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This is paper's response to letter above:

We print this letter here with hesitation. We do it because we believe it is a document which New Republic readers will care to have seen, for we believe it is representative of spirit of American soldiers; we print it also because it brings home more forcibly than we could ever hope to, vital need of good reading matter for our soldiers and sailors. Our troops had been abroad a short time when General Pershing cabled for books. The French Government, we have been told, in a list of articles men should supply themselves with, put down books as one of first necessities. Soon we folks at home will hear same call from men themselves. "Send me tobacco- and books!" That will be demand. If you have a boy in service-a brother- a son- a friend- send him books if you send him anything. Abroad, literally millions of pocket size volumes have been sent to men in trenches by people of our allies. Put yourself in place of these men. They must sit still very often, while undergoing most frightful bombardment, waiting to attack or to be attacked. Many men go mad because of this terrible mental strain. What they need, above all else, is to keep their minds normal. And when they go back into billets, after service at front, they demand books all more. They have gone through such frightful experiences that they require something to put them in touch again with a sane world. REAL POCKET-SIZE VOLUMES NEEDED

Remember this, when you send books. Your soldier boy cannot carry an ordinary size book with him to trenches. What he needs are real pocket size volumes, so that he can carry several in his pockets without inconvenience. Little Leather Library volumes fill this need perfectly. They are 3 1/4" X 4 1/4" in size, and are bound in genuine leather so that they will stand hardest wear. Over a million of them were sold before war to people who wished to read good books while travelling. Since we entered war, over two hundred thousand of these volumes have been bought for soldiers and sailors as gifts.

If you have a boy or a friend in service, make your choice of titles listed below. If they do not prove to be what you expect, your money will be cheerfully refunded. __________________________________________________ (Just a note. The Little Leather Library Books sold for thirty cents, postage prepaid.)

I hope you have enjoyed this piece of history, and have seen as I have, inherent value that reading has in our lives. It is not merely entertainment. It is therapy, it is soothing, and under worst of circumstances, it can give us strength and grounding that we need to pull through.

Parenting always means walking a fine line between protecting your child and setting him or her free to learn on their own, how to manage life's downs and ups. After September 11th attacks, I had to do something that I am sure many parents had to do and no parent in America should ever have to do. Sad and determined, I called my daughter. "Hon, I said, I don't want to worry you, but I have to tell you something. Times have changed and you need to be careful. I want you to live your life as usual, but stay close to school, go out in groups and think carefully about where you go at night. And, please, when you party or shop, take care and don't go alone." She listened quietly. "Mom," she said. "I didn't want to worry you, but I was in a Seven-Eleven and some guy got nasty with me. He asked my religion and wanted to know if I was Moslem. It was scary. I was with my friends and we left." Painful memories of Jews, Japanese, Tutsis, Hispanics, Armenians, Blacks -- other racial, ethnic, or religious groups under siege -- flooded my brain. "You did right thing, I responded. Just use your "street smarts" and you'll be fine." I hung up, feeling helpless, angry and heartbroken. The safest, most liberal country in world was no longer safe. Not for my daughter, not for those of dark complexion, not for anyone who looked Middle Eastern or stereotypically Islamic.

I believe she will never again be as safe as she once was. I brought her to a free country where color shouldn't matter. As many ethnic groups know all to well, it does. And, after September 11th, I fear it will matter more. She is my daughter. I love her and my love is colorblind, but not everyone else's is. September 11th brought ugly unfounded prejudices once again to fore. In past, it has been other groups that think, dress, or who look different who became recipients of hate. This time it is Moslems.

We are a diverse nation. Tolerance is our strength. Each of us has an obligation to be vigilant and to not let ignorance overcome wisdom. Now, it is my turn to worry about my child. Next time it could be yours. My daughter is an American. She shouldn't ever have had to face discrimination and concern for her safety. Now she does. September 11th has presented us with a new American Tragedy. We cannot let evil of prejudice prevail.

This column's for you,

DR. D.

Dorree Lynn, PH.D.