Club TUKI recently asked kids to submit questions to the President of the United States. We are in the process of gathering their answers together in a presentable manner to submit to the White House and hope to post their response for all to see.  In the mean time I had to comment on the results so far.

Some made me laugh out loud, like “Can you paint the White House yellow?” from a 13 year old named Jonny.  Some others made me very sad, but over all the questions from the kids were very insightful.

It seems that the media, and possibly parents, are getting the message across to kids of all ages that the United States is in crisis.  Many of the kids asked “What are you going to do about taxes, the economy, and gas prices?” Yes, that’s right, from four year old’s to 14 year old’s, those were the most often asked questions.

I try to think back to when my kids started taking an interest in politics and world events and I believe it was high school before they started asking me questions like that.  Another popular question was “What are going to do about the war in Iraq?”

Alex, a nine year old, asked “Will you be trying to stop global warming, homelessness, and hunger?”  Alex also wanted to know  if Obama would be making solar powered cars and “Will you be making a job for everyone?”

Then there were the questions that I had expected, “Can you shorten the number of school days?”, “What can you do to make schools funner?” Yes, all is well in the world when kids just want to have more fun.

There was one response from a 9 year old boy that squeezed a bunch of questions into our small response area.  I have just copy and pasted below, and no,  I did not edit this:

“Are you excited to be the first African American President ever?  Where you nerves about they Inauguration?  Are you excited to live in the white house. What was your favorite cartoon when you where growing up? Did you aways want to be President of the United States? or was there another job you really liked. Did you aways like school? Will you lower taxes and gas prices? Will you do your best to be President? Did you ever here the stoy of John Henry? Did Martin luther King inspire you to run for President? How long did it take to write your speech?.What did you think about your compitation while running for President? Thanks You for letting all of us kids write to you.”

I think that Matthew is definitely in line for a journalists job!  His one thing he wanted to say to the President was “Good Luck …God Speed.”  I think his parents should be very proud!  I certainly was.

When we asked, “What is the one thing you would like to say to the President,”  the overwhelming answer was “You Rock, Obama Rocks, etc.”

And how about our kids? What are they experiencing today is not only of historical importance but it is relevant change to their own lives. This is the first President that kids today can relate too. He has a blackberry and he tweets and he’s “not that old”. That has got to be an amazing feeling for these kids.  Kids are getting interested in politics and the idea of change.  Kids these days seem to be compelled to “do” something, to get involved and be a part of the change that they want to see.

I think the new social media paradigm has given these kids, and us too I guess, a new forum for expressing our desire to “do” something as well as a medium in which they can see the impact of their efforts.  With Barack Obama as a leader, you have to be inspired by his speeches to strive for a better life, a better world for all, even if you don’t agree with his politics or religion.

I found this video today and couldn’t stop crying long enough to write this post.  So even if you don’t agree with our new President, you should still take a look at this video and take in the impact that this man is having on this new generation of globally aware children.

Let me know what your thoughts are.  I would love to have your feedback on this!