If You Ask Me
by Eleanor Roosevelt

My husband and I decided some years ago that our small contributions to peace would be never to tell or repeat "Eleanor stories," racial-prejudice stories or jokes, but we differ on our reactions to others' telling such stories. My husband says that if other persons make racial jokes, it is like beating your head against a stone wall to argue with them. He just changes the subject. I "light into" them, and tell them if they can't say anything good, not to say anything. Which of us is correct?

I have read that it is difficult for Russia to understand us fully because of differences in our languages which are lost in translation. This is doubtless true of other nations too. Don't you think it would be an excellent idea for the United Nations to push the idea of a common language which every child should be required to master in addition to his own? English has become somewhat of a world language, although it is considered one of the difficult languages to master. Could we not have a simplified English such as Theodore Roosevelt advocated?

I am a girl of 13 of the Jewish faith. My mother and I have been discussing the problem of eventual dates with boys. My mother says I should confine my dates to Jewish boys. I say it does not matter with whom I go out, Jewish boys or boys of other religions. What should I do?

In a recently published eulogy of Marian Anderson this statement was made: "It was the religious voice of a whole religious people—probably the most God-obsessed (and man-despised) people since the ancient Hebrews." Please tell me why are the Negroes probably the most man-despised people?

Is there any provision in the work of the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis for the rehabilitation of victims of infantile paralysis before the time the organization was formed? My husband had infantile paralysis as a child. He was affected in both legs, but regained much of the use of one. On the other he wore a brace and was able to lead a happy, normal life. Six years ago he fell and broke his hip. At 43 he found himself confined to bed for life. We don't want charity, yet the kind of specialized attention which he needs is almost impossible for us to get. The orthopedic specialists I know don't make house calls. He can't go to a doctor's office except in an ambulance. When you have difficulty keeping your bank balance at $50, you just don't go around making too many demands. I feel his morale is getting so low that I must do something.

I am a houseworker now. How may we organize? I'm receiving substantial pay for these days, but some employers want blood, not sweat alone. Would you please help me with suggestions?

I am eleven and a half and like to listen to mystery stories on the radio. My mother and father object because they are too exciting and limit me to one a day. I would like your opinion, please.

Would you please clear up the confusion which exists about your name? Newspapers sometimes refer to you as Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt, and sometimes as Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt. Which is your preference?

I have a daughter, 17, who will finish her freshman year in college this spring. She wants to quit school and marry a boy of 20, also a freshman in college, in June. He goes to school under the G.I. Bill of Rights. I feel that she is too young to take on the responsibilities of married life. Am I right in asking her to put off marriage now? If so, will you please help to convince her of the advantages of this?