I live in Texas (Austin), and it’s embarrassing — as if Texas doesn’t have a negative reputation already. Lots of my FB “friends” are outraged that their children will hear his message and say they plan to keep their kids home. God forbid someone encourage them to work hard in school! (gasp!!) They also conveniently overlook presidential precedent for this. I agree that it sends the wrong message that if you disagree with someone you shouldn’t listen to them. It’s disrespectful and teaches disrespect for authority. I don’t get it.

I think the conservatives that complained about bad traetment of Bush don’t see any irony at all. And those religious conservaties that want to ignore Rom 13 and other scripture that basically says to honor tbose that God has placed in authority are also the ones that complain about the lack of respect for elders and the church. I think this is a great example of how the church should be leading from example, but instead is leading in the wrong direction, against common sense and scripture.

This is insanity. Other presidents (I’ve found evidence of Reagan and W, specifically) have given similar message to schoolchildren in the past. Although there WAS some controversy then, I’ve found no evidence that anyone threatened to pull their kids out of school over it like we’re seeing now. People are blowing this WAY out of proportion.

I shared on FB with the comment, “And you thought liberals were wacko!” That’s about how I feel.

As a teacher in a Title One school facing tremendous amounts of poverty and as a parent whose child goes to the same school system with these impoverished children, I say “You go, Obama!” There is nothing that makes me prouder than to see the president stand up and encourage these children in this way or in any way that he can. Our nations children are facing tremendous odds, odds that teachers and educators on the front line see everyday. We need all the help we can get! I also think that churches should be adopting public schools all over this country, purchasing school supplies, mentoring and doing whatever it takes to help the least of these instead of saying silly things about the president.

I’m glad you’re touching on this, Scot. This shows how deeply divided our country is. But I wonder if this shows a possible character flaw in us as a nation.
When I consider much of the news media, I wonder if the days of intelligent interaction and civil debate are largely a thing of the past. This seems to me to be related to what is going on here.
And it’s an issue of respect as well. I find it sadly lacking at times. As much as I might disagree with a president, I’d better respect both his authority. And in this particular matter, his judgment, unless I have good, clear reason to think otherwise.

I live in the Austin metropolitan area too. And it’s crazy. I’ve stayed off facebook, so I manage to avoid most of it, but my wife has been bombarded with it — mostly from Christians she knows.

We’ve seen what Nicolai Carpathia can do with that mind-control trick of his. So why would anyone want to allow his colleague Obama have access to their kids?

A friend of mine pointed out that a government that provides roads, schools, ect. really is a form of socialism. Guess too many people, or should we say a small minority are making mountains out of molehills.

Parents are scared because they have outsourced value training and cultural processing. (Temple,TX)

I think it’s really sad and upsetting that people would be that afraid of a message from our President. But I think perhaps something good could come from all of this. The sheer ridiculousness of it – it could act as a wake up call in our nation – to help people let go of the fear they’re clinging to like life-preservers.
Sigh. Or maybe I’m just a hopeless optimist.

Kate,
Yes. Or, rather, the-soon-to-ascend Nicoli himself.
Steven,
Don’t forget libraries, police forces, some medical care, medicare, parks, armed forces, water delivery, and the state schools that a lot of the anti-Obamists went to themselves.

Wow. Strong Obama crowd here.
As I read the “lesson plans” that are provided to teachers I find a few things that are at least a little puzzling like, talk about Obama’s historic moments. Would this be his 8 months as president or his 2 years in the senate? What might Obama say in his next speech? Huh? It all seems like a bit of an Obama centered assignment to me.
This is why I’m careful about who gets to speak into the mind of my kids. We don’t worship our president as a God or revere him as a king. He’s an elected figure and while I must pray for and respect him I don’t have to submit my kids to his ego.

I think we should be careful not to label ALL parents who are concerned about Obama’s speech as right-wing extremists who are unwilling to teach their kids how to listen to people they disagree with. As a pastor I spend the bulk of my existence trying to model for my children how to love people I disagree with.
My concern is about whether a 2nd grader who has no capacity to intelligently agree or disagree should be forced to write essays or letters about how ANY sitting president’s speech “inspires them” – which is part of the recommended follow-up lesson plan.
It is very appropriate for children to learn about the lives and contributions of significant past presdients (Washington, Lincoln, FDR, Kennedy, etc.). I also think kids should understand and appreciate this particular president being our nations’s first African American to rise to that position.
But no matter what party is in power – I question whether this classroom presence falls legitimately within the scope of a president’s influence. Certainly for older students who can think more abstractly and competently express disagreement, this may be appropriate. But a 7 year old doesn’t have that capacity.

