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What was to dislike about Obama’s speech?
Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2009 | 2:06 a.m.
I am a teacher with 30 years of experience in the Clark County School District. I am also a registered Republican who did not vote for Barack Obama for president.
However, after reading Monday the advance text of the speech he delivered Tuesday to our nation’s schools, I am baffled as to why anyone would be offended by it. The president gave clear, concise advice to our students about the importance of education and the effort needed by each student.
He obviously cares enough to inspire our children to be the best they can be. Critics should have viewed this speech before passing judgment on it.
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Well put Rob, but remember so many parents are basically disinterested in their child's education. It is far easier to blame teachers for the failure of their child to achieve and behave in school than it is to work to achieve that at home.
Fear mongers cleverly and successfully indoctrinated the public into believing the Obama school speech would be a ploy for sinister indoctrination of school age kids into socialism,communism, or other imagined "..isms". The students who did not hear the speech are forever the losers and the nation will suffer as well.
For many ignorant parents it is far better to encourage your child to dream of being the fantastic, famous and rich rapper, actor or athlete than to concentrate on education. The dream of riches and fame apparently is far more important to some parents and their kids than a quality education. The probability that those fantasyland dreams will never be achievable is not part of the equation for their kids.
How many parents do you know who spend endless hours and money having their child train and pracice a particular sport but spend little of the same effort coaching their kid in reading, doing math and writing proficiently?
How many athletes ever actually make it in professional sports considering the actual number of potentially available positions and the number of players competing for the same job?
The fantasyland dream of parents and misguided students continues on; reality is hard to accept.
The president was 100% accurate in his advise and counsel to students: stay in school and get a good education; do it for yourselves and the nation.
Well said, vsestini.
The Democrats and the media are quick to forget.
In 1991 Bush gave a similar speech to high school students.
Not only did the the Democrats protest it....they also held Congressional hearings into it.
The speech was good. I object to the campaign style. Was this guy running for class president? Why did he talk in front of a "live" audience? I this guy so insecure he can't just talk to us as Americans? He was talking to kids not his Kool-Aid drinking donors.
Message - A+
Messenger -D-
There is one reason for the GOP's foolish overreaction: collectively, they have self-esteem issues.
Like a rejected teenager acting out with drugs and hanging with the wrong crowd, the Republicans continue to act in ways that reduce their credibility. Their low self-esteem is rapidly creating a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Over the past three decades the GOP leadership has (d)evolved from the great Reagan, to an okay Bush 41, to the disaster that was Bush 43. Their policy wonks, like William F. Buckley, have been replaced by certifiables, like Glen Beck, and intellectual sloths, like Sean Hannity. Debate zingers have gone from "there you go again!" to "SHUT UP! JUST SHUT UP!"
The only heroes of any majority of Republicans in recent years have been petty mudslingers, empty suits, outspoken anti/pseudo-scientists, and a senator who was the bane of Rush Limbaugh in 2000 (McCain).
Clearly the party needs a level-headed "parent" to lift it out of its misery. Ironically, until such a person can appeal to most Republicans, the GOP's deleterious politics continue to make that feat increasingly difficult.
..|..
Rob, And Vsestini:
You are both right, with that said I must add that It seems as today's parents regardless of there choice of Republican, or Democrat are using the School system as a socialized day care center so that they the parents can go do what they need to do during the school hours.
On a more serious note than a mindless speech made by a clueless and ineffective leader - does anyone actually believe that Barack Obama was not "aware" of the radical racist and communist ideology of his recently "resigned" "Green Jobs" czar VAN JONES? Meanwhile, the mainstream media that sent hundreds of reporters to Alaska to dig up dirt on Sarah Palin could not hear or recognize the subversive ideology of VAN JONES as expressed by his OWN statements?
