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mimi85

(1,805 posts)

26. The most gratifying thing I've ever done

Thu Jun 27, 2013, 09:26 PM

Jun 2013

was to work with adults in a literacy program at a local library. I gained far more than the people I worked with. The joy when a man who was quite a success in business (that didn't require much reading), but couldn't read his son a bedtime story was another moving experience. When he first read a story to me at the library, I had to hold my tears back.

Another was a young girl who was just shoved through high school and graduated, but read at the level of a second-third grader. She ended up with a good job, moved to another state. I still get letters (handwritten no less) from her about her family and beautiful child.

If anyone is looking for a volunteer opportunity, I strongly suggest working with your library. I promise you will gain as much, if not more, as your "students" who had the courage to ask for help.

My heart went out to this young girl. And just think how many more there are like her. It's heartbreaking.

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Highlight:

A Letter to Rachel Jeantel - An Apology on Behalf of the Whole World [View all] K Gardner Jun 2013 OP

Hear hear! Awknid Jun 2013 #1

Could be the dumbest thing I have read WhataKnight Jun 2013 #85

The dumbest thing written is your response. olegramps Jun 2013 #86

You have no idea who I am WhataKnight Jun 2013 #91

Have you ever thought that she had an untreated learning disability? obama2terms Jun 2013 #89

Please WhataKnight Jun 2013 #90

That's really sad, I'm so sorry that happened obama2terms Jun 2013 #94

Your personal feelings about this young woman have nothing SaveAmerica Jun 2013 #93

so, attacking the witness hopemountain Jun 2013 #95

Just thinking of the irony of what this young woman is going through BeyondGeography Jun 2013 #2

It's just been tearing me up.. hard to watch. I wanted to go hug her, to somehow do exactly what K Gardner Jun 2013 #5

That's exactly how I've felt. Wait Wut Jun 2013 #11

I think it was Glen Beck who was on the radio making fun of her tweets. Like a little boy he was Maraya1969 Jun 2013 #80

Yes, they should. But they're not. And this tells you much about a person. n/t K Gardner Jun 2013 #81

me too LittleGirl Jun 2013 #15

K&R HangOnKids Jun 2013 #3

k&r Little Star Jun 2013 #4

Tears! To the Greatest page of DU and read widely. Thanks for Khadijah's wisdom and clarity. freshwest Jun 2013 #6

Beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing. K&R n/t OneGrassRoot Jun 2013 #7

Posting this all over FB. You can too. nt kelliekat44 Jun 2013 #8

thanks for writing this. olddots Jun 2013 #9

Khadijah Costley White is the author. I just posted her eloquent and moving commentary.. K Gardner Jun 2013 #25

Thanks for posting the letter. I feel she has been put on trial. It isn't right. She is southernyankeebelle Jun 2013 #10

As a West Indian I understand all too well Maximumnegro Jun 2013 #12

What a perfect way of expressing how difficult it is for her to "play the part" so many of the K Gardner Jun 2013 #16

Histrionics. H2O Man Jun 2013 #13

Literary license. But is that your entire commentary? nolabear Jun 2013 #14

Beautiful, nolabear. Thank you. n/t K Gardner Jun 2013 #18

You're welcome. But it is a real question. I'd like to know. nolabear Jun 2013 #19

Love your heart for what you do, and try to do every day. As an ER nurse, I K Gardner Jun 2013 #23

Love you back. Mr. Bear has a heart issue and Youngest Bear abdominal migraines. nolabear Jun 2013 #28

My comment has H2O Man Jun 2013 #36

Well really nobody NEEDS to do anything. We just do. nolabear Jun 2013 #38

What a perfect Assholian Example of why Rachel deserves an apology FROM THE WHOLE WORLD. Thank you. K Gardner Jun 2013 #17

Pathetic. H2O Man Jun 2013 #35

So where's my apology FROM THE WHOLE WORLD for reading this post? EOTE Jun 2013 #62

I agree with you (though you may not with me, lol). About the third "I'm sorry" it started to jtuck004 Jun 2013 #42

I found it condescending H2O Man Jun 2013 #48

I laughed when the defense attorney kept pressing her, and she let loose with a bit, and jtuck004 Jun 2013 #49

