Today's Historically Heavy, Grab a Tissue and Pinch Yourself Moment.

[Clio the Leo]

I normally try to leave the kids alone obviously because I want them to have as normal a life as possible and I dont see how obsessing over their choice in pet or what school they will attend helps that.

But this article has me in tears (again!) ..... A desk that once held the Emancipation Proclamation will soon hold the homework of a little girl who is a descendant of the very people Lincoln's document helped free. People forbidden from even learning HOW to read so that when the document was published, many had to rely on others to read it to them.

Grab your Puffs Plus .... here we go.

Obama says daughters will do chores in White House

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081127/ap_on_go_pr_wh/obama

CHICAGO – President-elect Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, said their young daughters will still have to do chores in the White House and won't get out of doing homework just because they're the president's children. In an interview with Barbara Walters, the Obamas said Sasha, 7, and Malia, 10, will have lives as normal as possible. That means helping out around the house.

"That was the first thing I said to some of the staff when I did my visit," Michelle Obama said. "I said, 'You know, we're going to have to set up some boundaries,' because they're going to need to be able to make their beds, and clean up."

The girls, who will be attending the prestigious Sidwell Friends School, also will be expected to do their homework as usual. Although, the president-elect said, Malia has her eye on a special spot to write important papers.

When she came back from her White House visit recently, she told her dad that she plans to work at the desk in the Lincoln bedroom.

Obama, who is known to be an avid reader of Lincoln history, said his daughter told him "I'm going to sit at that desk, because I'm thinking that will inspire big thoughts."

During the interview, Obama described the desk as being the spot where Lincoln signed the Gettysburg Address. While there is a copy of the address on display in that room, it actually was the Emancipation Proclamation freeing the slaves that Lincoln signed there.



"Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave." ~ Maya Angelou

How so very lucky are we to be alive to witness this moment in history!



(a former slave reads the Emancipation Proclamation)

[SharonRB]

1. Talk about Karma

What goes around comes around, but this time in a good way.

[liberalmuse]

2. To hell with crack.

Nothing could get me higher than the prospective Barbara Walters interview, and knowing that the man I voted for was out enforce with his family today helping to pass out food to the homeless. This is bliss. Can you imagine the message our President and First Lady our sending to their children today?

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. Thank you for this wonderful post!

Those are great stories, both of them...

And I love love love Maya Angelou!

Perfect poetry for these perfect stories...

K&R

:fistbump:

[TheDoorbellRang]

4. That Malia seems a lot like her dad.

She seems very thoughtful for one so young.

I'm so looking forward to watching those little girls grow up in the white house.

[starroute]

9. Ten year olds can surprise you

Something clicks into place at around that age -- a more abstract level of thought? a greater awareness of the larger world? Whatever it is, ten year olds are starting to think about things and draw their own conclusions, which can be surprisingly profound. In some ways, they often seem more thoughtful and mature than they will be a couple of years later, when the adolescent hormones begin to kick in and make them crazy.

But you're also right that Malia seems more thoughtful than most ten year olds. I think she's going to be an unusual woman.

[Clio the Leo]

12. There are so many children who see their father doing bad things.....

.... abuse them, abuse their mothers, drinking, swearing, doing drugs. Wasting their lives and destroying the lives of those around them.

What do Sasha and Malia see? What is their father likely doing during his (ever shrinking) free time?

[H2O Man]

5. Powerful.

Thank you.

Nominated.

[firedupdem]

6. Wow...they are some family. I really can't wait for them to be in the

white house. Thanks for this information...wow, just wow.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

7. Kicking this to the top

everyone should read this.

[Sydnie]

8. Kicking it again

Hope to see some candid pictures of that too.

[glitch]

10. Beautiful. K & R nt

[Clio the Leo]

11. Kicking my own thread because I finally found the pics I wanted....

..... and you all do realize, the kid was born on the 4th of July!

SOMEBODY HAND ME ANOTHER TISSUE!!!!!!

[Captain Hilts]

13. Just as Abe would want it....nt

[Clio the Leo]

14. And here is the desk in question....

(in the corner)