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do (would) you want your kids to be forced to listen to obama's speech...

Posted by
Walter Geiger
in Geiger's Counter
Sunday, September 6. 2009
Comments (43)
tuesday in school or do you think it is an attempt by the adminstration to 'indoctrinate' them.
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#1 gab on 09/06/09 at 08:59 PM
Let me first of all make it very clear, I am NOT an Obama supporter! To the contrary, I believe the lasting legacy of former President George Bush will be that he was the president so disliked at the end of his presidency, that a "change" crazy public elected the most dishonest and evil man to ever inhabit the white house! Obama's desires for a socialistic government take over of our country have been peddled by much of the "mainstream" media to the point that many Americans fail to realize the dangers being placed on our freedoms. With that said, President Obama is the freely elected President of our United States. If he truly wishes to convey to the children of America a message of the importance of working hard and obtaining a good education, then just how silly is it for parents to oppose it? Oppose him for his politics next time at the ballot box, not for encouraging students in the classroom.
#2 Anonymous on 09/06/09 at 09:15 PM
I think it is the whole agenda for govnt schools. The whole system is democratic all the way across the board. They want to teach OUR children that you must have the govnt to lean on and be dependant on.
You dont mind sending your child to the govnt to be educated, you might as well let them hear what he has to say i guess. Makes sense to me.
#3 iggle on 09/06/09 at 10:52 PM
How disengenuous and downright cynical of you, Walter, to post this question so worded two days after the Lamar County schools addressed this issue in such a balanced way. No child is going to be "forced to listen" to the President's speech, as you well know. The schools, at least the Elementary School (I hope all acted consistently), sent a notice home to parents explaining that the address would be broadcast, but that any parent who didn't want their child to view it could simply sing a paper and their child[ren] would be engaged in an alternate activity during that time. How is that indoctrination?
#4 No Speech on 09/06/09 at 11:55 PM
I do not agree with interrupting school for a speech. If it's important enough for the kids to hear, allow the parents to watch it with their kids during primetime.

While after all the attention, the speech will most certainly now be innocent, I am concerned how the white house can force this onto the school systems. Even though they claim it is optional, imagine the backlash if the school system had said no. They would be branded as racists.

I have heard that the blacks are planning on calling out any white kid who opts out of the speech as a racist. Maybe we should all keep our kids at home to truly show what opt out means.
#5 anonymous on 09/07/09 at 08:05 AM
so you're not a supporter of obama but you don't mind your child hearing what he has to say even though you don't know what he's going to say. if the speech is so innocent like the schools are being lead to believe then why couldn't the white house send copies to the schools before tuesday and let the parents see what was going to be said. well lets see because he throws little tid-bits in as he goes so we don't know all he's going to say. this is not a sunday school teacher it's a man with as much power as the people give him speaking to our children. i think that the speach should be broadcast on the web for everyone to see.
#6 Not one of them on 09/07/09 at 09:13 AM
"I am concerned how the white house can force this onto the school systems"

It's so easy for them. They feed of the ignorant to assist them. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!
#7 Anonymous on 09/07/09 at 09:17 AM
Are you paid to teach or watch TV?
#8 Anonymous on 09/07/09 at 11:37 AM
Very generic speech like I figured it would be- AFTER all of the controversy. He does this one and it opens the door for him to come into the schools with his agenda. Read the text at:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/MediaResources/PreparedSchoolRemarks/
#9 Tom Rauch on 09/07/09 at 12:35 PM
I read the entire speech and it is great. It motivates students and asks them to work hard and listen to teachers and adults. It tells them the truth, that they are not going to be stars and they have to work hard.

I'm very disappointed people don't want their children to hear president say something positive to motivate them and their classmates. Preventing students from listening to anyone who is trying to motivate them has to be the height of shortsightedness.

I'd like to see anyone find something wrong with that speech, other than they might not like a Democrat or a black person saying something positive to students.
#10 Get a life on 09/07/09 at 01:38 PM
A paper that sings !!! LOL
#11 Anonymous on 09/07/09 at 01:55 PM
No wonder we're ranked 38th in the nation for education. It's a travesty that parents want to keep their children dumb.

