As background, we had visited Arlington Cemetery in Virginia just a few days before he started writing. The tender ages of the soldiers buried there is just shocking. It apparently made an impression on C as well.
Formatting the essay was at the forefront of his mind when he started writing. He remembered what his teacher had told him about how to organize an essay ('tell them what you're going to tell them, tell them and tell them what you just told them'). He gave me a lecture about it first, then wrote down the format on a separate page and diligently tried to follow it. He may not have succeeded in adhering to it to the letter, but I was thrilled that he had thought about it at all.
Since he wrote it down in pencil, it's not as clear as I'd like it to be. I do hope you don't have too much trouble reading it.
Thank you for reading.
41 comments:
Oh, Sujatha! that is so beautiful!! Please give C a hug for me and tell him what a beautiful message he has sent to the world through his essay! How true the saying "out of the mouths of babes"! And hats off to you and your husband for being the parents that you are. The results of loving and thoughtful parenting are very obvious here.
beautifully done. Lovely handwriting as well. If only a few adults were as sensible we wouldn't have to deal with wars at all.
That was truly a WOW! essay. Fantastic work, C ( and keep the great job up, Sujatha, with raising your kids:)
Sujatha, What a wonderful write up ! And thank you for putting it up here. Give him a great big Shabash from me....
I have renewed hope for the future of mankind. And I also agree with Sylvia K. That is some award winning parenting right there.
To weave WOW into this was fantastic. I am in awe at the clarity of thought and the plan that he has made. Such clarity at young ages have the power of shaping societies in the future !
This is not only fantastically written, this is inspiring and gives hope too !
Thanks for sharing !
:)
Wish the writing had transferred a little more clearly to the screen - parts were too pale a grey to make out the words, but the whole seemed a sensible message from a youngster.
That was very beautiful. DC area is my home too, I've been following your blog for a few months now! And I'm really enjoying the variety!
Gayu
Comment from C:
Thank you all for reading my essay. I love all of your comments. Ciao!
Thank you all for your lovely comments. As you can see, C was delighted that you read his essay and that you left comments for him.
Gayu, thanks for delurking. :) I'm glad your enjoying the blog and welcome!
C, that is a fantastic essay. So glad that there are people who think like you
Wow! Please interpret that was WOW, as in completely in admiration and appreciation for this young philosopher who can think as deep as to realise that it is also hard for people to kill because they know its wrong. In one line, he has probably summed up a conflict which must rage in every conscience that has picked up a weapon and killed.
Well done, dear C! Your interpretation is one that is sorely needed in these times and I dare say with your vision, you will raise your own children in a world where wars are ancient history! God Bless!
very well written, C, and so to the the point.
And like your mum, you know just how to end your essays right.
Here's to more words over war. hugs.
Suj - darling boy. and am so proud of this, even though I've made asbsolutely no contribution to it. You're doing the right things, you know?!
ps: he's got beautiful handwriting.
Am FLOORED! Awesome C!
What a great essay! No wonder you are proud.
A born writer. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, huh?
Great Job C !!! And you have a beautiful handwriting too
Thank you, all of you, so much! I can't wait for him to come home from school and read your comments. I know it means a lot to him that his blog aunties (and uncles!) appreciate his efforts. :)
suj, n3 just read it and says she thinks its superb. she said that the 5th point about writing essays should include 'like this one' - in other words she thinks this essay should be published in newspapers, magazines and the internet!
Spellbound !!!
C is great ... " it is also hard for people to kill because they know its wrong" ... makes me proud that we have young kids who can think so deep.
One of the solutions he has offered "Write essays and publish in internet" Suj, you have accomplished that !!
Tell him, his words are spreading :)
Wow! That was one heck of an essay! And how old did you say C was, again? Eight, right? Way matured and intelligent for his age. Shows in his essay of course!
And a big Wow to you too Sujatha! Being the proud mother to such a sensitive boy!
C- keep up the good work!
Wow, Sujatha. C is amazing. His writing is so neat, clear and to the point. It is such a wonderful message, expressed in a very touching manner.
Kudos to him and to you. You must be a proud mother! :)
Wow indeed! Loved the clarity of his thoughts and also, loved your initiative in introducing the topic to him. Bravo! The cursive writing is so pleasing to the eye too:)
WOW, C! Your ideas and handwriting are so WOW! :-) I'll have to have K read it. She is going to be so amazed at the cursive for sure! She has been teaching herself cursive. May be you could give her the tricks of your penmanship next time we meet! :-)
Praba Aunty
Comment from C:
Thank you so much for reading my article. It made me feel good to read your comments. I never expected that so many people would read it!
Wow! C - hats of to you! Beautifully written, clearly put across. Brilliant! :)
Sujatha :Came here from Ms ChillPill's blog
Sujatha,
How did it fare in the competition, by the way?
I've had zero luck with persuading M and S to participate in them- they always turn their noses up at the various themes- too free-spirited to give it a shot:(
S from F-n-S
Aparna, welcome to my blog. And thank you!
Sujatha, the essay got first place in his group (3rd, 4th and 5th graders) at school and was sent to the district level, but did not go further.
About participating, it's difficult to do it every single time - the kids really need to have something that they are passionate about and can transfer over to the competition, I think.
WOW - what a kid can understand, we adults fail to see..
WOW is the word! His thoughts, his ability to put it through in words, his perceptions and his plans..are just WOW!!Im sure ud be blushing with pride to have such a wonderful kid :)
Great showing in the contest, C!
(Sujatha,
Pacifist sentiments, no matter how well expressed, tend not to make it much further than the regionals- I smell a conspiracy, or at least weird overloading of the judges' panel with conservatives ;)
-S from F-nS
Oorjas, Verbivore, thank you!
Sujatha, :)
If I am the mother of this child I will surely hug him tight and be proud of him. But I'm afraid that at his very young age, he might instill in his mind the horrors of the past and might have a hard time concentrating on what a normal child should be doing. Hmmm, he's so matured.
OMG, dats sooo very adorable!! And dis coming from such a tiny kiddo! Lady u need to get him his own blog...i wud love to read more from him :)
Such depth, layers of thinking at such a tender age- and the clarity of expression.
Hope he continues to put into words his thoughts, ideas and feelings...
And thanks Suja for sharing.
Seriously, cant believe it was written by a child... Amazing how much insight and knowledge they seem to have... hats off to C!!!:)
Love the handwriting too...
@ Datsme, thank you. May be I should get him his own blog. Hmmm.
@ Ardra, Aarti, thank you!
Oh wow! This is so awesome!! Hats off! :)
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