When the White House announced that President Barack Obama would be giving a speech to school children on Tuesday September 8, 2009, it was met with a ridiculous uproar of protest. Much of conservative America cried out in anger, in part due to a slew of preposterous rumors about indoctrination and other nonsense going around. So, in an effort to appease the angry and skeptical part of America, the White House released the speech online the day before (Monday) for all who wished to verify its contents prior to sending their children off to indoctrination, err.. school. With that said, I find it beyond disturbing that so many parents actually kept their children home from school the day of the speech.
How could any parent be so firmly against a speech that's sole purpose is to motivate and inspire the youth of America to study hard, aspire to great things and do their part to make sure that our educational system works at its maximum potential? Unless, most had no idea that was what the speech would say. I wonder, how many parents made their decision not knowing what the speech said (regardless of being made available to the public prior to being given), and how many made their decision based on the rigid bias of partisanship? Either way, both are very poor reasons and show a high level of intolerance.
That kind of mentality is wrong! What kind of message does such behavior and prejudice towards a president attempting to encourage, inspire and propel education send to the youth of America? Certainly not a good one! I believe that type of attitude and behavior, particularly highlighted by this latest controversy, breeds nothing but intolerance and ignorance within society, the classroom and the minds of our "future builders." That doesn't seem very wise, it seems counterproductive. Many remain adamantly set in a haze of opposition when it comes to anything that Obama does, for one reason or another. Well, just because you didn't vote for him doesn't necessarily mean that everything he says/does is wrong or some form of evil indoctrination. I don't believe that one should have to believe in everything a president says or does because he is our president, but I can't see the merit (or the patriotism) in purposefully opposing everything a president does simply because he is not the candidate you voted for.
Some would argue that liberal America showed plenty of bias towards former President Bush Jr. during his eight year reign over our country; however, I would say most of the distaste towards his presidency stems from his various lies, poor decisions, reckless war path and obvious inability to address the nation in an intelligent manner. Not to mention, the cloud of doubt shed on the legitimacy of his second election into office by the whole"chad" scandal! There is a huge difference between President Obama and former President George W. Bush Jr.! Obama addresses our nation with confidence, intelligence and integrity, not with a bumble of lies and bewildered pauses while robotically reading off a teleprompter. I feel as though if one has made it to the point of being our President, they should believe in the words they are speaking to the nation to the point that they can recite them from heart and with minimal external assistance. Such an ability demonstrates comprehension and dedication, and fosters credibility and the motivation of hope throughout our society. There's something to be said about the level of passion evident in a President's words and speeches... If you ask me, Obama's passion for inspiring hope and bringing change to our country is strikingly evident.
Teaching your children manners and instilling good morals is one thing, but restricting their exposure to things such as listening to a President's speech is a great disservice to the development of their own identity, as well as for their sense of respect for our country, our government and our President. Socialization doesn't begin at 18, it starts with the first day of life! With that said, I believe that those children who were not allowed to hear Obama's speech have been robbed of their right to benefit from such inspirational words. What a shame!
One of my favorite quotes from Obama's speech:
"Where you are right now doesn't have to determine where you'll end up. No one's written your destiny for you, because here in America, you write your own destiny. You make your own future."
- President Barack Obama 9/8/09
Once again, I find it hard to believe something like this was deemed harmful or otherwise irrelevant for countless children to hear... Unfortunately it seems as though those children may not be on the path to writing their own destiny, rather on the path to corroborating and quite possibly perpetuating the path of their parents! Oh well, what can you do?
Read President Obama's speech to students here or watch it right here: Watch a video of MSNBC Keith Olbermann's commentary on the speech here.
Also, check out this great Miami Herald article called "What are we saving the children from?" by Leonard Pitts Jr. discussing the controversy that Obama's speech caused, it makes some very important points, including: "It is an absurd controversy, but in a nation
of birthers and truthers, death panels and tea parties, absurdity has become our
default setting -- as has political violence, whether rhetorical or real...."
"This is not politics, it's a temper tantrum, a national hissy-fit that calls
into question -- and not for the first time -- whether a nation so vast and
varied still can, or still wants to be, a nation...."
"You might call that view an aberration. My fear is that it is a harbinger. My fear is that we are a people stampeded by and toward political extremes, and that in our shrillness, our ignorance, our paranoia, hatefulness and fear, we dig a trench through common ground and make this nation ungovernable."
- Leonard Pitts Jr.
Wow... now that's some food for thought! And I couldn't agree more. We owe it to our future, as a society and as a nation, to analyze that theory further. Shit, with as many pots as we have our hand in, we owe it to the entire world!
