Creative Response #1

Dear Little boy,

How are you? I hope great. I saw your picture and I saw the look that you had on your face. I feel that you don’t know why you’re holding the flag, after what has happened to you and your family.  I think you don’t understand what you are doing up there. I feel that you didn’t have a choice. Do you believe what you are doing, saying and hearing up there? You’re not the only one that knows that there is something wrong with this world. Its not only affecting you, but everyone else around you holding that flag. There is no one who knows what you are going through right now. I don’t understand why you are holding the American flag when I know you feel like throwing it on the floor.  I know that you are doing the allegiance pledge at your school, but why couldn’t someone else hold onto the flag? Why did it have to be you? Did they do that on purpose? Did you want to? What did you really want to do? Did you want to be up there?

I noticed that everyone that is behind you is different, obviously because you are in school in America. What did it feel like holding on to the American Flag? Were you happy? What surprised you, about the American flag? I know I wouldn’t want to hold on to the flag after what is happening.  Your family being evacuated and waiting to be relocated to another facility. What does it feel like to be relocated? How does it feel to go to school at a Relocation Authority center? Is it the same from going to a public school to a relocation school? I’m sorry for what is going on with your family.  I really am.  I feel sorry that you had to hold the flag knowing that you didn’t want to, or that ‘s what I think.

I would like to know your name. How old are you? Are you an only child? Do you have any friends there at your school? I would like to learn about you? I know what it is to be different than the others around you.  People from a different ethnicity are always looking down at you like they are superior. I don’t know why they do that when we get the same education as you. The only difference is that we look different but there is nothing wrong about that, well that’s what I think.

You as a young one should have fun, not think about the problems that are going on. You need to enjoy life, make a lot of friends. You have the same rights as everyone else, especially the right to choose if you want to hold the flag.   You have the right to be who you want to be.  I know you hate you putting that smile when I know that you are just faking it so that everything can look all right.

You as a child can’t really do anything, but you can do one thing take care of yourself and enjoy life to the fullest. Just remember that no one can judge you because you look different. We are all the same, even if others think otherwise.  Like my father would tell me, “don’t let anyone put you down because you look different, they’re just jealous and wish they could be a good person as you.”  Just wanted to hear that so that you can see that you are not the only one that went through pressure as a child. The main reason that I am writing to you is so that you wont feel alone like I did.

Until this day people act the same, as they were before, “racist”. Just know that you are not alone, you have your family. It’s great to know that you are not alone.  It’s better to have someone than no one.

Sincerely, Rosa Trejo