To the editor:
Dear Congressman Tierney,
We owe you a huge thank you for an experience we will never forget. The presidential inauguration tickets you provided our parents gave us a once-in-a-lifetime chance to experience American history in the making and got us into Washington, D.C. for much more.
On Sunday, we went to the Lincoln Memorial excited to listen to Bono, Beyonce, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder and others. When we arrived — along with 400,000 other people — we quickly figured out that this was not just about being at a concert. It was more like a huge celebration! The crowd was buzzing with excitement, enjoying the music, but mostly filled with hope for the future. Strangers were all talking to each other and people were there from all around the country.
An unforgettable highlight of the trip was meeting former president Bill Clinton and Sen. Hillary Clinton. He was genuinely interested in what people had to say, and even struck up a conversation with someone standing near us about work he was doing cleaning up a toxic mess in India that was in the movie “Slumdog Millionaire.”
We encountered Senator Clinton as we were waiting for an elevator. The doors opened for our ride to the lobby, and there she was! She gave us a big hug, and we let her know that she continues to inspire us. She said she loves Massachusetts!
The very best part of the experience was to join nearly two million others to hear our new president get sworn in and then speak. We spend a great deal of time at home and at school discussing the many serious challenges we face. This makes us worry and wish for a leader who can start working in the right direction. His speech was mighty and when we heard President Obama say the following words, we felt better — much better:
“To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict or blame their society’s ills on the West, know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history, but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.”
While in Washington, we also visited the pandas at the National Zoo and took in the lessons at Holocaust Museum. Hope, kindness and responsibility were things we discussed everywhere we went. Our new president’s powerful message needs to be heard here and around the world.
For our future, for the future of his daughters (who are a few years younger than us), we thank you, President Obama.
And again, thank you Congressman Tierney.
