Dear President Bush, my name is Amber Amandson. I'm a 28-year-old single
mother of two small children. The reason I am a single mother is because my
husband was murdered on September 11, while working under your direction.
My husband, Craig Scott Amandson, was an active duty, multi-media illustrator
for your Deputy Chief of Staff of Personnel Command at the Pentagon, who was
also killed.
I am not doing well. I am hurt that the United States is moving forward in
such a violent manner. I do not hold you responsible for my husband's
death, but I do believe you have a responsibility to listen to me and please
hear my pain. I do not like unnecessary death. I do not want anyone to use
my husband's death to perpetuate violence.
So, Mr. President, when you say that vengeance is needed so that the victims
of 9/11 did not die in vain, could you please exclude Craig Scott Amandson
from your list of victims used to justify further attacks. I do not want my
children to grow up thinking the reason so many people died following the
September 11 attack was because of their father's death. I want to show them
a world where we love and not hate, where we forgive and do not seek
vengeance.
Please Mr. Bush, help me honor my husband. He drove to the Pentagon with
a "Visualize World Peace" bumper sticker on his car every morning. He raised
our children to understand humanity and not to fight to get what you want.
When we buried my husband, an American flag was laid over his casket. My
children believe the American flag represents their dad. Please let that
representation be one of love, peace, and forgiveness. I'm begging you for
the sake of humanity and my children to stop killing. Please find a
non-violent way to bring justice to the world.
