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If you're not questioning, you
should be.
Are you aware that Obama is set to give a speech directed specifically at our school age children, meant to be delivered while they are at school, away from the influence of their parents? If this doesn't worry you, it should. The mere fact that I am hearing this announcement not from my school district, not through the televised media, but instead through a small and obscured article buried on the 5th page of the Arizona Republic, honestly has me very concerned as a parent.
The U.S. Department of Education claims the speech is benign and strictly educational in nature. But the State Superintendent of Public Instruction in Arizona is voicing sincere concern about the message, describing it's content as "too worshipful toward Obama" and "educationally unsound."
The idea that the president wants to speak to the american people is frankly encouraging and I would normally be quite excited about sitting down with my whole family and absorbing together the message that he wants to share, discussing the content in our family and sharing ideas about what we thought, what it means and what impact it might have on us as a family and as individuals. If his motives were truly altruistic, than the family setting is where this type of educational motivational message should be shared.
However, that is not Obama's intention. He has issued lesson plans along with his message that encourage students to "write letters to themselves about what they can do to help the president" which are to be collected and redistributed at a later date by the teacher as a means of holding students accountable. Other lesson plan directives encourage "building a background knowledge about the president of the United States by reading books about president and Barack Obama." Teachers are encouraged to have students write down key messages from the address that can be put up on a classroom poster. One of the questions teachers are encouraged to ask during the speech is "What is the President asking me to do?". Wouldn't you like to know the answer to that question BEFORE your kids do? If Obama truly wanted to make a difference, this speech should take place in the home, NOT at school. Political posturing is not something we should encourage at school. Those are opinions that should be nurtured and cultivated in the home.
Kids in middle school and high school are also given lesson plans to use in conjunction with the speech that include writing excerpts from the speech and encourage questions such as "Why does President Obama want to speak with us today? How will he inspire us? How will he challenge us?". No where that I can see in these lesson plans is there a call for students to think critically. They are merely encouraged to regurgitate spoken dogma.
If these revelations don't disturb you on some level, than let's take a quick moment to recap our path to the current state of our nation. Our government first initiated a requirement that our banks make massive loans to people that have no ability to pay back, creating an artificial housing bubble that has since crashed the economy. We initiate a "no child left behind" rule that systematically dumbs down our education so that rather than give kids true educational challenges so that "no child is left behind", we make standardized tests so remedial that "no child to be left behind". We allow, and in fact encourage, unelected judges to write laws that radically change our way of life. We are at war with an enemy that we are not allowed to name for fear we might offend someone.
And now we come to the present.
We have a president that no one knows anything about with many questionable affiliations with radical groups like Acorn, and yet no one in the media even questions his history or motives. He quietly talks about creating and funding a mandatory civilian defense force (which begins with optional military classes offered in the government funded school systems, don't believe me? check it out for yourselves...it's called the H.R. 1388 Serve America Act) that is meant to be stronger than our military for use inside our own borders. Obama, himself, stated on a July 2, 2008 campaign speech in Colorado Springs that "we cannot continue to rely on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives that we set. We must have a civilian National Security Force that's just as powerful, just as strong, and just as well funded." In case you haven't noticed, we don't even read the founding documents of our nations in our school anymore. The pledge of allegiance is optional.
Not worried yet? Think back to the 1930's where another charismatic, motivated, excellent public speaker, albeit a relative political unknown at the time, surfaced. Still not ringing a bell? He was elected to office during another economic crisis. He quietly and subversively seized power starting with government, moving into bureaucracy, then through political and emotional rallying of the children (who were even encouraged to join a Youth Movement in his name where they received constant indoctrination), and finally by promising jobs to the jobless, money to the money-less, healthcare for everyone and rewards for the military-industrial complex. With a compliant media, a newly pride-filled nation convinced of their own superiority, he accomplished true change...just not the changet the people thought they would get. I'll bet if you thought real hard, you could put a name to this man. He even had his own logo, just as Obama does.
Parents, WAKE UP! It is no coincidence that this speech airs during the most inaccessible time for working parents. It is no accident that Obama seeks to rally the youth while they are away from our influence. That is how it works. A little at a time. A piece at a time. As Neal McCluskey, associate director of Cato Institute's Center for Educational Freedom said, "You don't want to see this coming from the president. You don't want to see this coming from the federal government."
