BS: Obama's address to school children

Subject: RE: BS: Obama's address to school children
From: GUEST,jts
Date: 11 Sep 09 - 12:03 PM

"However it seems a pretty strange idea all along. I can't envisaged a national address to schoolchildren by a Prime Minister if any political complexion."

McGrath, That is because of the major difference between the US and UK system. In the US the President is the head of state. In the UK the monarch is. Of course you can imagine the Queen making such a speech.

Subject: RE: BS: Obama's address to school children
From: frogprince
Date: 11 Sep 09 - 10:33 AM

Jeri, recheck my post, together with Sharon's posts before and after. Sharon and I agreed. (Now personally, I've never misread anyone's intentions around here...I wish) : )

Subject: RE: BS: Obama's address to school children
From: Donuel
Date: 11 Sep 09 - 08:19 AM

Bus school kids to hear george bUSH talk next month?

Arlington is a very strange mix of egalitarian class conscious progressive racists. Young adults in their million plus condos speak snidely about bottom feeders. While Arlington has a very diverse population of immigrants the attitudes there are far more provincial and potentially hateful than I expected. Hate thy neighbor? not really, unless they are from El Salvadore or Mexico.

Progressives try to build shelters for day laborers while the old guard try to tear them down.

Subject: RE: BS: Obama's address to school children
From: Barry Finn
Date: 10 Sep 09 - 11:57 PM

Both Reagan & the first Bush (not the worst Bush he couldn't even read to the kids) used the classroom as a place with which to speak too. No problem then but there seems to be one now. Why? Isms, racism & socialism are just words & terms used so that the listening parties don't have to willingly think for themselves & those that want this administration to fail couldn't give a dam as long as they can have their day at our expense. It's about power, greed, control & money & if any isms can help to achieve that goal it's fair play, as far as they're concerned, to use them.

Barry

Subject: RE: BS: Obama's address to school children
From: Peace
Date: 10 Sep 09 - 09:31 PM

"If I get a response I'll let you know."

Don't hold yer breath.

Subject: RE: BS: Obama's address to school children
From: Peace
Date: 10 Sep 09 - 09:28 PM

Republicans have no commerce with 'socialism'. It has no real meaning to most of 'em. Truth is they wouldn't recognize it were it to bite 'em on the arse.

Subject: RE: BS: Obama's address to school children
From: Jeri
Date: 10 Sep 09 - 09:25 PM

I don't think you're 'with' him if your contradicting him. I can't say for sure why they had a cow over it except they don't like him because he's not one of them, whatever 'them' means.

Subject: RE: BS: Obama's address to school children
From: SharonA
Date: 10 Sep 09 - 09:20 PM

I'm with you, Frogprince: They say it's about socialism, but really it's about a different kind of "ism" (i.e. racism)!

Subject: RE: BS: Obama's address to school children
From: frogprince
Date: 10 Sep 09 - 09:16 PM

No, no, Sharon: it's because he might contaminate them with Socialism! (So they say; I've called it the same as you do all along.)

Subject: RE: BS: Obama's address to school children
From: SharonA
Date: 10 Sep 09 - 09:10 PM

"I really doubt that there has ever been a comparable effort to shelter children from the words of a U.S. President before."

That's because there hasn't been a comparable US President -- a black man -- before. Too many bigots out there still see an "uppity [n-word]" when they look at him.

Subject: RE: BS: Obama's address to school children
From: frogprince
Date: 10 Sep 09 - 08:47 PM

An older gentleman we often see over morning coffee said that the speech was all right, but he defended the school board for holding off on exposing the children to it until they had a chance to be sure about it. I really doubt that there has ever been a comparable effort to shelter children from the words of a U.S. President before.

Subject: RE: BS: Obama's address to school children
From: Wesley S
Date: 10 Sep 09 - 02:27 PM

I've e-mails most of the members of the Arlington school board to find out why they plan to bus kids across town next month to hear ex-President Bush speak about education - and why that would be preferable to hearing current President Obama on TV in their classrooms. If I get a response I'll let you know.

