In the wake of impending war with Iraq, Mrs. Baker gave the assignment to her second grade class at Rockway Elementary to write letters to President Bush. Although she corrected their spelling and sentence structure, Mrs. Baker gave them no form letter to guide them, and the result was a surprising variety of thoughts on the subject. Enjoy the sampling:

Dear Mr. President,
I remember all those flags the last time we went to war, and I hope they come back. That was really neat.

Kimberly Tyson (age 8)

Dear President Bush,
Dad says Sodom is the devil, and you are out to get him. Thank you for killing the devil. I can't wait for evil to be gone.

Ryan Denton (age 8)

Dear President,
Go get Saddam like you got bin Laden!!! I hate terrorists!! We should bomb them!!!! I want to fly planes and drop bombs when I grow up!!! Go America!!!!

Freddy Middleton (age 7)

Dear Mr. President,
War makes me sad. Please don't kill any kids or nice people.

Ginger Williams (age 7)

Dear president guy,
This is stupid. War is stupid. You're stupid. School is stupid. I want to go home.

Chris Jungle Jr. (age 10)

Dear Mr. President,
Mommy says we're fighting for oil. I don't know what that is, but Daddy says it will makes sense when I get a car. Thank you for fighting for my car. When I can drive, I will think of you.

Consuelo Gonzales (age 8)

Dear Mr. President,
Please keep our troops safe in the desert. I live in the desert too. When I'm bigger, I will get a gun and help you.

Timmy Orson (age 7)

Dear President Bush,
How are your wife and kids? I hope they are well. I am 8 years old and go to Rockway Elementary. My teacher is Mrs. Baker. She is nice. I like to play on the swing set and the slide the most. I hope we meet each other some day.

Elizabeth Johanson (age 8)

Dear Mr. President,
Remember when Frodo fell in the water? Then, Gollum pulled him out and said Don't Follow the Lights? That's my favorite part of the war so far. Look after Frodo, Sam, Aragorn and Gandalf. I think Gollum is up to something.

Derrick Price (age 9)

Dear Mr. President Bush,
Good luck on your next war. I'm glad you won the last one. Are you coming to our school soon? It is hard to write to someone I have never met. Do you have any kids my age? Bring them along.

Sasha Benton (age 8)

Dear Prez,
They're forming in a straight line, they're going through a tight wind, the kids are losing their mind, The Blitzkrieg Bop. Hey ho, let's go. Shoot 'em in the back now. What they want, I don't know. They're all revved up and ready to go.

Joey Ramone (age 7)

Dear President Bush,
The economy is in the pooper. War is expensive. No one has touched us in over a year. You are neglecting things like assisting the education of the kids in Mrs. Baker's class. You are losing the trust of the nation. Fix this soon, or your last two years in office will be ugly ones. I like to play on the jungle gym.

Chris Jungle Sr. (age 28)

Chris Jungle has been held back every year since 1980.