WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- Three weeks ago, former teacher Laura Bush was set to talk about education with Sen. Edward Kennedy and other Capitol Hill leaders when they got word that a second plane had rammed New York's World Trade Center. The country -- and the world -- got a lesson in terror Sept. 11, and the first lady is still talking about teachers and children.
Out of the horror of the attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and a foiled hijacking that wound up as a crash in a Pennsylvania field, Bush emerged more impressed with the American people -- and their teachers -- she said Tuesday night on CNN's Larry King Live.
Bush said that at earlier points in her life she had questioned her faith. But not now.
"At this vantage point, I think that, after a certain amount of time, no matter how strong your faith is, you know that evil things happen, and that, that's just part of life. And we know that," Bush said. "It's a terrible, terrible thing, but actually does strengthen my faith. And I think all Americans are finding strength in their faith."
Later, she said she was initially surprised at America's reaction, but then said: "I don't know why I'm surprised because I know how great Americans are. That's one thing I got to know when I go to campaign for my husband around the country."
"But I also think (the survivors) are strengthened because they know that all America prays for them and they everybody in America grieves for them. And so I guess it's sort of a mutual strength," Bush said.
She talked about visiting the New York firehouse that lost the most firefighters when the burning buildings collapsed around them, and the New York City teachers in the shadow of Ground Zero who had to flee, taking with them the last several students still in school, when the towers tumbled.
"You know, when teachers sign on to teach, they expect a lot of things. But they don't expect that," Bush said.
She praised the teachers -- in New York and across the country -- for their dedication to students and their caring and compassion.
"It's important for everyone, for parents and teachers, to let children talk," she said. "They might irritate us because they ask the same question over and over and over. And a lot of times, those are questions we can't answer, we don't have an answer for," Bush said. "But it's really important for children to talk. And when they don't talk, if your child is especially quiet, I think parents need to do something, and teachers need to do something, about trying to get a conversation started in a real -- you know. Not in a threatening or scary way."
She said she has seen the effect on her husband, President George W. Bush, and that she may have lost a little of him because he gave more of himself to the country when he stepped up to the microphone in the House of Representatives for the speech that made him a wartime president.
"It was great," watching her husband speak, she said. "It was moving, and very -- you know, the thing is, that all of these things, every one of them that has happened, I'm proud that people have gotten to see my husband as he really is.
"But any of us would give all that up, if it hadn't happened," she said.
"It's unbelievably stressful," Lara Bush said. "I thought today he looked a little tired. I don't' think he has up until now. But he's doing great. He's very resolved. He's doing very well.
"The fact is," she said at one point, "is that most of us are safe. Nearly all of uas are safe. Our children are safe in their schools. We need to reassure them, of that.
"We're safe in our homes. We're safe. ... I know that people are getting back on planes and flying again, which I'm glad about," she said.
She ended the interview with an encouraging note: "I want to get across the message that that I think people need to go about their daily lives and start feeling secure again, and certainly help make their children feel secure as they go about their daily lives."