Subject: RE: BS: Obama's address to school children
From: Donuel
Date: 09 Sep 09 - 06:07 PM

Good people are merely questioning leaving their children alne with Obama.
http://usera.imagecave.com/donuel/gb1.jpg

Subject: RE: BS: Obama's address to school children
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 09 Sep 09 - 05:04 PM

Peel bananas from the stem end only.

That's typical chimp nonsense. Orang-utangs know better.

Subject: RE: BS: Obama's address to school children
From: Amos
Date: 09 Sep 09 - 03:58 PM

When it comes to the reality of the issue, one deranged fantasy is as good as another...



A

Subject: RE: BS: Obama's address to school children
From: Little Hawk
Date: 09 Sep 09 - 03:44 PM

The real shame is that almost NOBODY listened to Chongo's recent groundbreaking speech on education in America, which he delivered to a rapt (although tiny) audience at Duffy's Bar in Chicago. (He had promised free drinks to anyone who listened.)

Chongo's main points for maintaining high educational standards in America are:

1. DON'T bite your teacher.

2. Learn to use firearms at the earliest age possible...learn from a qualified instructor, one who has shot at least 3 people (or primates) in the past five years, but only in self-defence of course!

3. Don't spit on your textbooks and NEVER chew on them either.

4. Wear really shiny shoes so you can see people creeping up from behind you and other things like that which you would miss if your shoes weren't well shined.

5. NEVER shoot at a female unless she shoots at you first or looks like she is about to. It's not kosher to shoot women, and anyone who does better have a DAMN good reason for doing so. Men? Feel free to blow 'em away the moment they get outta line.

6. Always hold doors open for your elders and show them respect.

7. Carry an extra ammo clip in your back pockets or briefcase or lunchbox.

8. Pay attention in class and DON'T throw things! You win not get anywhere in life behaving like a goddamn bush ape, and nobody will be impressed one bit if you do either.

9. Honor and revere the founders of this great nation: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, Ed Sullivan, and King Kong.

10. Peel bananas from the stem end only. DON'T drop the peels on the ground, but put them in a recycling container and do your bit for environmental awareness in America.

Subject: RE: BS: Obama's address to school children
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 09 Sep 09 - 02:25 PM

I imagine all this will have meant that far more people will have listened to Obama's address - adults and children.   And I suspect that a lot of kids barred from hearing it at school will sneak off and listen to it on the web. Stolen fruit tastes sweetest...

Subject: RE: BS: Obama's address to school children
From: Amos
Date: 09 Sep 09 - 02:25 PM

Jumpin' Jehosophats. If that ain't plumb contrary-minded, I dunno what is. Dang! And after Laura went to all that trouble to settle their damn feathers, too!


A

Subject: RE: BS: Obama's address to school children
From: Mrrzy
Date: 09 Sep 09 - 02:22 PM

Oh, come on, I think in the general direction of my fellow americans...

Subject: RE: BS: Obama's address to school children
From: Wesley S
Date: 09 Sep 09 - 02:01 PM

I am truly speechless - here's a story from todays paper.

Arlington is the town between Dallas and Ft Worth. It's the location of the new football stadium------




The Arlington Independent School District, which passed on airing President Barack Obama's live classroom address, has announced that some students will be bussed off campus to hear a message from former President George W. Bush on Sept. 21.

District officials said it's part of a Cowboys Stadium field trip that the North Texas Super Bowl Host Committee invited 28 fifth-grade classes to attend several months ago.

In addition to hearing from Bush and former first lady Laura Bush, the students will hear from legendary Dallas Cowboys players and North Texas business and community leaders. The event launches the Super Bowl committee's largest-ever youth education program.

Students must have their parents' permission to attend, school officials said.

Dwight McKissic Sr., the senior pastor of Arlington's Cornerstone Baptist Church, said he's concerned about the district's decision to not broadcast Obama's message while transporting students to hear a message from Bush.

"I do not understand the duplicity in this situation," McKissic said in a news release from the church. "I believe the students and the public deserve and need to have these differences explained."

