Remember this girl? Samantha Smith

[bluestateguy]

I was only 7 years old when this all happened, so my memories of it all are very spotty and vague.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samantha_Smith

Samantha Reed Smith (June 29, 1972–August 25, 1985) was an American schoolgirl from Manchester, Maine. She was born in Houlton, Maine and lived there with her parents, Arthur and Jane Smith, and her dog, Kim, until 1980. In 1980, when Samantha had just finished second grade, their family moved to Manchester, Maine. In 1983, at age 10, she wrote a letter to Soviet President Yuri Andropov, asking why the Soviet Union wanted to conquer the world:

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[Greylyn58]

1. I actually remember that.

I thought it was incredible for someone that young to be so smart and knowledgeable.

[Davis_X_Machina]

2. Statue of her...

...in Augusta.

More here.

We remember.

[quiet.american]

3. I was just thinking of this the other day --

Amazing to find it brought up here.... what an incredible girl she was.

[whistle]

4. Powerful letter and the events which followed certainly must....

...have ruffled the feathers of the Reagan administration and the hawks who wanted to tear down the Soviet Union as the evil empire. It is hard to say what impact on the American psyche these exchanges might have had on relations between the two super powers had Samantha not been killed. I would like to think that her spirit for those who remember still flames hope for world peace.

[ck4829]

5. How sad

It's so tragic and so convenient for some Fascists out there that the King's, the Wellstone's, and the children of the world like her die trying to make the world a better place.

[Bluebear]

6. I do remember very well and here she is.

[LSdemocrat]

7. Wow, that's an amazing story

I never heard of this before (I'm 24). Such a tragic, yet inspiring story. Thanks for posting this.

[fortyfeetunder]

8. The little lady was a household word at that time

I remember her letter and the celebrity it brought her. And reflected with sadness when she was taken away from us all too soon.

No doubt she is an angel somewhere....

[7th_Sephiroth]

9. notice how anti-war people

allways have plane accidents

[IronLionZion]

10. That's the year I was born

That's an inspiring story. I wonder what Bush would say if some Iraqi kid wrote him?

[Rapcw]

11. learn something new everyday, thanks for posting this n/t

[mitchum]

12. I remember that remarkable little girl

Rest In Peace, Samantha