StasisLAX From United States of America, joined Jul 2007, 3266 posts, RR: 6 Posted (3 years 8 months 3 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 1365 times:
"President Obama’s plan to deliver a speech to public school students on Tuesday has set off a revolt among conservative parents, who have accused the president of trying to indoctrinate their children with socialist ideas and are asking school officials to excuse the children from listening."
Obama's speech will focus on the student's need to stay in school and complete their diploma, as well as appealing to the student's patriotism because their country needs their full contributions to make the nation successful in the future.
Some parents are against this netcast speech, stating that they are sending their children to school to be educated NOT indoctrinated.
The fact that some narrowminded parents want to keep their kids from hearing the President of the United States encourage them to do well in school displays their true level of ignorance and perhaps prejudice.
Now, before the conservatives state that this is simply an blatant attempt by the liberals to "brainwash" the youth of America, one should be reminded that Presidents Ronald Wilson Reagan and George H.W. Bush both spoke directly to school students "Both Presidents George Bush and Ronald Reagan both gave speeches aimed specifically at students that were nationally televised. In 1989, Bush delivered a televised anti-drug speech, and Reagan's 1986 commencement speech and Q&A session was "beamed over public television into 171 school districts nationwide," according to the L.A. Times.
Personally, this is ridiculous. I can understand that some citizens do not respect President Obama's policies or politics, but I cannot understand the complete lack of respect for the OFFICE of the President. Disgusting, in my opinion.
[Edited 2009-09-03 19:13:10]
[Edited 2009-09-03 19:13:53]
"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety!" B.Franklin
LTU932 From Germany, joined Jan 2006, 13864 posts, RR: 51 Reply 1, posted (3 years 8 months 3 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 1351 times:
Why doesn't he do it like Angie does in Germany? How about a weekly podcast, which in Obama's case, would supplement his weekly address on Saturday? Through a podcast, he could reach more people than through a radio speech, therefore having the opportunity to get exposure with people who are younger and don't necessarily listen to NPR or the newcasts on network television and the newschannels.
Phoenix9 From Canada, joined Aug 2007, 2546 posts, RR: 8 Reply 2, posted (3 years 8 months 3 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 1351 times:
Quoting StasisLAX (Thread starter): Obama's speech will focus on the student's need to stay in school and complete their diploma, as well as appealing to the student's patriotism because their country needs their full contributions to make the nation successful in the future.
I fail to see how this is teaching them socialism or anything else for that matter. If all he is saying that buckle up, stay in school and you will have a good chance of becoming a successful person....WTF is wrong with that???
I think Obama hating is going out of hand. People have to nit pick even if he farts in the wrong direction! I mean WTF.
Life only makes sense when you look at it backwards.
NIKV69 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 3, posted (3 years 8 months 3 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 1350 times:
Quoting StasisLAX (Thread starter): The fact that some narrowminded parents want to keep their kids from hearing the President of the United States encourage them to do well in school displays their true level of ignorance and perhaps prejudice
Oh give it a rest, it has nothing to do with his skin color. More so some of these kids probably could run this country better. Not to mention how can you keep your kids from hearing him outside of school? All this guy does is give speeches and hold town meetings. This is just another in a long line of bonehead moves from this administration. We need a leader, not a speaker!
Nik, I really don't get into these flame bait threads but you are completely off on this one. Prevent them from hearing outside of the school? So a student can not hear to the president of their country? This seems like a harmless address by Obama and people can't seem to realize it and are trying to mudsling it any way possible. Is that what you want to teach them: He's evil, don't listen to him.??
Doesn't make any sense at all!
Life only makes sense when you look at it backwards.
Seb146 From United States of America, joined Nov 1999, 9822 posts, RR: 17 Reply 6, posted (3 years 8 months 3 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 1321 times:
Quoting NIKV69 (Reply 3): We need a leader, not a speaker!
How about we elect someone that spends a third of his time as president clearing brush and dodging protesters, ignoring the people and doing what he wants instead of asking the people that got him there what he should do. Oh, wait....
JM017 From Jamaica, joined Jun 2002, 1222 posts, RR: 1 Reply 7, posted (3 years 8 months 3 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 1296 times:
Quoting NIKV69 (Reply 3):
Oh give it a rest, it has nothing to do with his skin color. More so some of these kids probably could run this country better. Not to mention how can you keep your kids from hearing him outside of school? All this guy does is give speeches and hold town meetings. This is just another in a long line of bonehead moves from this administration. We need a leader, not a speaker!