Obama told students to stay in school, work hard and set goals in an 18-minute speech delivered Tuesday morning from Wakefield High School in Arlington, Va.

The Arlington school district, like many in North Texas, decided not to broadcast the president's speech live after some parents expressed concern about its content.

The district said the recorded speech would be made available through its Web site.

The school district allowed students with permission slips from parents an excused absence to watch Obama's speech at an off-site location.

Cornerstone Baptist Church was among the facilities that broadcast the Obama's address for students and parents who wanted to watch the speech

Subject: RE: BS: Obama's address to school children
From: Bill D
Date: 09 Sep 09 - 12:16 PM

Motivation from the wing-nuts is simple:

"Karl Rove told us he had a plan to set things up so WE would be in power forever! It didn't work, and we are not happy! Now, anything goes to cast doubt on Obama and get us that power back!"

Subject: RE: BS: Obama's address to school children
From: Little Hawk
Date: 09 Sep 09 - 11:33 AM

That's the same sort of blinding logic the church once used to condemn "witches", isn't it? ;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Obama's address to school children
From: Wesley S
Date: 09 Sep 09 - 09:30 AM

Alice is right. There were similar quotes from local Republicans in our paper too.

Subject: RE: BS: Obama's address to school children
From: Alice
Date: 08 Sep 09 - 08:23 PM

Well, I just heard one rabid right-winger on Fox saying that the president must have changed the speech from what it was going to be previously, although the guy admitted he had not evidence to prove that.

Subject: RE: BS: Obama's address to school children
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 08 Sep 09 - 08:00 PM

They'll regroup, and come back complaining about it being "elitist", and having no regard for the simple pleasures of honest hard-working folk who just want to get by in this world. All that stuff about high ambitions and striving to achieve...

Subject: RE: BS: Obama's address to school children
From: Amos
Date: 08 Sep 09 - 07:25 PM

I would expect that any of those smoke-eaters who were screaming about Obama's insidious intent are feeling foolish. If they aren't, they have no conscience at all. The ones who screamed loudest should be feeling remorse, but that requires the ability to understand consequences and causes.

Ya gotta shake your head and wonder.


A

Subject: RE: BS: Obama's address to school children
From: Azizi
Date: 08 Sep 09 - 07:14 PM

SharonA, yes, the letter from Justin Jones, the frrst student quoted in that diary was very well written snark (sarcasm).

The dailykos diarist's reference to The Daily Show implied that. But I should have made it clearer.

Subject: RE: BS: Obama's address to school children
From: Riginslinger
Date: 08 Sep 09 - 07:14 PM

That was after he became barking mad.

Subject: RE: BS: Obama's address to school children
From: Alice
Date: 08 Sep 09 - 07:08 PM

Teddy Roosevelt in 2007???
speaking from the grave???

Subject: RE: BS: Obama's address to school children
From: Donuel
Date: 08 Sep 09 - 06:57 PM

Peace, it is a rare event to hear a racist apologize. The ugly buzz was generated by talk radio's usual gang of foxy idiots and was aimed at the closet racists who need little provocation to seize an excuse to shame our nation and themselves.

Subject: RE: BS: Obama's address to school children
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 08 Sep 09 - 06:48 PM

Here's what Theodore Roosevelt wrote to "the School Children of the United States" back in 2007. (Of course in those days the people in conyrol of the Republican Party were not actually barking mad...):

Arbor Day (which means simply "Tree Day") is now observed in every State in our Union — and mainly in the schools. At various times from January to December, but chiefly in this month of April, you give a day or part of a day to special exercises and perhaps to actual tree planting, in recognition of the importance of trees to us as a Nation, and of what they yield in adornment, comfort, and useful products to the communities in which you live.

It is well that you should celebrate your Arbor Day thoughtfully, for within your lifetime the Nation's need of trees will become serious. We of an elder generation can get along with what we have, though with growing hardship; but in your full manhood and womanhood you will want what nature once so bountifully supplied and man so thoughtlessly destroyed; and because of that want you will reproach us, not for what we have used, but for what we have wasted.

