Comments on: Quotation Saturday: Our Presidents Speak

By: Goldie

Goldie — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 10:47:18 +0000

Hi Mamacita, I know I’m late to this party, but just wanted to voice my resounding ITA. An old buddy of mine recently sent the the link to the I Pledge video, expecting me to 1)be shocked and appalled and 2)confirm to him that my children were forced to watch it in school. Well first of all, to me it looked like a number of Hollywood celebs making promises to recycle and feed the hungry, a whopping TWO of them saying that they “pledge to serve their President” – which IMO is totally understandable as the video came out on inauguration day…! Srsly people. That’s how these two celebs chose to celebrate that particular day, which happened to be a happy occassion for them. What brainwashing?? Who models their life after what Hollywood actors say, anyway???? Anyway, to the second point, my children (8th and 11th grades) had never seen the Pledge video, in school or elsewhere.
I want to have a reasonable discussion about what’s going on in the country, but all I see from my con friends lately is irrational temper tantrums… Were the left as bad in 2000-2008? I sure hope not. And yes, I still think Obama was a FAR better choice than the alternative. I was at both rallys so I could form a better opinion. All I can say is, day and night. IMO like it or not, we didn’t have a choice.

By: Heidi Eaton

Heidi Eaton — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 02:32:07 +0000

I read the speech. While I disagree with his methods of delivery, I can’t help but agree with his concept. As a parent I am not too happy that my President has taken my job as parent and is attempting to lead and guide my child. He wasn’t elected to be the parent, spiritual leader or counselor of my child. I think that responsible parenting doesn’t happen from the white house, it happens from my own house. While I will let my four children watch the speech, I will be discussing it with them after school and then allowing them to form their own opinions. They are intelligent and are capable of deciding if something is right or wrong. But if they have questions I, the parent, will be there to help them see both sides.

My school district is showing the video, but we are allowed to opt out. Some districts aren’t allowing their students to opt out. Those parents feel trapped. They feel that they are being treated as subservient to a king, not citizens of a free nation. They are taking the only recourse they have and if it means that the school doesn’t get paid for their child being there that day, so be it. I don’t think that this makes them chickens. It makes them parents with the right to choose for their children.

By: vegas art guy

vegas art guy — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 18:34:22 +0000

Had Obama included the text of the speech with the announcement so that parents could see it was simply an expansion of his ‘dropping out is not an option’ quote, there would be little controversy. For those of you who are on the left side of the fence and still think Bush is the Devil, imagine how you would feel if Bush were giving the speech. I won’t do the speech on Tuesday because it does not fit what I am doing this week. Not to mention I want all my classes to see it and then there is that little thing called a lesson plan.

By: Wes F. in Hapeville

Wes F. in Hapeville — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 01:54:21 +0000

The anger shown at the recent town halls is actually an indicator of just how stupid and scary (not scared – scary) some people are. Seriously – *guns*? (And I support the 2nd Amendment; I just don’t think guns should be fetishized.)

Brava, Mamacita. Anyone who is pulling this crap and not letting their children hear this speech doesn’t *deserve* to take part in our civic discourse. (I won’t stop them, of course, but that doesn’t mean I – or anyone else – should pay attention to them.) Go back to your A Beka Books and your megachurches (in which there is usually very little Christianity) and let the grownups talk.

By: TS

TS — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 00:55:31 +0000

Last I heard, the “I Pledge” video was not being shown in classrooms across the country. I just watched it, and it seems like a bunch of glorified New Year’s resolutions to me. Celebs pledging to be better people (ironic, I know–but not as ironic as folks keeping their children out of school to avoid hearing a speech from our President about staying in school. Now THAT’S the definition of irony. Not to mention ignorance.)

The whole thing is downright embarrassing. The “ugly American” is alive and well. Lord help us all.

By: Sandra

Sandra — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 20:21:13 +0000

Kids are already being bombarded with enough propaganda that I guess a speech by Dear Leader wouldn’t be that big a deal except that the announcement of speech following so closely on the heels of the creepy “I Pledge …” video where students are encouraged to pledge to be a “servant of Obama” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwG5MhVGQ6k&feature=related). Sorry, that’s just beyond the pale, and I don’t blame parents for not wanting their children subjected to more of that. It also didn’t help that the DOE lesson plans also included the whole “pledge” phrasing again.

Are some of the objections over-the-top”? Sure. But when people don’t think they are being heard, the natural response is to turn up the volume. The anger shown at the various town halls recently is a pretty good indication that people don’t think their so-called representatives are listening to them.

By: TS

TS — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 11:54:45 +0000

Maybe these parents are just following the advice of their fearless leader: “Fool me once, shame on…you. Fool me..uh, ya’ cain’t fool me agin’.” Or something like that. I’ll have to look it up in the Book of Great Quotations.

Idiots.

By: Shylah

Shylah — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 05:32:18 +0000

#63 is particularly good. It reminds me of an anonymous quote I have on a profile somewhere.. “Other cultures are not a failed attempt at being you.”

By: Leanne

Leanne — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 02:38:21 +0000

You’ve put it down perfectly – far better than any other place I’ve seen yet online. This post should be picked up by the mainstream media and posted everywhere. Everywhere. I honestly don’t know why you haven’t been hired by CNN as an educational and just plain common sense commentator. I’m serious. CNN, are you listening? Probably not, but that’s how I feel about your writing, anyway. I know I’m not the only one, either. Thank you, Jane, for making this stance so crystal clear, witty, and easy to understand.

By: MrsC

MrsC — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 01:08:31 +0000

As someone who is not an American, I have followed discussions about this issue with interest and some incredulity. I can’t for the life of me understand how it is somehow inappropriate for students to watch an address directed at them by the President of their country. Dangerous? Frightening? Spreading propoganda? Brain-washing? I’m shaking my head…