Despite the fact that President Obama's speech is intended to be an inspirational and pro-education message. these Fathers and Mothers of the Year are objecting to the language in the list of suggested classroom activities before, during and following the address for students in pre-kindergarten through sixth grade. For example, "What do you think the President wants us to do?" and "Are we able to do what President Obama is asking of us?". So much for "Ask now what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." With all of that being said, the following is just a short list of the other aspects of this story which both amuse and infuriate me:
- Another section of the outline for students in pre-kindergarten through sixth grade that these lunatic parents took issue is the suggestion of writing "letters to themselves about what they can do to help the President". To themselves? What is the harm in that? The White House eventually caved and changed the language in that suggestion to writing letters about "how they can achieve their short term and long term education goals". With a little research, the Obama administration would have realized that this concession was clearly a mistake. Why? President Obama is certainly not the first President to speak directly to the country's school children and youths. President George H.W. Bush delivered an address in 1991 to students nationwide from a junior high school in Washington, D.C. In fact, President Bush began his speech by stating "Thanks for allowing me to visit your classroom to talk to you...and millions more in classrooms all across the country". At the conclusion of his speech, Bush requested of the students: "Write me a letter -- and I'm serious about this one -- write me a letter about ways you can help us achieve our goals." Sound familiar? Yes, expect this request wasn't for the students to write letters to themselves.
- In a wildly incorrect accusation, Jim Greer, the Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, uttered that, in President Obama's attempt to "indoctrinate America's children to his socialist agenda", "school children across our nation will be forced to watch the President justify his plans for government run health care, banks and automobile companies; increasing taxes on those who create jobs and racking up more debt than any other President". When asked by POLITICO.com to provide any sort of basis for Greer's comments, the Republican Party of Florida was, not surprisingly, unable to offer any type of support to that effect.
- In the areas of Virginia in which I live and work, things aren't any better. Betsy Overkamp-Smith, the spokesperson for the York County School Division, remarked that "We've had quite a few complaints about it. None of the comments have been, 'I think this is a great idea'." District officials with the Chesterfield County Public Schools commented that "We do not wish to interfere with our staff's ability to repeat past opening day successes".
Seriously? Do these whining parents and politicians really believe that, in a 15-20 minute speech, President Obama can brainwash our nation's students in less time than it takes to deliver a pizza? (Well, if he did accomplish that major feat, it would be the fault of the parents, not President Obama.) It is astonishing that these all of a sudden perfect parents are completely against the President of the United States addressing our school children and youth. Maybe they would be more comfortable with the situation if President Obama delivered the address either (1) as a character in a video game, (2) while trying to escape from the killer in the "Saw" movies or (3) while riding in a shopping cart with the cast from "Jackass". I'm sure their sons and daughters would.
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