For the Nation as for the man or woman and the boy or girl, the road to success is the right use of what we have and the improvement of present opportunity. If you neglect to prepare yourselves now for the duties and responsibilities which will fall upon you later, if you do not learn the things which you will need to know when your school days are over, you will suffer the consequences. So any nation which in its youth lives only for the day, reaps without sowing, and consumes without husbanding, must expect the penalty of the prodigal, whose labor could with difficulty find him the bare means of life.

A people without children would face a hopeless future; a country without trees is almost as hopeless; forests which are so used that they cannot renew themselves will soon vanish, and with them all their benefits. A true forest is not merely a storehouse full of wood, but, as it were, a factory of wood, and at the same time a reservoir of water. When you help to preserve our forests or to plant new ones you are acting the part of good citizens. The value of forestry deserves, therefore, to be taught in the schools, which aim to make good citizens of you. If your Arbor Day exercises help you to realize what benefits each one of you receives from the forests, and how by your assistance these benefits may continue, they will serve a good end.

THEODORE ROOSEVELT

Subject: RE: BS: Obama's address to school children
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 08 Sep 09 - 06:21 PM

I imagine they'd be likely to hold with the principle ,"Never apologise, never explain - it's a sign of weakness" as enunciated by John Wayne in "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon" (though of course they weren't John Wayne's own words, or even the words of the screenwriters who gave them to the character he played, since they'd been around for up to a century before then).

I've always regarded that as a contemptable and false principle, but then that's no matter.

Subject: RE: BS: Obama's address to school children
From: Peace
Date: 08 Sep 09 - 05:54 PM

Have any of the people who were dissing the speech before it was aired actually apologized?

Subject: RE: BS: Obama's address to school children
From: SharonA
Date: 08 Sep 09 - 05:51 PM

Azizi, thanks for linking us to that entire article. It's clear from reading Justin Jones' entire message that he meant the first two paragraphs, and the last sentence about lemonade, to be sarcastic, not inflammatory.

Subject: RE: BS: Obama's address to school children
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 08 Sep 09 - 05:50 PM

Here is the actual speech as delivered - no doubt there will be textual analysts going through it to spot any changes from the published text, and interpreting what these might mean. Like the old Kremlinologists...

Subject: RE: BS: Obama's address to school children
From: Azizi
Date: 08 Sep 09 - 05:38 PM

First up, we have Justin Jones, age 16, who may have a future as a Daily Show writer:

"Obama's speech was just dripping with socialist values, especially when he told kids "I hope you'll all wash your hands a lot, and stay home from school when you don't feel well, so we can keep people from getting the flu this fall and winter."

Oh, and the part about students setting goals for their education and asking for help when they worry they won't succeed? He is stealing the words right out of Karl Marx's mouth."

[snip]

The main message — don't give up. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.

In these hard times, there is no better advice that the president could give to children. Unless, of course, he tells them they better share all the profits they get from that lemonade."

end of quote

...Next up, Rachel Lubitz, age 17, who proves that theory that adults telling kids not to do something will want to make them do it even more:

This is from this dailykos diary: Priceless Reaction From Students to Obama's School Speech


The St. Petersburg Times decided to have some students write in with their thoughts [about President Obama's address to school children.

http://www.tampabay.com/features/article1034344.ece

First up, we have Justin Jones, age 16, who may have a future as a Daily Show writer:

"What I would most like to applaud President Obama on is taking the time to look at this new generation from ages 5 to 18 and letting us know that he cares. The last time a President has gathered up the courage to do a thing like this was in the '80s with the first George Bush. Obama was also able to make the right wing news media whine and moan on for weeks and weeks about a speech about staying in school and succeeding. He made them look like overreacting schoolgirls jealous of the cheerleader with the quarterback boyfriend, and anyone who can do that has a friend in me."

There are a couple of other excellent ones. The kids, methinks, they're all right. As an added treat, read the whining from the right-wingers in the comments. The contrast in intelligence from the letters is striking."

Subject: RE: BS: Obama's address to school children
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 08 Sep 09 - 05:33 PM

All the ultra-right really cares about is seeing that Obama fails. If the rest of the country goes into the shitter as a result of their blockade tactics, it's just collateral damage. Their tactics are about as admirable as those of car bombers.

