NYDNews: Campaign against to Prez's school talk is despicable

[Captain Hilts]

http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2009/09/06/2009-09-06_listen_up_kids_campaign_against_the_presidents_school_talk_is_despicable.html

The furor over President Obama's planned address to the nation's students Tuesday is a disgusting display of disrespect and mindless political hatred. Parents and educators who are ready to pull kids from school, as though a speech by our democratically elected President is akin to the swine flu, should be ashamed.

In the remarks, to be shown live on the White House Web site and on cable TV, Obama will urge children to work hard and stay in school. Never has a less political or controversial message been spoken. Never has a more powerful messenger - a man who worked his way to the highest office in the land by excelling in school - been eager to deliver it.

Yet the haters conjure images of the President controlling the airwaves to brainwash Obama Youth with a socialist screed. One commentator even compared the President to Saddam Hussein and Kim Jong Il. As partisans have stoked the flames, school districts in Texas and elsewhere are giving children the chance to opt out. How idiotic. The speech is to be celebrated, not feared.

...

[no_hypocrisy]

1. The deafening silence from "Mayor Mike" (who's running for his THIRD

term under controversy) and his chancelor of schools, Joel Klein.

What's either or both of their opinions?

[Captain Hilts]

2. It's just not an issue in New York City. nt

[no_hypocrisy]

5. True. But what about my original rhetorical statement?

This mayoral election is esp. controversial, esp. as the Mayor wanted and got 100 percent control of the school system. His opinion is necessary.

[Smarmie Doofus]

9. No clue about those two but I'm showing the fucking speech in my classroom. nt

[Douglas Carpenter]

3. There is something about this nonsense that reminds me of the Terri Schiavo case

one of the biggest misjudgments by the rightwing of the publics "pulse of the nation" in modern American political history

[Captain Hilts]

4. Yes, I agree. This 'controversy' has crossed into the 'batshit crazy' zone. nt

[saltpoint]

6. I agree -- those parents should be ashamed of themselves.

The impulse to censor is ugly and fascist.

It suggests either overt malevolence or vast stupidity. Neither one should have any foothold in public education.

Madison and Jefferson are puking in their graves.

[democracy1st]

7. K & R

[Sky Masterson]

8. Why shouldn't parents be concerned? He's Black and a Democrat!

Something I threw together earlier today ;)

[DesertRat]

11. That's really what it's all about. n/t

[SemiCharmedQuark]

17. LOL!

[Sky Masterson]

18. Aint I a stinker

HA! :rofl:

[DesertRat]

10. It's not just parents, it's some teachers too

I teach in the largest elementary school district in the state and each teacher is being given the choice of whether or not to show the speech in their classroom. If a teacher chooses to show it, a signed permission has to been returned by the parents.
We do have several conservative teachers on our campus who aren't planning to show the speech and who don't want their own children to watch. Some are Faux viewers and talk radio listeners who have bought into the indoctrination argument.

I am on a teacher chatboard and am surprised by some of the teacher comments. Here's one example:
"If it were strictly 'stay in school, get a good education, don't do drugs, don't join gangs, etc.' I would not protest in the least. But that's not the case, and I don't want my children being encouraged to support policies that I object to. Haven't you ever watched "The Children's Hour"? Children are so easily influenced and while you may think it's a great thing because you agree with his policies, I do not and don't want my children being influenced and feeling guilty and conflicted because they can't "pledge their support" to him and their family at the same time."

:crazy:

[Diamonique]

12. I can understand that way of thinking.

"But that's not the case, and I don't want my children being encouraged to support policies that I object to."

The original plan put out by the WH had Obama asking kids to write letters to themselves spelling out how they can help Obama. I can see how some parents wouldn't like that.

But that part has been taken out of the speech, so they need to STFU.

[Window]

13. Their blatant disrespect and racism toward President Obama is disgusting.

The president needs to remind these fuckers yet again that he is indeed the democratically elected POTUS.

[quiet.american]

14. So glad to see this from the NY Daily News. Awesome. nt

[olegramps]

15. Within eight months I have grow to despise every damn Republican.

[GivePeaceAchance]

16. And that's where our focus should be the celebration and not the GOP circus. Letters of support ...

emails will do just the trick. All the President needs right now is inspiration, the opposition will do whatever they're going to do. We have to stay focused on what we're going to do on every solution.