Parents May Boycott Obama's Speech

reply to post by KSPigpen


First, I love the Avatar.

More importantly, your scenario as you play it out, is scary because there is too much truth in it. "Evil" is possible in all aspects of life and children need to be taught to recognize it and avoid it. You cannot keep a child in a cocoon protected from real life and expect him/her to be able to make good choices in life.

I for one, have tried, from the time my children were old enough to understand language, to teach them right from wrong, legally, morally and socially. Because I am human, I have interjected my own opinions, and ideas, but have also asked for theirs and listened. My oldest is twelve, my youngest is eight, but each of them are not afraid to voice their opinions, and I frequently ask for them. There is a difference between giving your child the skills to learn, grow and survive life, and in sheltering them to the point they will have no idea who they are and how to live.

I may not agree with President Obama on politics, or his approach, etc., but I also did not agree with our other Presidents on everything either.

In regards to the President's speech, I will listen, just like our children will, and then I will make my decision on his speech. As far as indoctrination, propaganda etc. any child who watches tv, plays video games or a hundred other activities is bombarded constantly by propaganda telling them who they should be, how to live, what to eat, what to wear and more.

I do have a possible problem with the writing assignment being some kind of contract of allegiance to the President's endeavors. I think that is pushing it. A simple writing assignment on "What I learned from the President's speech?" or "How can American's help their country?" would not be inappropriate.

Also, as far as the younger children not retaining or remembering any thing that is said, I strongly disagree. I am frequently subjected to info from my kids telling me, "My teacher said you shouldn't (do, eat, say) this because it (isn't good for you, isn't nice, makes you a bad citizen). My eight year old can remember commercials and tv shows VERBATIM. Those young brains absorb like sponges. As parents, we need to guide the absorption with grounded conversations.

Originally posted by Wimbly
reply to post by suicydking

 

I could just as easily post embarrassing videos of church congregations being asked to pray for Bush, but that would serve no purpose other than to exasperate the situation, save demonstrating that our leaders have no control over how people express their like or dislike for them.

Exactly and people (including me) made a huge deal of that one video. Search ATS, I guarantee there are multiple threads. Te difference now is that people are defending it and making excuses for Obama's extremist advisers.

I was not part of any of those discussions, so I don't need to defend myself there. I don't think that a video of a church congregation praying for G-Dub is representative of him, any more than these videos that you posted are representative of Obama. Unless you can dig up a video of Bush asking people to pray, and I think there were probably a few of those floating around, too. That's beside the point, though.

Point is, these videos don't demonstrate that Obama is akin to Hitler any more than a video of some fool falling off their coffee table while dancing their favorite band on youtube demonstrates an association between that band and dangerous coffee tables.

It's propaganda. If your message is to beware of fascists, you would do well to promote that message without resorting to the use of propaganda.

This just in, both Wimbly and Hitler approve the use of propaganda in spreading their message. (Disclaimer - this is sarcasm, and is in no way intended to invoke Godwin's Law. )

Originally posted by notsosweet
The government should not have a say in the education of my children and we as parents should do what we feel is right.

I applaud your choice with your children. I believe we each, as parents should have the choice. However, the government dictates and regulates every aspect of our children's education already. They determine what teaching curriculum will be followed, the vaccinations our children must have, the diet they will be fed (now soon to include packed lunch contents).

Do not think they are not already unduly influencing our children. Most children spend about seven hours a day five days a week being influenced by the education system. It is up to us as parents, to anchor our children in truth.

reply to post by notsosweet


What a load of crap.

Parents didn't boycott when Reagan did this... Nor GB Senior...