I honestly do not remember Bush receiving this much grief for doing something like this. No one threatened to boycott a Bush appearance at the neighborhood public school. Or Clinton, for that matter. And it's really not a big deal, him talking to a bunch of kids. EVERY president has done something like this. It's supposed to be good PR. How is this particular move boneheaded?
I am amazed that, in general, Obama gets panned for actions that Bush was criticized for NOT doing.
"It's okay to cheat, if you just really don't like to lose."
Afterburner From Indonesia, joined Jun 2005, 1102 posts, RR: 1 Reply 8, posted (3 years 8 months 3 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 1293 times:
Obama is going to make a speech about the importance of education, about the importance of staying in school, about how the administration want to improve the country's education system, and why it's so important for the country. I can't see what's wrong with that. Are stressing the importance of education and improving the education system against the conservative values? Furthermore, the speech hasn't been made yet. How come some people have already known it's an indoctrination?
Quoting NIKV69 (Reply 3): it has nothing to do with his skin color.
JM017 From Jamaica, joined Jun 2002, 1222 posts, RR: 1 Reply 9, posted (3 years 8 months 3 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 1288 times:
Quoting Afterburner (Reply 8): Obama is going to make a speech about the importance of education, about the importance of staying in school, about how the administration want to improve the country's education system, and why it's so important for the country. I can't see what's wrong with that.
Apparently promoting education is a "socialist agenda."
"It's okay to cheat, if you just really don't like to lose."
ABQ747 From United States of America, joined Dec 2006, 833 posts, RR: 1 Reply 10, posted (3 years 8 months 3 weeks 19 hours ago) and read 1253 times:
Quoting JM017 (Reply 9): Apparently promoting education is a "socialist agenda."
Obama and Biden have a habit of politicizing their speeches to students. That's why so many parents are opposed to their children listening to Obama's speech.
The reason New Mexico is so windy is because Texas sucks and Arizona blows.
Dw747400 From United States of America, joined Aug 2001, 1244 posts, RR: 1 Reply 11, posted (3 years 8 months 3 weeks 19 hours ago) and read 1245 times:
So long as the speech is from the President of the United States (not the head of the Democratic party) and focuses on encouraging students do better themselves through education (not education policy or other tangential topics) I don't have an issue with it.
All Presidents have promoted education in some form or another. I think the issue here is largely that the initial "discussion questions" that were to accompany the speech were not exactly neutral and almost seemed to idolize the President. It didn't look like the setup for a non-partisan speech.
Hopefully the uproar will ensure Obama keeps on topic... after all, what could look better than a well executed, encouraging, and non-political speech for students amidst all the controversy?
StasisLAX From United States of America, joined Jul 2007, 3266 posts, RR: 6 Reply 12, posted (3 years 8 months 3 weeks 19 hours ago) and read 1226 times:
For the conservative right-wing to make such a huge deal out of this just shows their petty, knee-jerk reaction to everything this President tries to do. The party of NO offers very little in ideas or policies to help this country move forward, but instead thrives on supplying lots of deranged, nonsensical criticism.
Two other presidents (both Republicans) spoke to school kids without mass parental protests and now the current President wants to speak to kids about personal responsibility and the importance of academic achievement, you'd think ALL rational Americans would welcome that move in this "age of irresponsibility" - but the idealogues, wing-nuts and racists in American society will use EVERY single opportunity to voice their anger and outrage over losing the Presidential elections in November 2008.
Americans, Obama is our duly elected President - some of us just need get used to it or simply vote against him in November 2012 and vote him out of office! Right now, we need to support him and have a little bit of respect for the OFFICE he holds. This petty bickering is making the American public look terrible in the eyes of the our children AND rest of the world - this isn't leadership we're offering, the ongoing underhanded political snipping looks a lot like a nasty drunken bar-room brawl, IMO.
[Edited 2009-09-03 23:11:37]
"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety!" B.Franklin
Afterburner From Indonesia, joined Jun 2005, 1102 posts, RR: 1 Reply 14, posted (3 years 8 months 3 weeks 18 hours ago) and read 1221 times:
Quoting ABQ747 (Reply 10): Obama and Biden have a habit of politicizing their speeches to students. That's why so many parents are opposed to their children listening to Obama's speech.
How many times have Obama and Biden given political speech to students before?
Let Obama give the speech. Let the children listen to it. If it indeed contains political content, let people complain to or criticize him; and people will lose faith in him. I don't think students will easily be indoctrinated by just one speech.
San747 From United States of America, joined Dec 2004, 4934 posts, RR: 13 Reply 15, posted (3 years 8 months 3 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 1189 times:
Quoting Afterburner (Reply 8): Are stressing the importance of education and improving the education system against the conservative values?
In America, yes. They are.