For more info: Fox News Politics, Ed.gov. Stand Up for America
Comments
this is disturbing on several levels. first of all, as you stated, the family is the forum for such discussions. in addition, but the president distributing lesson plans and discussion questions about "what does the president want me to do? how has he inspired me? how can i help the president?" it reminds me so much of soviet russia. he is making this too much about glorifying the leader, which is always dangerous. we need to recognize this for what it is-- in the best case scenario it is tasteless and a case of poor judgment. in the worst, it is blatant indoctrination of our children without involving the parents and family in the least bit. i assure you that this is not accidental-- obama's people want to "protect" kids from their conservative parents' views.
You have gone off the deep end, girl. First of all, if you don't trust sending your kid to school for fear of being "influenced" then you might consider home schooling because - unless you truly believe your kids are immune to the outside influence of their peers and teachers - you are in for a rude awakening. A big part of the education system - taking part in a the classroom - is about influence. That's just the way it is.
And as for the American president - yes, the word American is capitalized - if he is asking the kids to become proactive in their way of thinking, then that is a good start. This country needs more than anything to get kids involved. It's so not about political posturing. It's about creating awareness and inspiring kids to get involved. If you want to shelter your children, that's your perogative, but in the meantime, get a grip.
Lately, I keep getting this dark feeling that a large chunk of America has just drifted off into its own paranoid la la land. Students who listen to the President and answer the question, "What is the President asking me to do?" are going to write something like, "He is asking me to study hard." They are not going to answer, "He is asking me to be a socialist." I haven't read the speech (no one has), but I'm sure about that.
Dag nab it!! We've been fingered. You've foiled the evil liberal plan to brain wash your children into becoming communist, and stealing your bibles and guns.
Once again, the right is just too quick witted!
It's a little scary that actual adults think like this article. We are truly proving how dumb the U.S. has become.
You do realize Obama's not giving a policy speech right? Please start to do your own thinking and not be programed by the Foxxed news.
This article is ludicrous! Last I checked the speech was OPTIONAL to schools, something a socialist dictator would not leave to the discretion of school districsts. The President of the United States is going to tell your children to do well and study hard because education IS our most important asset. Last I checked Bush tested students and reprimanded their institution for poor test scores. I for one also have no problem "building a background knowledge about the president of the United States by reading books about president and Barack Obama." He is our President fod God's sake. This is an intelligent man who has a healthy respect for his office and the role that he plays in that office for FOUR years. Four years folks, so in January of 2013 we will swear in a new President if need be...I don't remember Stalin or Hitler giving their citizens that option.
The last post was also from John P. I also just have to ask did you even read H.R. 1388 before you posted it?! NOWHERE does it say anything about creating a "mandatory civilian defense force" NOWHERE!!!!! Again a conservative republican has taken bits and pieces of what they want to hear and pieced them together to agree with Rush Limabaugh and Ann Coulter. H.R. 1388 is about strengthening and establishing service groups, ie. community service, helping others, strengthening communities. I did see plenty in there on AmeriCorps, I'm sure you would support their work, along with Veteran support and ways to get retirees more involved if they would like. I also happened to see the Civilian Conservation Corp come up...remember them? They built our National Park System, something even a right winger could be proud of. READ things before you post them...please!
Dag nab it!! We've been fingered. You've foiled the evil liberal plan to brain wash your children into becoming communist, and stealing your bibles and guns.
Once again, the right is just too quick witted!
It's a little scary that actual adults think like this article. We are truly proving how dumb the U.S. has become.
You do realize Obama's not giving a policy speech right? Please start to do your own thinking and not be programed by the Foxxed news.
Comparing the president to Hitler is an outrageously big jump. I don't care what political affiliation you have, this is not an appropriate way to engage the population in politics. It belittles the horror of those who experienced the holocaust and fought in the war, and it derails our nation from becoming informed and productive participants in our governing. I don't think that Bush, Obama, or any other president should be compared in this manner without just cause. This sickens me.
You need to have your column taken away. Very inappropriate.