Just a bunch of whiners is all it is...

reply to post by suicydking



I wasn't familiar with Godwin's law but I like it. Made me think, and that's always good. I'm an equal despiser of both Obama and Bush and both I feel are using Nazi party tactics to achieve their goals. Bush with his usurping of powers not seen by a president except in wartime, and expanding those powers unconstitutionally was dangerous and certainly reminiscent of both Nazi Germany and Stalin's USSR. Both have some reticence to have open and accountable government, both appoint friends and accomplices to unelected and unconstitutional positions. Both are engaging in wars of conquest around the globe, you can argue it's bush's war but realistically I don't see Obama doing anything to change it. Obama is pushing dangerous "environmental" policies through congress to help out his corporate GE friends, his health care policy is flat unconstitutional, as is every other piece of legislation I've seen the guy push. Both are traitors and have broken their oath of office, I suppose it's arguable that Obama accomplished it faster than any previous president but I'm sure someone else was faster. Their the same guy, Obama is covering for Bushes crimes, blocking release of white house documents, and his address to schoolchildren is straight out of the nazi playbook. Perhaps Godwin's law is such simply that all of our past presidents seem to be taking pages out of the Nazi playbook, if you want to consolidate Government power and take away your citizenry's rights, nobody did it faster or more efficiently than the Nazi's.

Anyone heard of James Clavell's "A Children's Story"?

A friend sent me this link:

home.comcast.net...

Sort of interesting considering all that's been happening with Obama wanting to speak to kids.

reply to post by notsosweet


I have children that go to 2 different school districts. One of the districts is NOT showing the video in classrooms, but will offer it on the school website for parents and children to watch at their own leisure. The other district WILL be showing the speech, but is allowing parents to send a letter to allow the children to not be in the classroom when Obama speaks.

I have already written the note for the one district, and we will not be watching the video int he other district.

Originally posted by desertdreamer
reply to post by notsosweet

 

I have already written the note for the one district, and we will not be watching the video int he other district.

Why?
I mean, why as in what part of his speech turns you off to it? Will you watch it online on your own to see if it may be good for your child? Or are you just ignoring it?
Just trying to figure what the hub bub is all about. Since no one seems to know whats in the speech they would boycott .

You have the whole deny ignorance thing happening,
But boycotting something you know nothing about is the definition of ignorance.

I think its something a little deeper. and You have not true concern for your child's well being. IMHO

[edit on 6-9-2009 by ShiftTrio]

Anyone blabbering on about how Obama is going to push his "socialist agenda" is a moron. Man the right have people twisted these days.

People act like the "socialist frenchie liberals," to quote Bill O, are going to spread socialism by telling kids to stay in school, go to college and not be rappers.

Btw Reagan was pushed the conservative agenda on school children when he gave a speech to them that was later broadcasted on c-span.

mediamatters.org...

Q My name is Cam Fitzie and I'm from St. Agnes School in Alexandria, Virginia. I was wondering if you think that it is possible to decrease the national debt without raising the taxes of the public?

PRESIDENT REAGAN: I do. That's a big argument that's going on in government and I definitely believe it is because one of the principle reasons that we were able to get the economy back on track and create those new jobs and all was we cut the taxes, we reduced them. Because you see, the taxes can be such a penalty on people that there's no incentive for them to prosper and to earn more and so forth because they have to give so much to the government. And what we have found is that at the lower rates the government gets more revenue, there are more people paying taxes because there are more people with jobs and there are more people willing to earn more money because they get to keep a bigger share of it, so today, we're getting more revenue at the lower rates than we were at the higher. And do you know something? I studied economics in college when I was young and I learned there about a man named Ibn Khaldun, who lived 1200 years ago in Egypt. And 1200 years ago he said, in the beginning of the empire, the rates were low, the tax rates were low, but the revenue was great. He said in the end of empire, when the empire was collapsing, the rates were great and the revenue was low.

As stated in the article the anecdote of the Egyptian scribe has been disproved by historians.

reply to post by notsosweet


One of my neighbors is a principal at an elememtary school and one is a first grade teacher. I was talking to them about the speech and asking if their schools are planning on having the children watch it. They both said that it has been left up to the teachers. The first grade teacher said that she isn't going to show it to her students as she is not comfortable with it, and she is an Obama supporter. She was uncomfortable with one of the questions he was going to pose which was, what can you do to serve your president

They've been told that he has since tweaked his speech because there is so much controversy about it. But when i have a principal and a teacher, that are both Obama supporters, tell me that they are not comfortable with having their students watch the speech it sure doesn't make me want my grandchildren forced to watch it. They both said that their schools are allowing children with notes to be excused from watching it.

Originally posted by ShiftTrio

Originally posted by desertdreamer
reply to post by notsosweet

 

I have already written the note for the one district, and we will not be watching the video int he other district.

