When I was 8, Ronald Reagan went to Reykjavik to summit with Gorbachev and it was the most important thing ever, because for those of you who aren’t old enough to remember the early 80’s, we were actually still really scared of the USSR back then.  Ivan Drago was only like half a joke. 

I was worried, because I’d voted for Mondale in the Kegonsa Elementary mock election and had no faith in Ronald Reagan, and my mother suggested I might feel better if i wrote him a letter telling him I didn’t agree with his politics, but wished him luck anyway. 

I did this. And then my friend Megan copied my idea and wrote an all-positive letter about how much she liked him, because her parents were Republicans.  Guess who got an autographed picture with her glowing reply which she showed to our 3rd grade class? Hint: Not the HONEST(EST) one.

Why i’m telling this story:

1) As always, to imply that I am cool and interesting.

2) To ask, what was my mother up to? Do you know who hated Ronald Reagan more than my mother? No, I’m really asking you. Do you know? Because I don’t. Other than maybe AIDS researchers and my grandpa.  Sure, 80’s nostalgia and the more recent, more blatant terribleness of Bushes I and II make people look back on him as this charming, elder statesman of the modern republican party, but if you cared about non-rich humans? Reagan? Sucked. And my mom hated him extra because his administration cut arts education and she lost her job as the cool art teacher at Stoughton High School as a direct result of it.  She’s a pretty good, nice person, but nice enough to give that kind of civics lesson despite kneejerk, anti-Reaganism?

I think she was using her daughter to tell the president (via his letter answerers) that even little kids could tell he was a schmuck and not to fuck it up and get us buried. Or else she’d have just had me throw a pot to take my mind off of it.

At least, I hope that’s what she was doing. Because it’s awesome.

Dear Mr. President,

I hate you but good luck because AMERICA!

Love,

Erin Hill