Some white people just can't get over the fact that we have a non-white president. It has nothing to do with his so-called "socialist" agenda. You want him to be evil, so you use that excuse. Shame on you.
#12 iggle on 09/07/09 at 02:18 PM
Here's the White House link to the speech President Obama will deliver to American students Tuesday:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/MediaResources/PreparedSchoolRemarks/
#13 Anonymous on 09/07/09 at 03:33 PM
Watch the speach or read the text. You're over reacting. Everything Obama does is twisted into something sinister. Presidents have been making speaches ever since I can remember. It's just one more.
#14 Get a life on 09/07/09 at 04:27 PM
I think the only kids that should have a choice to listen or not to listen is the High School kids, maybe middle school. Kids in Primary and Elementary Schools are to young to understand, I think it's pointless to even have the younger kids listen at all.
#15 Anonymous on 09/07/09 at 06:12 PM
for those who think he's trying to push "his agenda"...

Ask your doctor about Thorazine.
#16 Anonymous on 09/07/09 at 06:47 PM
It really is sad to see "parents" outraged over this speech. Its not talking about enslaving the world. Its talking about the struggles of life, making better choices, getting an education. But, because Obama is giving it, then it must be evil, a sign of the Apocalypse, or an attempt to enslave the world. This is the biggest joke I have ever seen. No wonder America is turning to ****. I will be deeply ashamed of Lamar Systems if they dont show this. Not because I really think the message will do any good (especially for the white trash kids in this area that are feed ignorance from their equally trashy parents) but because the system will fold to these parents and not play the message because of fear of what the parents will think of the system.

Sincerely,
Ashamed American
#17 GM on 09/07/09 at 08:34 PM
Gee it's so brave of you to call people names while you hide behind anonymous. You should be ashamned because you think you have something to say but are afraid to tell the people who's saying it. Given Obama's track record so far, I would think people have a right to be concerned about what the man may have to say to their children. Notice: I said their children with the emphasis on "their". "Their" means it is up to the parents and you have no say in the matter. It is also "their" own reason for not wanting or allowing "their" kids to watch, so again, you have no say in the matter. Additionally regarding your comments, I consider them racial slurs so I guess that my opinion of you is that you must be a racist and should be ashamed.

You want to know what makes a racist? People making comments like yours.
#18 Supporter on 09/07/09 at 08:36 PM
Bravo. There was no controversy when the school system allowed our children to watch the O.J. Simpson trial. Something that makes you say HMNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!
#19 GM on 09/07/09 at 08:37 PM
It would be my opinion that you are a racist hypocrite. You should worry about your own race before you start worrying about the white race.
#20 It's Me on 09/07/09 at 08:49 PM
I asked my child if she wanted to hear what the President Of The United States had to say and she said 'no'. She has her opt out permission slip to turn in in the morning.
#21 Anonymous on 09/07/09 at 10:19 PM
So what's your name if you're so much braver & more proud than all of the annon's? You might has well put "Annon." up there too hypocrite.
#22 Anonymous on 09/08/09 at 05:02 AM
pot meet kettle
#23 Bob Wright on 09/08/09 at 07:43 AM
I taught in Lamar County for 24 years. Reagan, Bush I, Clinton, and Bush II addressed students through Channel 1 (mandatory watching by all students in AM) or through GATV. Now it seems in this cynical world of hate, we resort to opt out letters for our children. Now that the standard has been set, I guess anyone but a school teacher or administer will require an opt out letter. I sure would not want a parent to address my granddaughter without a copy of their text a week in advance. What about the health care workers, TV personalities, or journalists? Hmm, we've entered a new era.
#24 Rich Rich on 09/08/09 at 08:15 AM
Our children had to listen to the lies of Cheney and Bush for the last eight years. You condone that?
#25 Anonymous on 09/08/09 at 08:38 AM
Actually "GM" I am not racist, and am white. When referring to "white trash" Im referring to the type of ignorant racist remarks toward Obama either because of his race, his name, or what some think he believes in. I agree that Obama is off to a rough start, and even though I backed him in the election, he has a lot more to prove now. However, everyone automatically jumped on this "OMG Obama is a natzi look at him trying to convert my kid's" bandwagon without even considering the facts that so many presidents addressed students in this same manor before him.

Am I "racist" against these type of ignorant people? Absolutely (though its not racist related whatsoever). These type of ignorant people talk, act out, spew hate, and fear-monger before stopping and actually doing research on the topic that they are addressing.

