Tuesday, September 8, 2009

The President's Speech to Students

I'll never forget how my friend Jason was shocked that I was interested at all in hearing George W. Bush speak at the Iowa State Fair a few years ago. I didn't get the opportunity, but I think it would have been great. Even though I couldn't have disagreed more with the policies and philosophies of our last President, that doesn't change the respect I have for the office. I would take any chance to hear any President speak. I guess that's why the uproar over President Obama's speech to students today saddens me so much. It seems like some people only respect the office of President of the United States when the person they want is in that office. Parents are worried their children are going to be brainwashed by listening to the speech today. I'm worried about them being brainwashed too... if they're NOT allowed to listen to the speech. The idea of the President addressing the nation's students is not a new one. I read where Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush did the same things during their administrations. Since I can't remember a thing about these particular addresses, I don't feel I was brainwashed at all. ;)

The text of today's speech is public. Read it first if you're hesitant. And, if your kids didn't get to see the speech today at school, show it to them at home.

7 comments:

  1. Hey Tena, FWIW, the Dems threw an equally large "hissy fit" back when RR and GHWB addressed us kids oh so long ago. Both parties are guilty of childish complaining and behavior, which is why I'm not affiliated with either.

    Between me and you (ha!), I would have skipped GW and gone straight to the mullet contest. Just to be fair, I'd skip "Barry" too.

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  2. Nothing I've found has shown the hissy fit took place before the speech was delivered on the other two occasions. PLEASE show me where you found that info!

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  3. No problem Maria. "Hissy fit" may not have been the appropriate term. Full-on GAO investigation after the fact would be more appropriate: http://tinyurl.com/l5zqje

    Granted, the majority of the denouncing took place after the speech, but it still happened.

    Dick Gephardt (D-Mo.), said "The Department of Education should not be producing paid political advertising for the president, it should be helping us to produce smarter students."

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  4. Thanks for passing that on. I guess every party goes stark raving mad in that situation. I just don't remember anything beforehand with the other two... there are people who actually kept their kids home from school today so they wouldn't be "subjected" to the President's message!

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  5. What part were they afraid of, the "stay in school, it's your responsibility" or the "get away from the TV and XBox" part?

    I thought it was a pretty good speech. Kids should stay in school and pay attention in government class, otherwise they might grow up to be Democrats or Republicans.

    Frank Barrett, Libertarian Party Candidate, 2016!

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  6. It was a pretty good speech, but I had 11 6th graders groan and roll their eyes when he said "Rollins" instead of "Rowling" when referring to the author of the Harry Potter books. You won't win over my TAG kids by mispronouncing the name of one of their favorite authors! ;)

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  7. Also, I should clarify that I didn't hear of any family locally keeping their kids out of school today... the rumored incidences were all out of state.

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