The 3 words in the title of this post are in alphabetical order. At any given moment when I think about the reaction to Obama’s talk with school children, one of those feelings is paramount.
The President of the United States give a speech at a public school on the traditional opening day of school. And he is criticized? Parents pull their kids out of school because the young, impressionable minds might be harmed by the President’s comments? What the hell is going on in the US? Are these people for real????
Through my school years, we had the likes of Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon. Through my daughter’s school years we had Presidents Reagan, Bush and Clinton. I cannot fathom my parents holding me back from school to make sure I wouldn’t be exposed to those they disagreed with. Likewise, I would have encouraged my daughter to listen carefully, and think critically about the speaker.
When I was a child and adolescent, regardless of the party in power, it was an annual family event to watch the State of the Union speech. And we’d talk about it afterwards. We’d challenge each other, always with enthusiasm and respect. Mom and Dad sometimes even disagreed. Those are treasured memories.
While perhaps not all families were as screwy as we were about watching the State of the Union, I can’t imagine that anyone I knew would have been forbidden to watch on account of their parents’ political views.
Fast forward to today. It’s the President of the United States, for cryin’ out loud! He was lawfully elected (even if wackos question his birthplace). Have the wingnuts have no respect for his position? For the Constitution? Have they so little confidence in their own ability that they are unable to talk to their children about topics about which they might disagree with President Obama?
Do the wingnuts not care whether their kids are in school? So much for respect for education. (When I was a kid, I could only miss school if at least one, preferably two, of the following were present: fever, vomiting (called, of course, upchucking) or diarrhea.)
I am appalled that there is anyone in the US that would take a stand that his or her children should not attend school if the President were speaking. I am dismayed that such a movement got any publicity whatsoever. And I am fuming at the lack of respect for the highest office in the land.
For those who don’t fear what President Obama might have said to the students, here is a recap, complete with video. Be careful, though, it may be the end of civilization as we know it.