Why?
I mean, why as in what part of his speech turns you off to it? Will you watch it online on your own to see if it may be good for your child? Or are you just ignoring it?
Just trying to figure what the hub bub is all about. Since no one seems to know whats in the speech they would boycott .

You have the whole deny ignorance thing happening,
But boycotting something you know nothing about is the definition of ignorance.

I think its something a little deeper. and You have not true concern for your child's well being. IMHO

[edit on 6-9-2009 by ShiftTrio]

First of all, I don't appreciate your comments in reference to the concern for my children, so I would respectfully ask that you keep your mouth shut about that...mkay? Thanks, appreciate that....

If the president wants to speak to the youth of America about how important staying in school is, he can do it like every other President....during prime time where it can be watched as a family, and I can explain things to my kids if they have questions. The teachers are not going to do that....and I would not want them to. I want to be able to answer my kids questions about what he might/might not say.

I believe that you are the one that is ignorant here. I raise my kids to understand that their education is important, and that it will follow them for the rest of their lives and determine what they will do.....I don't need Obama to tell my kids for me. I am an adult, and can handle my own family business. You on the other hand.....not so sure, maybe you feel as if you and your kids do need it (if you even have any). Maybe you should just be taking care of business and letting your kids know all about it yourself.

BTW.....nice yearbookyourself avatar...

[edit on 7-9-2009 by desertdreamer]

reply to post by DraconianKing


Does not matter....don't think he should have done it either....lol

reply to post by kinda kurious

Scuse me? We aren't talking about the head of the PTA or the manager of your local Dollar Store. We are talking about THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. The highest elected official in the free world!

Yeah, and he is just a figurehead with no real authority or power either. You have not figured that one out yet? You really think he makes decisions? LOL...

Originally posted by chise61
She was uncomfortable with one of the questions he was going to pose which was, what can you do to serve your president

Well to me the sentiment of that question is the same as what JFK asked:
"Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."

Originally posted by desertdreamer
reply to post by kinda kurious

 

Scuse me? We aren't talking about the head of the PTA or the manager of your local Dollar Store. We are talking about THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. The highest elected official in the free world!

Yeah, and he is just a figurehead with no real authority or power either. You have not figured that one out yet? You really think he makes decisions?

A rather silly statement. Well he obviously has enough power and authority to choose to address the youth of America. No?

Yes, despite what you may think, he wields tremendous power. He just doesn't flaunt it by invading foreign countries with unnecessary wars.

BTW, keep dreaming.

[edit on 7-9-2009 by kinda kurious]

reply to post by kinda kurious



You are right, he does not flaunt it....the people who really make those decisions flaunt it.

reply to post by chise61


Here is a link to the speech that will be given tomorrow.

Obama Speech To Students

Originally posted by notsosweet
Well GOOD FOR HOUSTON! I'm thinking about keeping my kids home that day. Something just doesn't seem right.
www.click2houston.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

I just have to ask what exactly the problem is here? Every president going back as far as I can remember has adressed school children. We were all asked to write letters to Ronald Reagan after his address when I was in grammar school. Is this because he is black or what?

Originally posted by desertdreamer
reply to post by chise61

 

Here is a link to the speech that will be given tomorrow.

Obama Speech To Students

Wow seems like a pretty good speech to me. I hope my child can take something away from that. Because no matter how much you think your kids listen to you, they will listen to Michael Jordan, or whom ever a lot more. Sometimes it takes someone from the outside to validate what you may have been telling them all along.

I also think this may be pointed a little at the kids who have tough lives, who think of giving up, selling drugs , think things are hopeless for them. So maybe everyone on this boards kids are just dandy. But there are a lot of kids who are not and do not have anyone telling them this.

In the end its a choice for the parents, I just hope people choose with there kids in mind, not their political ideologies. Because from what I read in this speech, there is not a child on earth this is going to harm. It is ONLY going to give them something more to think about, and how can that possibly be bad.

Originally posted by kinda kurious

Originally posted by chise61
She was uncomfortable with one of the questions he was going to pose which was, what can you do to serve your president

Well to me the sentiment of that question is the same as what JFK asked:
"Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."

Also that question is not in there.
SL