Quoting StasisLAX (Reply 12): This petty bickering is making the American public look terrible in the eyes of the our children AND rest of the world - this isn't leadership we're offering, the ongoing underhanded political snipping looks a lot like a nasty drunken bar-room brawl, IMO.
Thank you. About time somebody said it.
Quoting Afterburner (Reply 14):
Quoting ABQ747 (Reply 10):
Obama and Biden have a habit of politicizing their speeches to students. That's why so many parents are opposed to their children listening to Obama's speech.
How many times have Obama and Biden given political speech to students before?
I was going to ask that. When have they given speeches of ANY kind to elementary school students before? I know they've done college commencements, but those are adults who hopefully can handle the (apparently) big, bad president talking to them.
Afterburner From Indonesia, joined Jun 2005, 1102 posts, RR: 1 Reply 16, posted (3 years 8 months 3 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 1179 times:
Quoting San747 (Reply 15):
Quoting Afterburner (Reply 8):
Are stressing the importance of education and improving the education system against the conservative values?
In America, yes. They are.
That explains the level of intelligence your previous president has.
PanHAM From Germany, joined May 2005, 7771 posts, RR: 26 Reply 17, posted (3 years 8 months 3 weeks 16 hours ago) and read 1161 times:
Quoting StasisLAX (Thread starter): Obama's speech will focus on the student's need to stay in school and complete their diploma, as well as appealing to the student's patriotism because their country needs their full contributions to make the nation successful in the future.
In Germany, that would label him conservatve, if not nationalistic. The lefties of all colours from green to dark red/brown would scream havoc.
Racko From Germany, joined Nov 2001, 4838 posts, RR: 21 Reply 18, posted (3 years 8 months 3 weeks 16 hours ago) and read 1156 times:
"And Chris Stigall, a Kansas City talk show host, said, “I wouldn’t let my next-door neighbor talk to my kid alone; I’m sure as hell not letting Barack Obama talk to him alone.”"
And then people are surprised when the children are messed up once they've grown up.
It's kinda funny how little self-esteem these guys have.
"If our kids listen to the president for 15 minutes he'll be more convincing than I have in 12 years!".
Afterburner From Indonesia, joined Jun 2005, 1102 posts, RR: 1 Reply 20, posted (3 years 8 months 3 weeks 15 hours ago) and read 1137 times:
I just read that Bush Sr. made a similar nationally broadcast speech from a Washington high school in 1991, urging students to study hard, avoid drugs and to ignore peers “who think it’s not cool to be smart.” Then the Democrats in Congress accused him of using taxpayer money to produce the broadcast — for “paid political advertising.”
So I think for some people it is not about what is in the speech that makes the fuss. It's more about who makes it.
Quoting Racko (Reply 18): "And Chris Stigall, a Kansas City talk show host, said, “I wouldn’t let my next-door neighbor talk to my kid alone; I’m sure as hell not letting Barack Obama talk to him alone."
Come on, Chris. It's not like Obama and his kid will be in Oval Office alone.
I think so too, just as it was ridiculous to use derogatory terms against Bush, Clinton, Reagan, Carter, McCain, Hillary, et al. You are more than welcomed to oppose their policies but you have to accept the fact that, for reasons related to democracy and voting rights, that person currently occupies the position to lead the nation.
I opposed close to 90% of the Bush policies but I respected him as my President and my CiC. When he spoke at my (extremely liberal) college graduation back in 2001 the student body actually gave him a proper welcome with some cheers were thrown in as well. I say don't criticize the message until you have actually heard it!
Clemsonaj From United States of America, joined Aug 2009, 257 posts, RR: 0 Reply 23, posted (3 years 8 months 3 weeks 12 hours ago) and read 1096 times:
I think those parents should take the president's advice and go look up books on how to think for yourself and what socialism really means.
Just saw this on CNN. What a complete load of crap. It appears to me that the indoctrination and brainwashing is happening on the right and they're afraid the kids might learn to think for themselves.
Cgnnrw From Germany, joined May 2005, 1077 posts, RR: 2 Reply 24, posted (3 years 8 months 3 weeks 12 hours ago) and read 1071 times:
Poor kids. I really feel sorry for them.
Are these parents sooooooooo insecure and afraid a 20-30 minute speech will wipe out all their parental authority?
Quoting Racko (Reply 18): "And Chris Stigall, a Kansas City talk show host, said, “I wouldn’t let my next-door neighbor talk to my kid alone; I’m sure as hell not letting Barack Obama talk to him alone.”"
If this guy's son is a big a butthead as his father I doubt anyone would want to talk to the kid in the first place.
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