During the early years of the "cold war" with the former Soviet Union, the American public was incensed and flabbergasted that a communist (Alger Hiss)worked in the State Department. Now, Barack Obama had a SELF-PROCLAIMED communist working in the White House! Are liberal Democrats actually that dumb or are they like their idol and do not have any problem with racists and communists in our federal government?
Hey SgtRock... Ive noticed that you are being ignored this morning. You have posted on several discussions about Bush's speech to the schools in 1991 being criticized to the point of an investigation by the Democrats.
Some people "can't accept the truth..." and will go on believing what their caretakers want them to believe.
keglined says: "...GOP's foolish overreaction..."
vsetine says: "Fear mongers"
AngryReader says: "...veiled racism..."
And the "teacher." After 30 years of being a teacher he/she has never seen anything like this.
I hope this teacher did not have the bias while teaching as is evident now.
When liberals can't defend the incompetence and immorality of their leader, they resort to calling his detractors "racist." Doing so is the last resort of a limited and vindictive intellect! The "real" racists is the 94% of a particular segment of the electorate that voted for Barack Obama because of his skin color. Smarten up or put your pen down!
AngryReader: I would rather be a "toadie for SgtRock" then a closed minded zealot for either political parties.
AngryReader and other koolaid drinkers....when you pull out the race card it is like waving the white flag....it shows you have no meaningful arguments to present.
"There is one reason for the GOP's foolish overreaction: collectively, they have self-esteem issues."
In 1991, the Democrats held Congressional hearings on Bush's similar speech to high schools students.
Talk about overreaction....I guess that mean in 1991 the Democrats had zero self esteem.
I would like to add to Rob comment, yes why are people offended by the President's comments to the children. I have been out of school for 25 years and things are so different. Kids are not motivated to be all they can be. More people need to talk with the childrent because somewhere somehow we as parents are failing!
No, overall we parents are not failing... Parents are doing an excellent job of raising their children. Its a tough world out there and parents have their hands full, not only providing support for their children, but also trying to filter some of the nonsense that is being taught by teachers who are bias on political, sexual preferences and religious matters. After school, then its their peers, TV, movies etc. trying to bend their minds.
As Hillary once said: "It takes a village to raise a child." Maybe in some cases...
But for me and a lot of other parents, I don't want politicians, religious leaders or zealots interfering with the way I raise my children.
Man, I just die laughing reading the "I'M NOT A RASCIST" whiners!
If the shoe fits...
gmag39: Would you care to explain why you think that if anyone opposes the current administration in any way, they are a rascist?
With AngryGuy, it's always about Mister Charlie.
Lar, you know that's not what I'm sayin', big fella. Now just stop that. I'm pretty sure you are just acting dumb on this one, right?
Influence is all around us, from billboards, to even what our next door neighbor buys. Corporate marketing is the main culprit, they infuse their products into every walk of life scenario, and then the consuming public buys it, without regard for its ramifications on our young people's developing minds. This is all under the guise of free speech, which of course is a necessary evil, in a capitalistic society.
Moreover, it will always be up to the parents, to set aside quality time, for instructing their children about the consequences of their actions, and the choices that are at their will, free will, but, with a lasting price tag of some form.
We all pay, and sometimes, we the people in order to form a more perfect union, will have to pay more, sometimes, paying the ultimate price, more than the ones who caused the problems to begin with. Get over it, we are all children, some just a little more childish than others, but at the end of the recess (day) we all will be accountable for our actions.
There are third world countries with the same mind set as those of some of our fellow neighbors/ bloggers, here in America, none the less American, and entitled to vent as we all do. The only place the President could have been barred would have been a private school, not a public school.
If parents don't like the influence their children receive in our public schools remove them. Become a part of the PTA, or they can enroll their children in private, unfunded by government, school, no need for school vouchers either.
First my child gets put in a class with many black and mexican kids, then the school shows the speech to my kindergartner, now they serve Taco's and Snow Cones at back to school night! whats the world coming to?
No im kidding.