Subject: RE: BS: Obama's address to school children
From: Wesley S
Date: 08 Sep 09 - 05:19 PM

Ebbie - A letter to the editor in the local paper admitted that the speech itself was harmless. The danger according to this writer was that the teachers union was full of ACORN members. And that they would twist the speech to suit their evil needs.

Subject: RE: BS: Obama's address to school children
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 08 Sep 09 - 05:18 PM

But the thing is, the worry wasn't about what Obama might say, it was about the fact that it was him saying it. When you're trying to make him out as a devil from hell, the important thing is to try to stop people actually listening to him, because it completely blows that image away.

Subject: RE: BS: Obama's address to school children
From: Ebbie
Date: 08 Sep 09 - 05:07 PM

The reason I like the speech is that it will motivate those children who are already idealistic and it may reach those who had thought there was no use in trying.

As for those people NOT liking it before they even had an inkling as to what was in it, I hope that today they just feel DUMB.

Subject: RE: BS: Obama's address to school children
From: Little Hawk
Date: 08 Sep 09 - 05:07 PM

(chuckle)

Christ only knows what would happen if they got access to a European or Canadian or Asian education! The Republican and Democratic Parties would both face political extinction, I think, but the Republicans would definitely vanish first.

Subject: RE: BS: Obama's address to school children
From: Wesley S
Date: 08 Sep 09 - 04:58 PM

I think I understand why the comservaties are upset about the Presidents address. IF the kids listen to him and stay in school they are liable to get an education. If that happens it would be tougher for the Republican party to find new recruits.

Subject: RE: BS: Obama's address to school children
From: Little Hawk
Date: 08 Sep 09 - 01:36 PM

It's an excellent speech. No political content is in there at all, just plain old good advice and common sense.

Subject: RE: BS: Obama's address to school children
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 08 Sep 09 - 01:25 PM

Great speach. I hope Mrs. Obama does one too, especially addressing the Mean Girls, which she has done before, and who wreak havoc upon any school system. mg

Subject: RE: BS: Obama's address to school children
From: Donuel
Date: 08 Sep 09 - 10:46 AM

This just in,
Bible code scholars and reverse speech experts have decoded the Obama Speech! Its Shocking!



Mein Kinder,

People ask, "where is America going?"
Our answer is still the same one we gave our internal enemies of America. The old and rich must die and give us all their ill gotten wealth. You know, my old Party comrades, that our victory in 2008 was not an easy one. It was an incredible struggle that was waged for almost 15 years; an almost futile struggle. Because you must imagine, my Party comrades, that we did suddenly receive a large following from fate. A handful of people started this. And these people painfully first secured their positions and then enlarge them. A handful of people turned into 100, then 1,000, and then 10,000 and 100,000 and finally the first million was reached. And then this evolved to two million, then three and four. We grew during an ongoing war against a thousand enemies and attacks and rapes and breaches of the law, and this struggle made us strong, internally strong. And so, these 7 months after we took power, we know that this is not a gift from heaven for someone that has not earned it, but the reward for a unique struggle, a brave perseverance in the struggle for NATIONAL SOCIALIST power.



And when I, in the year 2008, was given this power and took responsibility, along with the National Socialist movement, for the American future, it became clear to me that freedom would not be given lightly to our people. It also became clear that the struggle was not finished; instead, it was being waged on a larger scale. Because our goal was not the triumph of the National Socialist movement, but the liberation of our American people. That was the goal.



Everything I have created since then is geared to this goal. The Democratic Party, the Shadow Goverment, HS, SS, all other organizations like the private contractors, the army, the air force, the navy, they exist not just to exist but to help fulfill our goal. Securing the freedom of our American people looms above everything else. Of course I tried, just as I did domestically, through persuasion, through negotiating, by calling on their reason, to achieve our necessary, indispensable claims. Several times in several different areas, it worked. Already in 2009 one had to notice, that the old war hawks were gaining the upper hand again in those states opposing us. I started warning then. What is one supposed to think, if first a treaty is signed by both parties in Washington DC, and then one party returns back to Montana and starts badmouthing our socialst health care plans and saying it is a shame, yes, when he vows that this will not occur a second time; in other words: that voluntary communication and town hall meetings are not thinkable any more for the future.            



