school?” I found that prolific.
And that brings me back to Anne Frank and my daughter. When she read the book, I didn’t think to warn her about the ending. I’ll never forget holding her when she realized Anne had died. That night I remember wondering if I would have been brave enough to be Miep Gies. Would I have been brave enough to risk everything to save someone else even if it was the right thing to do? Would I have landed myself on the right side of history?
I want to think I would have. That’s why I’m speaking out now.
I have another friend. A wonderful, loving, well-educated friend post a Facebook message about Liberals needing to give the new President a chance. I don’t think it’s just the liberals who have a problem with what is happening. I don’t consider Senator Graham of South Carolina a liberal. I don’t consider Senator McCain of Arizona a liberal. Former Secretary Condoleeza Rice is not a liberal.
This is not about liberals. It’s not about conservatives. It’s about being on the right side of history. Unfortunately, most issues are complex. If they were simple, so many people wouldn’t be so upset. I have friends on both sides of most of the issues facing our country today. I wouldn’t call a person a friend if I didn’t respect that at his/her core was a value of caring about others and strong integrity.
So as I close, I am thinking about what kind of grandparent I’m going to be. When my grandchildren who have yet to be born [and hopefully that is years and years away], look back on this period of time and ask me how I responded to the politics of 2017, what will my answer be?