I am a republican, I thought the speech was great. I know that the Presidents speech is more beneficial to many children than anything else could be. I am proud that the President felt education and the US children are important enough to make this a priority. I agree with everything he said and love that my kindergartner is already talking about the President.
If you are a republican using this forum to bash the president or the Democrat party, please refrain from your comment, you are making all other republicans, including myself, look bad.
I called the 5 separate schools my children attend yesterday to find that not one of them was showing the President's speech. I wish they had. Personally, I wanted to see and hear it for myself along with my children. The thing that bothered me was having it shown at school where I was unable to attend and then have a productive discussion with my children about it. Other than the choice of venue, I had no problem with him telling kids to stay in school, get an education, etc..
I happen to have 7 children. And let me explain to some of you who think it's okay to lump me, and other parents like me, into the category of not caring about their education--you are DEAD WRONG! How dare anyone assume that every parent across the board, who is a Republican, has no interest in their children. Talk about ignorance....
I'll tell you what I get sick of as a parent:
I get sick to death of the "race card" being yanked out and tossed into my children's faces and mine when I don't agree with policy. I get sick of the political tripe that teachers bellow in classrooms. I get sick of being told that parents don't care. I get sick of hearing people continually call each other stupid! I get sick of back and forth about ridiculous NEWS people! Seriously! They are NEWS people! If you don't like what they say, turn off your T.V. and be productive!!! Find another form of entertainment. These people are PAID to say what they say on BOTH sides of the street.
WHY? WHY? WHY? Do people put so much worth into these "celebrities" and "news anchors"? WHY?? When the end of the day comes, who sleeps in your house, who buys your food, pays your bills, washes your laundry? NOT television personalities. It's YOU, the American.
It's time to rediscover the American public and tell our elected officials that they are just that, elected and we have the rights to oust them--no matter which side they play on-- if they don't listen to US, the voters. I don't care what you think, believe, or worry about because, like I said, you're not in my house, paying my bills and eating my food. But you better worry about what you think and what your children think because its' your influence that counts. Not some village and not some president; be he black, white or purple.
Alrighty, then.
The only racist I know of are Obama and his college professor friend.
They both assumed that the white cop was a racist when he was just doing his job.
But, Sgt. Rock, that is the mindset of Barack Obama and his colleagues, America-hating, racist "preacher" Jeremiah Wright, America-hating, domestic-terrorist William Ayers and most recently, former "green" jobs czar and racist Van Jones who has supported convicted cop-killer Mumia Abu-Jamal. Of course, liberals "love" everybody (except conservatives) so they either ignore or forgive the "minor" personality disorders of Barack Obama's associates and mentors.
"The only racist I know of are Obama and his professor friend."
The outrageousness of such a statement is, well, dumbfounding.
WTF! This person knows he and his family will never suffer again in their lives,This dude is bad news!
When the cop saw that the black guy lived in the house, his job was finished. There was no need, Nance, for him to stick around.
He has a history of racial problems. Check his record.
So that makes Obama and the professor racist.
Excellent logic once again, nance
Sure, there wasn't anything wrong with THIS speech. But what about the speech that he was going to deliver which went along with the whole lesson plan surrounding Obama Himself?
Fortunately, the outrage caused the White House to scale back on the Cult of Personality part and just left the 18 minutes which were about the kids. What was in the other 12 minutes they cut out will hopefully never surface in any school with prior vetting.
I can't say it any better than vsestini and keglined.
I imagine those that refuse to listen to the speech are the same people that don't have an appreciation for education in general. By that I mean Nevadans that make a living wage without having proper schooling then as a result, assume an education is BS from which their children won't benefit.
Today's grown ups are failing demonstrate open debate and critical thinking that we were taught in school. I fear today's students will not learn these skills as this community is setting such a poor example. The next generation of Nevadans will be a mess.
Angryreader
are you kidding? Get over it, not everything is about race...