First Person: It was Tuesday morning. I did what I always do. I checked my Twitter account first thing in the morning. After a while of seeing what all my favorite celebrities were doing, I saw a post that stopped me in my tracks. The AP was reporting that all White House Tours had been cancelled. What? I asked myself. I then checked my email only to see an email from Senator Bill Nelson. The email was a notice: White House Tour Notification.
In one second, I had so many different thoughts go through my head. You see, for two months we had been playing my daughters big 16th birthday gift. Months before, she could pick what she wanted for her 16th birthday party. She could choose Washington D.C.
Her choice was Washington D.C., without a second thought she knew where she wanted to go. As soon as the location was chosen, I knew what I wanted to do. Surprise her with a White House Tour. I quickly learned it’s a process to even be able to go to the White House. White House Tours are free, which made it the perfect gift, but I needed to send an email to my senator. Then fill out all our information and email it to their office.
Let me back up. You see, my daughter is a history buff. She loves history. Once a week, she volunteers at a local history estate of a well-known inventor. Here, she’s become the youngest person to volunteer and give estate tours. On any given day, she could give a tour to thirty people. When she gives tours, she tells tourist all about the different things the inventor created. Pretty much, she has to know her history. For 15, that’s pretty amazing.
Back to WH Tours … once I got the email, I was completely distraught. If you’re a mom, you understand. For my daughter, the WH Tour gift would have been the perfect gift for her. She loves history. The first thing you have to do is go to your Senator’s website. They have a place to sign up for WH tours. You pick multiple dates possible. Of course, our top date was her birthday.
Right now, our White House Tour has been cancelled. This article is as much about all the other families who received emails from their senators as it is my family. My daughter just represents all the other children who are sadden because they found out that that they too couldn’t get into the White House.
Children love history. Or it could be the kids just want the privilege of stepping inside the White House. This is a country that supports children having vast dreams, and thrilling career choices. We want our kids to pursue thoughts that they too could become President of the United States, a famous inventor, or a dedicated politician. This is the country that dreams.
Open WH Tours: What Can You Do?
If you have a twitter account, tweet @whitehouse to #openourWH.
Tweet your state senator.
Tweet your favorite news anchor to join @ericbolling and @Seanhannity by offering to pay a full week of White House Tours.
Send letters to the White House.
A Simple #OpenOurWH will suffice.
Open Our White House Update: As of 1:14 p.m. March 13, 2013, press secretary Jay Carney says that because of the sequester, closing White House tours is the best option. It might be a good time to also say that President Obama also has said “What I’m asking them is are there ways, for example, for us to accommodate school groups … who may have traveled here with some bake sales.”
Too completely different points of view from press secretary and the White House; not sure they know what to do with the American people who are demanding the White House be open to the public. Donald Trump has offered to pay for White House Tours. This offer has been denied by the White House.
Do You Agree or Disagree?
Sources:
Politico
