[Y]oung Writers Project, an independent nonprofit based in Burlington, engages young people to write and use digital media to express themselves with clarity and power, and to gain confidence and skills for school, the workplace and life.
Check out the most recent issue of The Voice, Young Writers Project’s monthly digital magazine. Click here.
Each week, VTDigger features a writing submission – an essay, poem, fiction or nonfiction – accompanied by a photo or illustration from Young Writers Project.
YWP publishes about 1,000 students’ work each year here, in newspapers across Vermont, on Vermont Public Radio and in YWP’s monthly digital magazine, The Voice. Since 2006, it has offered young people a place to write, share their photos, art, audio and video, and to explore and connect online at youngwritersproject.org. For more information, please contact Susan Reid at sreid@youngwritersproject.org.
Isabella Silva, 13, of Essex Junction, writes a letter to President Trump, asking him about recent events and behavior – and asking him why he thinks they are acceptable.
Acceptable – An Open Letter to the President
By Isabella Silva
[D]ear Mr. Trump,
Well, here we are again! I’ve come to complain. A white, middle class, teenage girl writing to you, an orange, 1%, 70-year-old man who also happens to be my president.
Here we go.
George Washington owned slaves. He was publicly excused because he helped found the country and was a gentleman.
Though I and most others are still mad about the slaves, we still study him in school.
Abraham Lincoln signed an act to imprison Civil War protesters. That was excused because he ended slavery.
John F. Kennedy authorized, then botched the Bay of Pigs invasion in Cuba. That was excused because he died a martyr.
But you, sir, are neither a gentleman, a founder, nor have you done anything to liberate anyone.
You gave a woman hush money to stay silent about a private love affair.
You called countries in Africa (excuse my language) ‘s—hole’ countries in front of congressional leaders. And right before Martin Luther King Day!
You have called women you found unattractive fat pigs and dogs.
In the midst of sexual assault charges, you blindly stare at the rest of us with video proof of what you’ve done.
You clearly have never seen an African country and still think you have the right to talk about how horrible they are.
You think anyone not of your race is lazy and will “steal jobs.”
You have been openly rude to people on and off camera.
And you make fun of those with disabilities.
So that begs the question – Washington had manners; Lincoln freed the slaves; Kennedy was decent – what makes what you do acceptable?
