I don't think anyone should be required to listen to Obama.

[Raven]

Not a school kid, not an adult. Nobody. For 8 years I turned off my car radio every Saturday morning when GWB came on. That is my right, that is everyone's right. If these stupid parents don't want to let their stupid kids listen to their Preseident, so be it. It is their loss, not Obama's, not ours.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

1. I think people who take their kids out of school over this should eat shit and die.

[Raven]

3. Well, yeah, but that's their choice, isn't it?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

8. Should they be forced at gun point? No.

Should they get an excused absence? No.

[Raven]

14. This speech should NOT be manditory. Think about it. We do not want

such a thing in this country. As racist and offensive as this particular case is, we don't want to be forcing this kind of thing on anybody.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

23. The speech should be mandatory, just like math, history and science.

Those skipping out should be punished accordingly.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

9. They have no respect for the highest elected office of the land

was a white president it would be different of course

[Mystayya]

10. I had zero respect for the last guy in the WH

[Rosa Luxemburg]

13. well

he was an immposter (he wasn't elected)

[Mystayya]

18. Good point !

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

15. Godwin's law.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

19. Bush was NOT elected

[Colobo]

28. I'm with you,

[LakeSamish706]

2. I suspect that President Obama would agree with you! n/t

[Becky72]

4. They were never "required" to listen to him

It's not mandatory. It never was.

[Raven]

7. I agree. But it's in school, sort of like part of a history class and

I guess some people are pissed because schools are offering other alternatives. Fine with me.

[Ian David]

5. They're allowed to hate America. But I bet those same people...

... who don't want their kids to listen to THEIR President, also think we should be forced to say The Pledge and forced to allow teacher-led prayer in school.

[firedupdem]

6. Sure, in your car turning off your radio....

but a freakin back to school speech from the president of the united states in public schools? I think not. I hated bush with a passion, I didn't consider pulling my kid out of school for fear that he would "indoctrinate" them. This is bullshit and it clearly shows how ignorant people in this country are.

[Raven]

11. That begs the question. These people are ignorant, they would

have lapped up every word Bush had to say but if we get to a point in this country where our children are required to listen to any president, we will be in real trouble. It is their choice, it's stupid but it is what it is.

[saltpoint]

12. I think it is entirely appropriate for public school children to be asked to

lend their respectful attention to the President of the United States.

IMO parents who yank their kids from this event are idiots.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

16. The parents are Republicans - period

ie. they are partisan

[saltpoint]

17. Likely, but even so, they are at least theoretically aware that their

kids will read about presidents of other political parties at many points between early grade school and their high school graduations.

A partisan response to a school curriculum is cowardly and debasing.

I call parents like that idiots.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

20. It's as though he were Black

so they are not buying it

[saltpoint]

22. There may well be a racist component, but the school's greater purpose

is to enlighten the mind of its clients' children, which is to say, the general public.

The general public is served by having a U.S. President speak with its students. The short-sightedness of parents who object to such an event, IMO, borders on the criminal.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

24. The parents are being organized

[DJ13]

21. If I had to watch all those bloody car accident films in school

Listening to our President should be just as mandatory.

And less gruesome.

[Zen Democrat]

25. When I was in school, the POTUS, whoever it was, was afforded great respect.

If children have to have a note from home to watch a hook-up to the President addressing them directly about the importance of education -- the shark was jumped a long time ago.

[Spazito]

26. Many of these same parents, imo, are also the ones who vote against...

sex education in school and then wonder why their teenager gets pregnant or an STD. These are the same parents who drag their children to churches that rail against homosexuality, liberals, you name it and they are fine with it yet will NOT let their children listen to a speech on education from the President of the United States because he is black and a Democrat.

They are hypocrites of the worst sort, imo.

[ezgoingrl]

27. Why?

I had to listen to Reagan and my brother had to listen to Pres Bush I. Sure I look back at the Reagan years NOW and wonder how I survived but back then it was THE PRESIDENT! That's all kids see, this is a huge case of parents projecting their own beliefs/feelings/ideas onto their children.

This reminds me of when I talked to my son about sex, no really. I was sweating it, for days I was dreading it, but I gritted my teeth and did what needed to be done. I think he blinked once, said ok and went on with his life. A lot of times kids don't have any idea they are "supposed" to be worked up over things and as long as the adults in their lives don't tell them they move on with little fanfare.