FILE THIS ONE under “Awww, that’s sweet.” Twins Jenna and Barbara Bush, who I’ve never found particularly interesting or, to be frank, worthy of admiration, went a long way toward redemption in my eyes with their letter to the Obama sisters, published yesterday in The Wall Street Journal. Their gentle, playful tone is a good reminder that those poor girls had to endure adolescence in the public eye, never an easy experience (just ask Amy Carter, or Chelsea Clinton.) But they had each other, and, it seems, they had fun. Of course, a cynic might think that the twins were just trying to steal some thunder from the man of the hour. After all, the President’s heartwarming letter to his daughters was released Sunday. Either way you look at it, there’s a lot of love and good advice flowing towards the darling Obama girls. Let’s hope it continues.
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cute post, Paige. I never particularly loved the Bush twins, but you’re right, this does paint them in a more caring light. I just read an article in VF about Princess Margaret (sister to current Queen Elizabeth), and it actually made me reflect a bit on Sasha and Malia, and how the public expectations must put enormous pressure on sister relationships.
Thanks for linking this. letter from the Bush sisters. It did make me have a little more compassion for them. I’d love to read the letter that President Bush left for President Obama.
The letter Obama wrote his daughters was so eloquent. He always is. I had seen part of it on the news read by some kids. I don’t evny any kid growing up in the limelight like that.
May I disagree and say that the Bush twins’ letter was disingenuous? And I too read the Princess Margaret story in VF and I do think the Obama girls are now our public princesses. They are going to push every other celebrity tween to the back of the bus! Hopefully, from now on they will be shielded from cameras for the most part because it would really be a shame if they started to worry about how they look and what they wear all the time. It’s tough enough for a normal kid to get dressed in the morning..
Morning, Dan! I wouldn’t put it past them to be disingenuous. Not at all. As I said above, “Of course, a cynic might think that the twins were just trying to steal some thunder from the man of the hour. “ I wouldn’t put anything past the family that decided to appear at their vanquisher’s inauguration bedecked in purple–the color of Empire.I wouldn’t put anything past the family that decided to appear at their vanquisher’s inauguration bedecked in purple–the color of Empire.
Yes, those purple scarves were something else! So conspicuously and self-consciously regal!
I sure wouldn’t mind seeing less of Miley and the other celeb tweens, but I do feel badly for the intense spotlight– and commercialism–surrounding them. (The whole family really.) I just read there’s Beanie Babies of the girls now. Bleh.
http://tinyurl.com/bbpjmw
“Back of the bus” — interesting choice of words, Dan! LOL
“Our seven-year-old imaginations soared as we played in the enormous, beautiful rooms; our dreams, our games, as romantic as her surroundings. At night, the house sang us quiet songs through the chimneys as we fell asleep.”
Nice writing, Bush Girls Press Person.
Well, I’ve never paid any attention to the Bush twins but I have to say I thought that was a pretty sweet letter and it brought tears to my eyes. Thanks for sharing it!