By Faye Whitbeck
Created 01/07/2010 - 1:56pm
One doesn’t have to understand all the complexities of the world to feel love for her country.
Or to use her right of freedom of speech and expression.
But in the case of Gracie Wegner, the age at which she is learning to speak out is still somewhat amazing.
She’s 8 years old.
Gracie’s already written her first political letter — to the president of the United States. She wrote it on her own, she says, because she was angry.
The youngster, who plays goalie on a local girls hockey team, has been exposed to American patriotism, in part because of her dad’s service on the national Pulp and Paperworkers’ Resource Council. She also has had an introduction to some of the injustices in life.
Gracie’s dad, Tim Wegner, a Boise employee, makes several trips annually to visit the Washington, D.C. offices of senators and representatives as part of his duties on the PPRC — a grassroots organization made up of hourly employees who work in the forest products industry. The council is focused on fiber supply, forest practices, endangered species and environmental issues that impact the country’s paper industry jobs.
Apparently, Gracie has been listening to conversations held in her home where she, her dad, her mom Heidi and brother Walker, 12, reside. She has been hearing the talk about protecting American jobs as well as about the suffering homeless who line the streets in some parts of the nation’s capital.
During Tim’s most recent visit to D.C. following the inauguration of Barack Obama, the father bought his daughter a snow globe at the hotel where he was staying. Inside the glittery, glass sphere is a rudimentary representation of the U.S. Capitol building, with the globe’s base modeled after the White House.
Pleased with her new ornament, Gracie shook the small globe. A golden swirl of twinkling snow fell over the historic American icons. When her young hands flipped over the figure and revealed the bottom — there it was in three small words. On a red sticky tag, it read: “Made in China.”
Although she is too young to understand the tangled complexities of manufacturing, Gracie still felt the irony of the circumstances. And she also felt the turmoil.
“It came from Washington, D.C. and things from D.C. should be made in America,” she said.
Compelled by indignation, she composed her own message to Pres. Barack Obama in her own little-girl words, and her parents helped her mail it to the White House.
“Maybe if they start making stuff here, maybe homeless people could get a job,” Gracie told The Journal, her simplicity showing both common sense and a child’s naivete.
Asked what she knows about the homeless, she replied, “I know that they don’t have homes to keep warm and that they eat out of garbage cans. I know they don’t have families like we have.”
After receiving the snow globe, Gracie began paying attention to where a lot of things are made. She began to notice rather “unkidly” things such as the stamp on the rear of her brother’s four-wheeler that said “Made in U.S.A.”
Gracie’s adult friend Ila Harder also went to Washington, D.C. and purposely searched for American-made souvenirs, finding only a small ruler that was made in the United States.
Gracie has checked out most of her own toys to find one doll, a “Barbie,” that was made in America. “Barbie” is made by Mattel, the American multinational toy giant. But in 2007, Mattel had its own monumental problems with out-sourcing operations when its subsidiary Fisher Price was forced to recall more than 18 million toys which were made in China — because of dangerously high levels of lead paint.
Mattel CEO Robert Eckert said at the time that overseas manufacturing is inevitable for the future sustainability of most American companies in the dotcom era, noting that 80 percent of American toys are made in other countries.
While some companies may be saved, many jobs have been lost. Tim Wegner told The Journal that 100,000 jobs have been lost in the American paper industry in just this last year. “And eight (paper) mills have closed since Dec. 7,” Wegner said.
Gracie received a response from the White House in August, type-written and folded inside a hand-addressed envelope. It is likely a format letter with Barack Obama’s signature. But that’s not what is most important.
Gracie was reminded of her individual role to play in shaping the future. “I encourage you to work hard and dedicate your energy, talent, and creativity to improving your community and our country,” the Obama note said. “... Young people like you inspire me and give me great hope for the future. ...”
Gracie loves art and design, and has a special affinity for automobiles and trucks, especially the Mustang car. But already, she has shown that young minds can process information — and perhaps make a difference.
Asked if she saw herself as always doing big things, she admitted that most days, she’s “just a kid.”
“But maybe someday I could be president,” she said reticently.
And maybe she could. But whether she travels that road, or the hundreds of others that will be necessary for solving the plethora of agonies that plague America, Gracie is learning that each person has a voice, and anyone can make a difference.
Dear Mr. President,
My Dad was in Washington DC. he bought me a snow globe and it said made in China, it should say made in U.S.A. That made me mad. Washington DC should not have stuff that is made in China, ok?
Grace