I have been informed that Lamar Systems WILL be playing this address for their students and am proud of Lamar for taking this step. Hopefully this system can undo the damage to the kids that "their" parents have done filling "their" kid's mind with such hate and ignorance.
#26 Anonymous on 09/08/09 at 10:29 AM
Again, GM assumes that just because someone talks about about the ignorance of people he assumes that it's racism related. GM I really do hope you stand by the comment I posted earlier and you stop being a hypocrite and post your real name. I'm just interested in your age, because the way you act, you act like a childish feeble minded individual.
#27 GM on 09/08/09 at 02:00 PM
GM alias GMAC alias Gary M alias G McCall alias Gary McCall – I’m 55, and I call them like I read them. Most people know my posting.

“Some white people” - You don’t hesitate to spell it out and that sounds very racist to me. What’s your problem? Americans have problems with the actions of Obama – not just SOME WHITE PEOPLE. Get a clue! Now do you go by any other name than anonymous because you haven’t said anything to cause me to change my opinion of you?
#28 GM on 09/08/09 at 02:02 PM
Ignorant racist remarks are directed toward Obama by all races, not just white and mostly because of his own actions. Ignorance elected Obama because of the Media hype and as venting from George Bush. This man was not qualified and he proves it every day. He and the Democratic cronies are destined to bankrupt this country. I personally have no doubt that he is a Muslim in sheep’s clothing, a radical, detest the American way of life with an agenda of destroying it, a socialist, not an American citizen, a liar to the American people, and cares only for his own interest in power. Some of the vilest criminals in the world are like spiders. They entice you, mesmerize you, bite you, and then eat you. It’s too late when you’ve been bitten. Most people right now are in the mesmerized state (denial) and about to be bitten and can’t or refuse to see it coming. Candy is being dangled under the noses of the absolute lazy and sorry with intentions of turning the people against one another. Unions are being recruited for a personal Army. A new revolution is on the horizon. Perhaps the DHS wasn’t to far off base when she said veterans are potential terrorist. We know what freedom is. We know the sacrifices and what it takes to hang on to it. We know what it is like to liberate people from tyranny. We won’t hand this country over to Marxism until we’re dead. And I found your “white trash” remarks about as distasteful as Obama’s actions. Am I to assume that you consider people that don’t agree with your ideals redneck white trash? If that is true, you need to spend some time looking at yourself in the mirror until you figure out who it is that you see.
#29 Anonymous on 09/08/09 at 08:11 PM
Tell me GM, what part of the speech read by Obama did you have a problem with today? What did Obama say to the children that if you still had a child in school, you wouldn't want them to hear?
#30 Enoc Siuol on 09/09/09 at 04:26 AM
GM,
I would like to see a reply. We're waiting.......
#31 Anonymous on 09/09/09 at 07:46 AM
I can reply for GM. "Obama's speech had been altered from it's original wording after being pressured by mdeia."

Regardless of what Obama did say, or was going to say, are you saying that your child, or other people's children, are so weak minded that they can be influenced by a speech? I am confident that Osama Bin Laden could speak to my child for DAYS preaching whatever he wanted to preach, and my child is a strong enough individual that he could know the difference between right and wrong. Why is that? Because I have taught my child morals, discipline, respect.

I would be interested to know how many parents kept their child home yesterday because of a 20 minute presentation. 20 MINUTES! If they are really afraid that in 20 minutes their child could be influenced in ANY WAY by the president of the united states, then they completely fail as parents.

But, GM, I am waiting for a response. If you found nothing wrong with Obama's speech, what could he have possibly said that parents have the right to take their child out of school for fear of being influenced? And don't say the parents have the right to take their child out of school because it's their child. Georgia law has that covered.
#32 Anonymous on 09/09/09 at 12:39 PM
Excuse me...I AM a white person. And I couldn't care less about your opinion of me. In fact, if you had a high opinion, I'd be concerned. Keep babbling...
#33 GM on 09/09/09 at 03:17 PM
I am so happy that you teach your children good moral values. Rest assured that someone is out there ready to teach them different values, and with effort, young minds, even old ones can be manipulated and changed. Charles Manson and Jim Jones are two names you should quickly recognize who were highly successful at altering the thoughts of people that I’m sure most were capable of knowing the difference between right and wrong. I bet their family, or most of their families started off teaching their children morals and values too. Young minds are the easiest to persuade so therefore why risk any potential manipulation, as remote as the possibility may seem?

I am sick and tired of people like yourself, making accusations that the reason people, especially white people, don’t like Obama is because he is a man of color. It appears to me, that is the only conceivable solution that Obama supporters can comprehend. Therefore, we must all be racist or “white trash” as some delightful individual puts it. I know I’m probably wasting my time attempting to even try and communicate.

