Yellow Shirt Update----

It went well. On another related note: In one of her classes, the days discussion was on current events (ie: political issues). The teacher happened to pick Prop. 8. She gave a 'review' and then asked for 5 volunteers to give their views. (Yes, this is 8th grade middle school) Christine raised her hand and was the last one chosen. So she got to give the closing viewpoint. From what we hear she gave a rousing pro opinion to the proposition. At the end she talked about how intolerant the con supporters are being to the pro supporters. Kind of ironic that they keep crying out for tolerance and yet are being most intolerant using vandalism, etc. in their anger. We have not had any of the backlash personally, but some of our neighbors have and other friends as well. Signs being stolen, destroyed and left in yards, cars vandalized that have Yes on Prop.8 stickers on them, etc.

Christine got a lot of applause when she finished. There is a part of me as her mother that just HATES that this is the world she faces at 13 years old. Yes, there is a part of me that still wants to be a pollyanna. I like rose-colored glasses! Actually I wish the world could be rose-colored! And then there is another part of me that KNOWS the most valiant and strong spirits were saved to come now. I'm very proud of her for standing up yesterday.

Yellow?

Christine and her church friends have been getting 'flack' at school about Prop. 8 and the upcoming election. I grew up in good ole liberal socal too, but honestly the stuff I had to support/defend is nothing compared to what she faces on a daily basis. She is a normal teenager by all definitions--can be a little mouthy, grouchy, starting to have 'crushes', messy room, etc. but she is also very strong in her convictions. She and her friends talked and decided to all wear yellow today in a show of support for Prop. 8 to the other students at the middle school. Yellow is one of the main colors in pro prop 8 literature/stickers/signs. She has conversations daily with other friends defending and explaining the proposition. I never had to do that in 8th grade!

Can you believe that we don't have ONE piece of yellow clothing in this house? Not one! (Oh, that's not entirely true. She has a white dress with yellow flowers on it, but she was NOT going to wear a dress.) This came as a surprise to all of us. Not even her dad or brother had a yellow tshirt she could wear. Wow. I love yellow. So much so that quite a bit of the interior of my house is painted yellow. So she had to go with yellow accessories.

Guess we ought to pick up a few tshirts of an array of colors! I pray for her everyday that she will continue to be strong. She is such a good girl. Good Luck today, Christine!