(8 year old Missouri) Pinay girl writes to Obama, gets response

[sabra]

Source: Philippine Star

Eight-year-old Fil-Am Karina Encarnacion recommended a dog that president-elect Barack Obama should get for his daughters, and in return got “three bits of advice that will make your life more fulfilling.”

Karina sent Obama a two-page handwritten letter in September, and suggested a Coton de Tulear, a small Bichon-type dog named after the city in Madagascar, for its soft cottony coat, noting that “they do not shed, they are very lovable, small and very soft.” She said she has one, named Murphy, who “is very smart and sweet.”

...

In a surprise reply received last Oct. 30, Obama told Karina, “Look out for other people, even when it does not directly benefit you; strive to make a difference everywhere you go; and get back up every time you are knocked down.”

Karina, a fourth grader in Missouri, told the then candidate that “I think you will make a very good president… I think that you will make wise decisions for the country.”

She also offered some suggestions for the future president: “Would it be possible for you to make a law that requires everyone to recycle… And would it be possible to ban unnecessary wars?”

Obama’s letter, dated Oct. 20, thanked her “for your kind words, your dog suggestion and for your support. I am impressed with your interest in politics, especially at your young age. I appreciate your idea to make a law requiring people to recycle and to ban unnecessary wars.”


Read more: http://beta.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=413244

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OBAMA’S PEN PAL: Eight-year-old Karina Encarnacion, shown here with parents John and Cindy, sent a letter to Barack Obama with suggestions on what laws to pass and what dog to get for his daughters.

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. Karina for Recycling Czar!

[tridim]

2. Beautiful!

It's amazing that we finally have a president that will actually listen to us.

[LaurenG]

3. This is why love Obama - because I believe in this kind of world!

“Creating change and making the world better is not always easy, and you will probably find in your life that it is more comfortable to ignore injustices that don’t affect you directly. Don’t take that comfortable road. Challenge yourself to make a difference,” Obama wrote.

“If you don’t already know what it means, I want you to look up the word ‘empathy’ in the dictionary. I believe we don’t have enough empathy in our world today, and it is up to your generation to change that.”

“I hope you will always be an active participant in the world around you, and that you will seize every opportunity to make the world better,” he added.

[CitizenPatriot]

4. parents john and cindy

wha wha....

what a beautiful family they are and what a smart daughter they are raising!

our Pres is soooo cool. Damn. he just gets better and better!

[OwnedByFerrets]

5. Damn...why do things involving our President ELECT keep making

me cry? :) :) :)

[Pisces]

15. me too. I have been hyper-emotional these last few days.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

16. You gotta fix your sig: WOULD, not WILL. -nt

[OwnedByFerrets]

17. Yes, I know.....just gotta find the time to put up something appropriate.

[Journeyman]

6. Thought she was going to ask him to grow a beard. . .

Grace Bedell urged Mr Lincoln to do this in her now famous letter to the then Presidential-nominee. Ever gracious, the (until then) clean shaven candidate obliged the young lady, and took office as the first bearded President. Miss Bedell's letter remains today the most valued collector's item not signed by a political figure.

[mzteris]

7. and as a side note

OMG - THEY"RE SO CUTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Sequoia]

20. Oh come on...those are stuffed animals !!! Toys!

How can ultra cute dogs like that be totally REAL !!! I would want one that's for sure.

[8 track mind]

8. wow!

You know this speaks volumes about Obama's character. It's not every day you see someone take time out of their busy schedule to answer a letter from a kid. We are truly lucky to have him for POTUS.

[zonkers]

9. Obama will adopt a dog from the pound no doubt. Coton's are not a good dog to popularize.

They really need a lot of attention and exercise.

[Bette Noir]

10. Hey, Obama!

Invite this family to the Inauguration!

Gotta love our new Pres. What a guy.

[Chulanowa]

11. That man is awesome

As is anyone who names their dog Murphy. I have a Murphy of my own :)

...Her parent's names are John and Cindy? Wow. Small world!

[BlancheSplanchnik]

12. ok, I'm tearing up AGAIN

Obama told Karina, “Look out for other people, even when it does not directly benefit you; strive to make a difference everywhere you go; and get back up every time you are knocked down.”
-----I just may use this for a sig line

Oh, and I recommend a Pomeranian There are Pom rescue places :D

[greiner3]

13. Another 'rat' dog with hair...

[pink-o]

19. yeah. My canine criterion is anything smaller than a Springer isn't a real dog.

More like a mutant.

But I understand there are more small hypo-allergenic dogs than large.

If they rescue a Labradoodle that should make all of us happy! (as long as the poodle half is a Standard Poodle)

[Vidar]

14. It will be glorious to have such a genuine human being as our leader!

[Mad_Dem_X]

18. Could he be any more awesome?

Damn, we are so lucky to have this man as our next President!

Is it January 20, 2009, yet?

[bluestateguy]

21. Disgusting. Despicable. I'm feeling buyers remorse already.

:sarcasm:

[Ishoutandscream2]

22. We're giving props to Barack (deserved) but how about that young lady

What a bright child! Karina seems to be such a wonderful person. Looking at her parents, I can see how proud of her they are.

[Dem2theMax]

23. Almost made it through the day without crying.

Oh wait. The press conference this morning did me in. This was the second, no, third, maybe fourth time today that I've cried.

I have the feeling that the next four (EIGHT!) years are going to be very wet. ;)

[Rocknrule]

24. Going from worst president ever to best!

[liberalla]

25. Wow, that 8 yr old is wise beyond her years! Bravo Karina!

Great story - Thanks for posting.

[indep_kidd]

26. nice story

I'm surprised this letter got through and he was able to make a personal response.

I already respect the man but these little things are just amazing and make me like him more and more.

[liberalla]

27. I know what you mean - I am SO impressed with Obama and

have high hopes for his presidency. It won't be easy. The Repubs have made such a huge mess of everything, but something in me feels that Barack Obama is uniquely gifted and qualified to become the President we need at this moment in time.

...and welcome to DU! :hi:

[liberalla]

28. This family will be interviewed on MSNBC today (Monday)

at 4:30pm ET.

Segment titled Presidential Penpal.