Monday, September 7, 2009

More on the president's prepared remarks to schoolchildren

President Barack Obama released his prepared remarks he will deliver to schoolchildren nationwide tomorrow. Commentators had previously warned that the president was planning to indoctrinate the children into socialists, an idea so bizarre it was, frankly, laughable.

But just LOOK at these quotes from his prepared remarks!
"...we can have the most dedicated teachers, the most supportive parents, and the best schools in the world – and none of it will matter unless all of you fulfill your responsibilities. Unless you show up to those schools; pay attention to those teachers; listen to your parents, grandparents and other adults; and put in the hard work it takes to succeed.

"And that’s what I want to focus on today: the responsibility each of you has for your education. I want to start with the responsibility you have to yourself.

"Every single one of you has something you’re good at. Every single one of you has something to offer. And you have a responsibility to yourself to discover what that is. That’s the opportunity an education can provide."
Each of these children has to take responsibility for their own education? They can't just rely on teachers and tax dollars? Aren't those the talking points of conservatives?
"at the end of the day, the circumstances of your life – what you look like, where you come from, how much money you have, what you’ve got going on at home – that’s no excuse for neglecting your homework or having a bad attitude. That’s no excuse for talking back to your teacher, or cutting class, or dropping out of school. That’s no excuse for not trying.

"Where you are right now doesn’t have to determine where you’ll end up. No one’s written your destiny for you. Here in America, you write your own destiny. You make your own future."
If this sounds familiar, it's because it is: look up Horatio Alger and see what rags-to-riches stories you can find. Not exactly a favorite read for socialists, making the claims of socialist indoctrination even more absurd.

That these parents and commentators on the right-wing were so worried over this speech (and continue to worry) speaks volumes -- the respect that is afforded to every president, regardless of political party, is no longer afforded to Barack Obama. We've known this for some time...the perpetual lies, mistruths, and blatant propaganda against the current commander-in-chief have been going strong since before he took office, and will continue on long after this posting.

Why this trend will go on, however, still mystifies this author. Despite each lie being debunked, each mistruth being explained, the hard-right in this country continue the lies, continue to misinform the public over the president's policies and ideals.

It's a shameful display of pseudo-patriotic zealotism that some people feel they need to display. A true American -- whether they agree with the president's policies or not -- still shows respect for the office, no matter who the current occupant may be.

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