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Detroit Free Press

September 3, 1985

 

Tears for Samantha 

Detroit Free Press, Monday, Sept. 3, 1985

 

With all the hundreds of people killed in aviation disasters recently, it took an eight-person plane accident in Maine to make me cry.  But cry I did.  Samantha Smith’s death touched a nerve in me.  My tears flowed for her, for her family, for hundreds of others killed in plane crashes lately and most of all for the death of the national symbol for political world peace.

 

The nation took notice of Samantha Smith two years ago because she was a pen pal of the late Soviet leader Yuri Andropov.  We viewed him a part of different ideology not as a potential friend.

 

I certainly hope the spirit of Samantha Smith is taken to the meeting in November.  Maybe something good could come from the tragedy in Maine if President Reagan and the Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev put aside scene of the animosity  and ? and speak with candor and concern of Samantha.

 

Debbie Diesen

Midland

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