I made a comment that Adolf Hitler used the youth to help him come to power and overthrow a democratic government. The Hitler youth movement, Hitler Jugend, was formed for 15 to 18 year old boys modeled after Boy Scout programs. Boys who were 10 to 15 years old could join the Deutsches Jungvolk, and girls could join the Bund Duetscher Maedel. There was even a program for young women called the Frauenschaften.

History always has a way of repeating itself. To overthrow a government and take it over, democratic principals would have to be followed. The person must get elected to office. The individual must organize his new government to slip it in place when the old government crumbles. The new leader must be an exceptional speaker able to convince the people that change or a new beginning is about to take place. The attempts would be divided into two organizations. One dedicated to undermining and the overthrow the present government and the other government in waiting ready to replace it. The government in waiting would already have their departments set up. It resembles all of Obama’s Czars as departments in waiting. Hitler rose to power this very way.

Study up yourself. This site will reward you with tremendous amounts of comparative information

http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/riseofhitler/index.htm

OR you can continue to call me names.
#34 Anonymous on 09/09/09 at 03:22 PM
hark! the anonymous coward materialized. he told you and you crawled under a rock. your comments dont mean spit lolaughs
#35 Anonymous on 09/09/09 at 08:36 PM
Some white Americans don't have a problem with the president encouraging children to be motivated and responsible and smart. Some white people think other white people are narrow minded and stupid and it's embarassing.
#36 Anonymous on 09/10/09 at 04:39 AM
I listened to Neal Boortz speach on 750am that was a "come back" (if you want to call it) to Obamas speech. Much more informative and would make many many people uncomfortable. Excellent job Neal.
#37 cats on 09/10/09 at 09:27 AM
I would have no problem at all if my kids were still young enough to be in school.
And then we would discuss what they had heard at the dinner table.
Children are bombarded with images and ideas both positive and negative all day long. Why did everyone assume that this speech would have been a brainwashing session?
#38 CindyKay on 05/09/11 at 04:14 PM
Did Lincoln ask or publish for permission before his speeches. OK. In all fairness to modern times....Growing up in the American school system, EVERY time a President gave a speech we stopped class to view it on television. It was accepted as part of life as is politics. We were not filtered or given the option. It is a part of our history no matter what they say. If it bothers or confuses a child then parents do your job and break it down to help them understand and learn from it. This is ridiculas to me that I even have to sign a permission slip. Presidential speeches on every topic from war to health measures are simply part of our life and history in the making.
#39 Ms. Georgia on 05/09/11 at 05:02 PM
What is wrong with the students listening to the President's speech? I am sure that he is only speaking encouraging words for their benefit. We need more than just the President speaking to our students, we need positive people to come to the school to speak to the students. What happened to the assemblies that we had when we were in school. We learned a lot and if you wanted to do something productive, then hard work and dedication were the way to do it.
#40 Mr. McCarthy on 05/09/11 at 08:55 PM
No to Obama!! Lets teach our children not to tolerate another persons point of view. Lets not teach them critical thinking and lets shelter them instead. Children should believe that their President is only a good President if he/she believes everything that their infallible parents are indoctrinating instead. Obama is a socialist that must be defeated like any other evil that does not fit Fox News' preconceived narrative.
Its a terrible thing to allow children to think. We should be telling them what to believe instead of letting them figure things out on their own with some guidance.
The U.S President is indoctrinating our children...the mere sound of his voice will turn them into homosexual, socialist pillars of salt. Everything you have ever taught them will be washed from their memory the instant he opens his mouth.
Divided we stand..united we fall. Take out those evil liberal so called Americans and their bleeding heart agenda!! There is no room for compromise or toleration of different ideas when points of view are at stake.
#41 CindyKay on 05/15/11 at 01:24 PM
Such hatred. Sad.So full of it any room for kindness in there? It really is OK to have differences of opinion and even belief withouy hatred. That's what the Tali Ban is based on as well. Even in war it's sick to hate. Just win. You don't have to hate to oppose. Look in the dictionary. They agree with me. I'll pray for you.
#42 Anonymous on 05/15/11 at 06:13 PM
You are a nut case. The only difference between you and the Tali Ban is the church you attend. Other than that, you are of the same mind.
#43 Anonymous on 05/15/11 at 08:25 PM
Why bring up this 2 year old topic. How stupid is that. Read a date before you respond to a dead topic.
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