09-04-2009, 08:20 PM | #1 |
Groupie
Posts: 188
Karma: 660
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Spearfish, SD, USA
Device: Sony PRS-505
|
Furor over US Presidential Talk in Schools
I'm curious what everyone might think about the US President televising a talk aimed at students next week.
Here's a link to Yahoo!'s announcement of the speech from yesterday: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/200909.../ynews_pl888_3 Here's a link to NPR story done today over it. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...47&ft=1&f=1003 IMO, I think parents and politicians are making a big fuss over nothing. So, the presidents wants to talk directly to the students about staying in school. This doesn't mean he is trying to brainwash students to his way of thinking. Maybe he thinks that students are too busy doing other things at night: work, sports, homework, sleeping, etc. and the best time to reach the students is when they are at school. I think it is sad that one school can't show it because of lack of money. |
09-04-2009, 08:23 PM | #2 | |
Guru
Posts: 640
Karma: 12129
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Denmark
Device: Sony PRS-700
|
Quote:
|
|
Advert | |
|
09-04-2009, 08:47 PM | #3 |
When's Doughnut Day?
Posts: 10,059
Karma: 13675475
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Houston, TX, US
Device: Sony PRS-505, iPad
|
This is really disturbing. Of course, school districts should decide whether to include Obama's speech in their students' day. But to hear politicians and pundits criticize the speech as an attempt at subterfuge, brainwashing, and spreading a socialist ideology is outrageous and uncalled for. It's just another example of the irrational political rancor in the U.S. which has become amazingly intense the past few years. I wonder how much longer before the violence begins.
|
09-04-2009, 10:01 PM | #4 | |
Guru
Posts: 640
Karma: 12129
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Denmark
Device: Sony PRS-700
|
Quote:
To me he seems like an idealist in words but a pragmatist in actions. But maybe I'm underestimating the anti-Obama sentiment? |
|
09-05-2009, 04:04 AM | #5 |
Cocoa & Toast...mmmmmm...
Posts: 275
Karma: 1000
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Ohio
Device: Sony PRS-700, iPhone
|
I was totally struck openmouthed aghast at the thought. That there should be 'parent backlash' (as NPR put it) over the idea that the leader of our land, whom we elected, would speak to our children in a nationally broadcast speech directed specifically at them. That parents so distrust our highest elected official ...afraid of 'brainwashing'...RIDICULOUS!!! (IMHO) Well, at least the brainwashing is being conducted under adult supervision -their teacher- with whom they can discuss it with afterwards as a class. (OK...I know...the parents probably don't trust the teachers either)
See, to me, this is just another example. Disrespect. A friend & I were talking the other day...'this younger generation'. When we were young, we would NEVER even think of 'sassing' any adult....Parent, teacher, neighbor, ANY adult. Just not done -period. Now, adults not only tolerate 'sass' from children, many are afraid of youngsters. Well, the disrespect we are showing for our President is certainly just another example we are showing to our children ...that it's OK to sass our elders ...to 'dis' anyone you feel like. Regardless of your political leanings, it is NOT alright to 'dis' your president. Political protest, freedom of speech, our rights as free people, blah, blah, blah, yeah, you have every right as Americans, blah, blah.... But, the action still sends a message of disrespect to those youngsters. I'm not political in any sense, and really don't care much about what goes on in Washington. But I'm just talking about the common courtesy and proper decorum that at one time was the way people lived their lives...children included. It coarsens us all. It saddens me. BTW..I'm 55, grew up in the 60's, did all the wild child things. |
Advert | |
|
09-05-2009, 04:40 AM | #6 |
Wizard
Posts: 4,538
Karma: 264065402
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Taiwan
Device: HP Touchpad, Sony Duo 13, Lumia 920, Kobo Aura HD
|
And to paint Obama as a socialist, lol! In Europe he would be considered to be on the far right!
|
09-05-2009, 07:23 AM | #7 |
Snooty Bestselling Author
Posts: 1,485
Karma: 1000000
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Ipswich, QLD, Australia
Device: PRS-650
|
*chuckle* Man, all we (Aus) seem to hear from the US lately (news-wise) are paranoid rants. There're some sane people over there, right? Y'all seem pretty quiet atm
|
09-05-2009, 07:33 AM | #8 |
eBook Enthusiast
Posts: 85,544
Karma: 93383043
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: UK
Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6
|
It does seems a slightly odd thing to get worked up about. Surely the head of state of a country is "allowed" to talk to the people of that country if he wishes to do so?