At that time, the outsiders stood up in those so-called democracies. I immediately issued warnings about this, because it is obvious. The American people did not feel any kind of hate against the Georgian or the Florida people - the American people wanted only to live in friendship and peace with them. America has claims, which do not hurt these other peoples at all, which do not take anything away from them, only the rich and the elderly.



The American people has never learned to carry on hate. Then in rural Pennsylvania, certain circles began their impertinent, intolerable assaults. And then came the moment when I had to say to myself: I cannot watch this anymore, I have to answer to this agitation. For we do not educate the American people to hate the Chritian gun toting conservatives. We do not educate it to hate the right wing, while in Texas and Georgia the agitators day after day bait the White House and Socialist peoples, through the press and at rallies, to hate against Americans. One day the agitators will be the government. Then they will realize their plans, and the American people will not know where this is coming from. So I gave the order to educate the American children about this agitation. From this moment on I am convinced we need to eliminate these enemies of the White House to ensure the defense of the Reich... I mean America.





jus kiddin ;')

Subject: RE: BS: Obama's address to school children
From: Joe Offer
Date: 08 Sep 09 - 01:14 AM

I've always had a lot of respect for Laura Bush. Once again, she proves she's worthy of it.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: BS: Obama's address to school children
From: PSzymeczek
Date: 07 Sep 09 - 11:18 PM

The RW is really saying "We can't have the scary black man talk to our kids!" What they're REALLY dying to say is "We can't have this N1663R saying anything to our kids!"

Subject: RE: BS: Obama's address to school children
From: Alice
Date: 07 Sep 09 - 11:14 PM

Thank you Laura Bush!

" The typically reserved former first lady defended Obama's decision to deliver a back-to-school speech to students, putting her at odds with many conservatives afraid that the president will use the opportunity to advance his political agenda.

"I think he is [doing a good job]," Bush said when asked to assess Obama's job performance. "I think he has got a lot on his plate, and he has tackled a lot to start with, and that has probably made it more difficult."
... "I think there is a place for the president ... to talk to schoolchildren and encourage" them, she said. Parents should follow his example and "encourage their own children to stay in school and to study hard and to try to achieve the dream that they have."

Bush indicated that she didn't think it was fair for Obama to be labeled a "socialist" by critics and expressed her disappointment with the intensely polarized nature of contemporary American politics."

rest of the article click here

Subject: RE: BS: Obama's address to school children
From: Azizi
Date: 07 Sep 09 - 10:59 PM

Here's a link to a YouTube video of President Obama being interviewed in the White House by a Florida elementary school student:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rP-695ATg-c&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ejackandjillpolitics%2Ecom%2F&feature=player_embedded

"Student Reporter Damon Weaver was invited to come to the White House to talk about education with President Obama"

Subject: RE: BS: Obama's address to school children
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 07 Sep 09 - 06:48 PM

Well, there are Catholics like that, just as there are Muslims like Bin Laden. Osama probabaly doesn't like Harry Potter (or Barack Obama, for that matter).

But young Potter is in favour in the Vatican these days.

Here's what L'Osservatore Romano, the Vatican newspaper, had to say in an enthusiastic review of the latest Harry Potter film: "the demarcation line between those who do good and those who do evil seems very clear, and the spectator or reader readily identifies with the former. In this most recent film in particular the distinction is even clearer. It conveys to viewers that it is right to do good and makes them realize that this sometimes demands both great effort and sacrifice."

..........................

I'm not sure that letters to American papers from England are necessarily too helpful. I mean, this is the country where the leader of the Conservative opposition speaks passionately of his love of a National Health Service which actually is an example of "socialism" in practice.

But if you'd like to work up that post of mine into a letter from you to American papers, Amos, be my guest. I think it'd come better from a native.