Reading the previous comments, I am amazed that adults cannot see through such an obvious indoctrination attempt by Obama. This reminds me of social situations experienced by little children when the most "popular" kids in the classroom put pressure on the rank and file to go along with bully-type behavior. Very few of those children have the strength to stand up for their own convictions, taught to them in their homes, by their parents, and stand against the bully. It appears by these previous comments that even adults have a hard time having the courage to stand firm and strong for beliefs and convictions. I am NOT okay with Obama addressing children in the classroom. I am NOT okay with pledging allegiance to Obama. I am NOT okay with a forced liberal adgenda. I think his staff has run his PUBLIC PERCEPTION campaign brilliantly...right down to having his own logo. I will teach my kids that we support the office of Pres., but not Obama. Last time I checked I still had that right
I also think one of the reasons why Obama wants to address the children is because his public opinion polls are plumeting. He knows that children aren't trained to think critically for themselves. They are taught to respect and honor adults and authority. Who has more authority in their naive minds than the President of the United States? Obama has such a messiah-complex that he needs to be adored. He needs fans. He needs the blind acceptance and followers that he has LOST so early in his term. Where can he find them? He realizes that he has a fan base just ripe for the plucking. He can be charismatic. Offer a few jokes. Be the common man. Be one with them. Be someone they can relate to and LIKE. Because he's such a great guy, right? His first concern isn't the welfare of the children. His first concern is public perception about himself! And it doesn't take much to become adored by kids--a smile, a few kind word, making them think they are important. DON'T BE FOOLED!PARENTS, WAKE UP!
The other thing that is so interesting about this is: THIS IS A GREAT PHOTO OPPORTUNITY!!! I have NO doubt that there will be camera crews filming various classrooms, before, during, and after the speech. I'm sure there will be PLENTY of follow-up coverage. There will be "testimonials" from young children of how Pres Obama has changed their lives. How he has made them think BIG; how they now realize how important each of them is. I'm sure that Obama's publicity army will find some inner-city kid who knows he now has it within his power to make personal decisions that will get him out of the welfare system--all because of Obama. Not because of the teachers, or others who have invested in him. But because of his president. And that footage will be shown across the nation, on every channel, for every minute of the day, effectively creating a public perception that Obama is the greatest human who has every walked the earth.
Which makes him effectively appear to be the most popular person on the planet. And the most popular person on the planet is a hard person to stand up to. Even when his ideas and convictions aren't the same as yours. Just ask LJ, Mr. B., John P, Mike, and Natalie. They are adults, and still haven't learned how to stand up to bullies! They just like to go along the easy path--the course of least resistance. How easy for them to like Obama? How easy for them to not have to decide to keep their kids from the propaganda? How easy for them to stand with the great publicity machine, the "popular" crowd, and not stand alone? If you go back in history, the group of Americans who didn't want to make waves were the ones who opposed the Revolutionary War. If these people had their way, we would still be ruled by the crown of England. And these are ADULTS! How do we expect our children to handle it differently? STAND UP!
Have you guys even SEEN the video that will be shown to your kids on Tuesday? Oh, of course not. I forgot, we don't get to see it until Tuesday and only if you own a computer with internet or you sit in a classroom. ..."I pledge allegiance to Obama, and the issues for which he stands..." Oh, sorry, you missed the new pledge? Don't believe me? Look it up on YouTube under "I pledge". PLEASE tell me you don't think this crosses the line just a tad...when did we start pledging allegiance to a man rather than a nation? Oh yeah, it was when Obama was elected. You don't worry, just a little???? It is our duty and right as citizens to question the motives and actions of our leaders. Isn't that why we formed this country in the first place? I don't care of he's male, female, black, white or checkered...I don't care for the rhetoric and I don't care for the mockery of the time honored true "Pledge of Allegiance".
Jennifer, you are nuts. I mean seriously, you've gone off the deep end. Obama is not having kids pledging allegiance to him. The video you're alluding too is from troubled black youth who are using Obama as motivation to push themselves to do better in life.
I've worked with troubled black youth in Long Beach, CA where over 65% of males drop out of school. I've had kids tell me, and I loosely quote, "Nobody is doing anything for me here. Do you see any white kids in this class? Go look at the schools where the white kids are, and then tell me I'm going to be able to accomplish something in life."
The only movement that exists to make kids pledge their allegiance to Obama is in your brainwashed head. Yes, you are being brainwashed by corporate interest that own the airwaves, and have a very simple goal... make a lot of money. They can do that by lying and misinforming you, and keeping America as divided as possible.
You need to wake up, because the enemy isn't liberals or Oba
Cathy,
Was in indoctrination when Kennedy spoke to schools, Regan, Bush??
Hey, where was Bush on 9/11 by the way? I'm pretty sure that goat story he was reading was a method for a satanic goat sacrafic. And I know this is true, because I read it on a blog.
What concerns me is not the fact that Obama was speaking to children at school, but the fact that you have written such an insane article and that people in this country actually think like you. He's the President of the United States. Period. I'd be more concerned about some of our teachers in the school system that are teaching our children 'away from the influence of their parents.'. Simply shaking my head at this article. Scared by the ignorance.
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