|
09-05-2009, 12:13 PM | #9 | |
Grand Sorcerer
Posts: 11,342
Karma: 35112572
Join Date: Jan 2008
Device: Pocketbook
|
Quote:
As to the subterfuge claim, I'll like to ask all the following question. If Ronald Reagan asked to do the same thing in 1983, would you be saying the same thing as you are saying now? |
|
09-05-2009, 12:15 PM | #10 | |
Grand Sorcerer
Posts: 11,342
Karma: 35112572
Join Date: Jan 2008
Device: Pocketbook
|
Quote:
|
|
09-05-2009, 12:47 PM | #11 |
When's Doughnut Day?
Posts: 10,059
Karma: 13675475
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Houston, TX, US
Device: Sony PRS-505, iPad
|
Demand??? And of course it would not have been wrong for past presidents (which happened, though I don't particularly recall) to do something similar. This is exactly the kind of ridiculousness I do not understand and cannot tolerate listening to.
Thread unsubscribed. |
09-05-2009, 01:25 PM | #12 |
aka coco jinlo
Posts: 415
Karma: 500002
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: NJ-USA
Device: Just purchased Sony 505, but alas, it is for the wife
|
While I do not wish to upset anyone further, I do think it's important to understand some of the points of view here.
Yes, there are people that dislike the president so much they will find fault with everything he does. Such was also the case with Bush. Often the problem with a two party system and with shows like crossfire and the like is that certain people will decide that their party of choice is always right and the other is always wrong. Nothing is wrong with the president making a message for school age children to tell them to study hard, stay in school and reach their full potential. It is a commendable message. On the other side, the US Department of Education offered lesson plans for children which included writing letters to themselves on how they can help the president. The also asked older school age children to read other Obama speeches and to contemplate questions on how will Obama inspire us. This was not done well, and they even admitted as much when they changed the focus of the letters. Now, the president can and should be commended on trying to reach children and give them a message to work hard. Parents, however, have every right to be concerned when there is additional material that goes beyond that message. As always, there are two sides to every story and the truth can often be found somewhere in the middle. |
09-05-2009, 01:30 PM | #13 | |
zeldinha zippy zeldissima
Posts: 27,827
Karma: 921169
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Paris, France
Device: eb1150 & is that a nook in her pocket, or she just happy to see you?
|
it seems to me that any president addressing school children directly to encourage them to take their education seriously is a good thing and indicates laudable priorities on the part of that administration.
interestingly, there is a "related" link at the bottom of the npr article to an article called "Would you want your kid to watch or skip the president's address?" and one of the comments on that article says this (particularly relevant passage in bold, emphasis mine. sorry, the comment is rather long, but i thought it was interesting enough to post the whole thing) : Quote:
|
|
09-05-2009, 01:41 PM | #14 |
Wizard
Posts: 4,395
Karma: 1358132
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: UK
Device: Palm TX, CyBook Gen3
|
I'd have more concerns about our kids being made to make a 'pledge of allegiance' every day, than I would about our prime minister boring them to tears.
|
09-05-2009, 01:51 PM | #15 | |
Grand Sorcerer
Posts: 11,342
Karma: 35112572
Join Date: Jan 2008
Device: Pocketbook
|
Quote:
Gee. So that's where my tax dollars are going..... (Ralph and Red pay Plano ISD school taxes.....) Last edited by Greg Anos; 09-05-2009 at 01:54 PM. |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
eBooks in Schools? | Hampshire Nanny | News | 13 | 09-01-2010 11:40 AM |
Free - Freaks Talk Back: Tabloid Talk Shows and Sexual Nonconformity | nboshart | Deals and Resources (No Self-Promotion or Affiliate Links) | 1 | 06-05-2010 10:27 AM |
What We Talk About When We Talk About Reading | Dr. Drib | Reading Recommendations | 1 | 05-17-2009 07:37 PM |
Last Night's Presidential Debate | HarryT | Lounge | 42 | 10-09-2008 12:49 PM |
Free audio from Presidential and Vice-Presidential debates | Colin Dunstan | Lounge | 0 | 10-26-2004 08:00 PM |