Wow, this seems exceptionally harsh coming from you. Sheldon Cooper Jun 2013 #51

The author H2O Man Jun 2013 #59

What i'm sensing is that you find it offensive that someone other than you has written something K Gardner Jun 2013 #61

Think what you want. H2O Man Jun 2013 #66

Travon was her best friend it seems, we should honor her flamingdem Jun 2013 #20

She didn't ask for any of this and to hear the criticisms of her is indeed heartbreaking. Marie Marie Jun 2013 #33

Very nice letter...Wish she could read it herself!!! n/t onecent Jun 2013 #21

I hope someone will make certain that she does.. :-) eom K Gardner Jun 2013 #24

The most gratifying thing I've ever done mimi85 Jun 2013 #26

This is a wonderful idea, and as you say, you get back more than you give.. K Gardner Jun 2013 #29

HUGE K & R !!! - Thank You !!! WillyT Jun 2013 #22

I'll add another voice to the apology! DrewFlorida Jun 2013 #27

Bless her heart! tblue Jun 2013 #30

Such a wonderful statement. TDale313 Jun 2013 #31

#1: the whole world isn't watching. #2: Most people aren't thinking what yu say they are. Honeycombe8 Jun 2013 #32

#1. Yu is not a word. YOU is a word. 2. 'Whole world' was probably meant to be a largely symbolic K Gardner Jun 2013 #60

Whoa. You might want to see a therapist about your anger issues. Honeycombe8 Jun 2013 #83

You are not insulting, just sickingly condescending. olegramps Jun 2013 #87

you better believe that the whole world IS watching noiretextatique Jun 2013 #69

For someone who claims to be an "English major", bvar22 Jun 2013 #78

A lot of hyperbole. Beacool Jun 2013 #34

Prepare her to John2 Jun 2013 #52

I did not say that she lied. Beacool Jun 2013 #58

If, you read an John2 Jun 2013 #84

Post removed Post removed Jun 2013 #63

why don't some of you think this case is being watched all over the world? noiretextatique Jun 2013 #70

Amen. n/t K Gardner Jun 2013 #72

I Would Like To Add One More Thing To The Apology DallasNE Jun 2013 #37

thank you - beautifully said mettamega Jun 2013 #39

Thank you annm4peace Jun 2013 #40

thank you, K Gardner and thanks to Cha Jun 2013 #41

k&r... spanone Jun 2013 #43

i didn't know that English was not her First Language JI7 Jun 2013 #44

Cross-examination is a repulsive exercise, in general, King_Klonopin Jun 2013 #45

beautiful and well-deserved reusrename Jun 2013 #46

WTF? lbrtbell Jun 2013 #47

Was she under Oath John2 Jun 2013 #54

Given her willingness to lie to the prosector who interviewed her in April 2012, Vattel Jun 2013 #96

Go away sinkingfeeling Jun 2013 #65

I'm sorry that at age 19 she can barely put together a grammatical sentence. Nye Bevan Jun 2013 #50

She speaks English way better than I can speak Creole. nt MADem Jun 2013 #53

You mean that, John2 Jun 2013 #56

and what does that have to do with her testimony? noiretextatique Jun 2013 #73

Amen nt duhneece Jun 2013 #55

Reminder. Someone was murdered sarge43 Jun 2013 #57

Wow..unbelievable article. Posting this to FB, thank you for the link ! n/t K Gardner Jun 2013 #64

You're welcome n/t sarge43 Jun 2013 #67

Posts like this keeps me coming back here. It was agonizing watching that defense lawyer hassle her. grantcart Jun 2013 #68

I know what you mean, GC. I take breaks, sometimes for months, but usually come back to find K Gardner Jun 2013 #71

:) Crow73 Jun 2013 #74

Seeing and hearing her FloridaJudy Jun 2013 #75

One thing I noticed about Rachel was her seemingly keen memory of days and dates. On a couple of K Gardner Jun 2013 #76

I noticed that too TorchTheWitch Jun 2013 #92

defending gun-humping vigilante cowards is hard work Skittles Jul 2013 #97

K&R MotherPetrie Jun 2013 #77

I Co-Sign this letter in my heart. bvar22 Jun 2013 #79

Are you sorry she thinks rascist talk is ok BigD_95 Jun 2013 #82

Rachel Jeantel Should Be A Wake-Up Call To Black Parents sevenseas Jun 2013 #88