Forum Index
»
Political Discussion
Obama speaking to students...
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
|
My kids aren't even in school yet, but I'm still interested to know what you think about President Obama speaking to the schoolchildren of America on Tuesday.
Several school districts around the country are considering NOT showing the speech because many conservative parents are calling to complain that the president is trying to indoctrinate their children with socialist ideas. The Dept of Education says the speech is not about policy. In 1991, President Bush spoke to America's scholchildren. Democrats at the time claimed it was a "political move" and wasteful of money. Personally, I have to agree with a statement in last week's NYT article by some parents in Houston (of all places!) that "telling children they should not hear out the president of the United States, even if their parents dislike his policies, sends the wrong message — that one should not listen to someone with whom you disagree." What do you think? Would you let your child hear President Obama speak - even though you're not present? Would you have them abstain and watch it together at home? |
Anonymous
| The presidency should not be political, even though most presidents make it political. I guess in contrast to President Obama, I am a conserative, even though I'd call my self more moderate. The problem is right now the presidency is highly political. As long as the speech is not political, and from what I have heard of it, it's not, then the president should be in front of our children as an example of leadership and neutrality. I think I am ok with it. My child isn't in school yet. I remember (pre-Nixon) wanting to be president. |
Anonymous
| Of course they should hear it. He's the President of the United States. It's just being a poor sport to try to keep our children from listening, not to mention respecting him or the office. |
Anonymous
| President Reagan addressed American school children. He even worked in a little "propaganda" about his tax cuts. No one compared him to Fidel Castro or talked about indoctrination. Why is it so hard to let Obama be president? |
Anonymous
| The statement that the presidency should not be political is a head-scratcher for me. If the job of the presidency is not to set policy and execute that policy, then what is it? It's fine to disagree with the president's policies, but refusing to allow children to watch a presidential address on the importance of education smacks of a lack of patriotism to me. |
Anonymous
| It's a political fight to get to the office of the presidency, but at that I point, the president's first responsibility should be to his country, not to getting elected again. The last one didn't, and I am pretty sure this one can't help himself. It's what the great presidents have managed to do. I know I am polyanna in that feeling. Policy is one thing, Politics is another. |
Anonymous
| p.s. the lack of patriotism isn't a lack of patriotism, it's being political. I do think the president should be iconic, like the flag, but if a president insists on being political (i.e., more in favor of his party than the country), then he can't be iconic. Those keeping their children away, I think, are afraid he is going to be political. The speech doesn't seem political, though, and takes a step toward iconic. Good luck to him. |
Anonymous
Is that a joke? George W. wasn't political? That "Mission Accomplished" banner was policy, not politics? You're nuts, lady. |
Anonymous
I've heard of "Vote early, vote often" but I don't think elementary school kids will be voting in the next election.... |
Anonymous
| Yeah, I don't get why people wouldn't want their kids see the President speak. He IS the President. I diagreed with pretty much everything Bush stood for, but I still wouldn't have taken my kid out of class if they were going to watch him. I never heard of that. I remember watching Presidents speak in school. Its about history. Trust me, no matter how liberal or conservative a school is, usually kids follow what their parents think. |
Anonymous
|
Hey, what the heck happened?
I sent my very capitalist kid to school today and just picked him up early -- he's a socialist! That speech must have been very powerful.... |
Anonymous
|
link to the video of his speech.
I can see why people objected to it -- this is horrible stuff. http://www.dailykostv.com/w/002108 |
Anonymous
Great comment! I just read the transcript (thanks to the PP that posted the link) - great stuff! I don't care what party a president belongs to - giving a speech like this one is nothing less than inspirational. I simply can't comprehend why anyone would object. |
Anonymous
| Absolutely horrible. My kid doesn't need to have the president telling him how he is the future of our country and to do good in school. Such nonsense! |
Anonymous
Seriously!!! Do your homework? Study? Wash your hands to avoid getting sick? What leader would teach such craziness to children???!!!! Teaching them that ketchup is a vegetable -- now THAT is useful information for school children. 
|