History and My Story

15 responses so far ↓

• 1    Lauren S // May 7, 2008 at 3:23 pm

  This story actually interested me, its amazing what kids can accomplish if they put the effort into it. This girl, although this was quite some time ago, is a wondeful example of how kids these days should act. Just because you are younger doesn’t mean you shouldn’t speak your voice.

• 2    Kevin W // May 7, 2008 at 9:14 pm

  I agree with Lauren. Samantha performed a courageous deed in writing to Andropov and the outcome was very effective

• 3    Allison Bruno // May 19, 2008 at 1:18 pm

  I think that what Samantha did was amazing! But, i just don’t get how her parents just let her go into meetings and meet Andropov without a problem. Considering he was “really terrifying and a lot of people were afraid of him” according to what you said in class and everything else.

  Its also really upsetting that she died tragically after all the good she had done.

• 4    buell // May 19, 2008 at 2:58 pm

  Something tells me her parents knew exactly what they were doing. And even though a lot of Americans were afraid of the USSR…there were also a great many who felt there was nothing to be afraid of at all. The Soviet Union was a closed and secretive country, so we didn’t know what to believe and often just feared the worst-case scenario.

  Now, I know I joked in class about Veronica writing a letter to Osama Bin Laden in the same way Samantha Smith wrote to Andropov, but can you imagine if someone really did that? First of all it is impossible to imagine a response and since Al Qaeda doesn’t have a country I’m not sure where she would be invited to visit….but just imagine the controversy a visit like that would cause. At the time Samantha Smith had detrators too.

• 5    vmurphy // May 19, 2008 at 8:10 pm

  I think Samantha is memorable because she probably changed history drastically just by being a sweet little kid.

• 6    sam barrows // May 19, 2008 at 8:35 pm

  Samantha was a pretty brave girl. I’d cry if I was invited to the Soviet Union. You should totaly have Veronica write a letter to Osama Bin Laden. DDDDDDDDDDDDDOOOOOOOOOOO IIIITTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!…….. (Peer Presure)

• 7    dmillen4 // May 19, 2008 at 8:52 pm

  I think Samantha was very brave to do what she did. I think it is inspiring to many young people.

• 8    Taylor Aiello // May 19, 2008 at 11:13 pm

  I just think it’s comedical to see a little girl talking to a newscaster about this. It could be on “Kids Say the Darndest Things”. The newscaster treats her like she knows about modern government and politics!

• 9    Riley // May 26, 2008 at 5:49 pm

  Samantha is a very courageous girl but i don’t get why Andropov would reply to a girl like that. Was he trying to send a message to all through her?

• 10    jgurney // May 26, 2008 at 7:37 pm

  maybe he wanted all of this attention and try to open up a little to the world or something. its kinda wierd when you think of the possible reasons of why he might have wrote to her

• 11    sana // May 27, 2008 at 3:27 pm

  i think the whole thing was just kinda cool because if i was a big scary world leader i wouldnt really answer to little girls. (haha)

  but i would have been terrified if i was her. and i think it made andropov look less scary and evilish.

• 12    Jessica Balzano // May 28, 2008 at 6:33 pm

  The courage Samantha showed in writting Yuri Andropov letters at the age of 10 is amazing. At 10 years old i would not be able to do that. What she did is very memorable and hes story will be passed on throughout the years that history is taught.

• 13    Marc // Jun 3, 2008 at 12:11 pm

  I agree with Allie. If I were Samantha’s parent, I would not want my kid going to Russia to meet with Yuri Andropov

• 14    buell // Jun 3, 2008 at 1:49 pm

  I remember there was some blacklash to that effect at the time. Also, the fact that she was playing into the hands of communist propaganda.

• 15    Meaghan Harrington // Jun 4, 2008 at 8:45 pm

  i totally agree with eveyone that bloged on this event. i think that lauren is a courages girl and a very good idea for her to do this. And along with Riley…did she expect for Andropov to do anything back at this?

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