As a point of clarification;
There is nothing in the lesson plans that ask students to “talk about Obama’s historic moments”.
Here are the plans (these still include the request to “help Obama”, which has been changed).
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/10648471/Obama%E2%80%99s-Address-to-Students-Across-America-September-8-2009-Menu-of-Classroom-Activities-7-12
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/10582301/President-Obama%27s-Address-to-Students-Across-America-September-8-2009

Dave at #13,
Did you have a problem when the elder Bush (not W, as I mistakenly suggested earlier. Although I don’t know W didn’t also do the same, that wasn’t the information I uncovered) did the same thing in 1991? Or, if you were unaware of it then: had you known, would you have been? If so, why?

Point of clarification on my own question in #16:
The issue (for me) isn’t whether people might have criticism about a president speaking to schoolchildren. I think there’s room to question how or whether such a speech is appropriate while remaining civil. The issue for me is the uproar of parents threatening to keep their kids home that day, for the explicit reason of Obama’s message. I can find no precedent for such paranoia.

I agree with Jeremy that we have to watch our labels. I also think the recent comment by Mark Baker-Wright is to the point because, as I’m watching this one unfold, I’m not so sure this isn’t just culture wars imposed on what, on any other count, would be little more than our President encouraging school children.
Now that the so-called offending phrase about helping the President has been omitted, wherein lies the real problem?

#14 Jeremy White wrote: “My concern is about whether a 2nd grader who has no capacity to intelligently agree or disagree…”
And yet I’m willing to bet most of these parents who think these exact thoughts have no problem whatsoever baptizing their children with no capacity for critical thought into the Body of Christ. If ever people needed to think critically about something I would think it would be our own salvation. Hypocrisy? I think so.

Stephen #15: The document says, “What other historic moments do you remember when the president spoke to the nation?” It all just seems very Obama centered to me. I’m not sure why a president would make a speech to students and then ask them to think some more about him.
Mark Baker-Wright #16-17:
I was a student in a public high school in 1991 and I don’t recall being required to watch a speech by the president. I can tell you what I would have thought about it at the time: boring.
This is clearly a president that likes attention. He’s constantly making speeches, holding press conferences and addressing congress. As someone who does not support his agenda I hope he keeps it up. The more he speaks the more clear his radical agenda becomes.
But once that radical agenda starts to be forced upon the children in our school (Blake #19 – no hypocrisy here. I’m not a baby baptizer) that’s when I start to be concerned. Just watched the Killing Fields the other night. At the end of the movie once Pran goes to the work camps it’s the chidlren that are being targeted for indoctrination because they don’t know any better.

To me this is much ado about nothing. Presidents have a duty to be leaders for our students. I can’t help thinking that his speech to some African-American students could be so very positive. This is another example of our uncivil and paranoid red/blue politics. We only listen to people we agree with this day and time.

Clay #21 – Maybe you only listen to those you agree with but I’ve listened to Obama and I disagree with him.

The Killing Fields? Indoctrination of children?
Are we crazy?
I am personally for “indoctrination” of children. I am a mother, and I teach my children my values, including taking them to church, having them baptized, reading them Bible stories, etc. I don’t see a problem with this– in fact it is my responsibility as a parent.
As an American, I also share some common values with the greater society. These would include teaching my girls the value of education and the importance of studying hard and

I guess the rest of my comments didn’t post. Here they are:
I read over the lesson plans associated with the speech (thanks, Stephen #15), and gleaned that the main ideas of the speech are citizenship, personal responsibility, and civic duty. I believe in these values and will teach them to my children.
I think it is completely appropriate for the president to talk to school children about they role that they play in our democracy.
So, to all you parents upset about the speech, get over it. He is the president. He is the leader of our country, and though you may not have voted for him, a lot more of us did.
When your kids get home, you can talk to them about how they should avoid civic duty and personal responsibility. That is your right as a parent.

Dave,
Isn’t it interesting that two people can look at the same thing and come to two different conclusions?
Now, when I read this statement; “What other historic moments do you remember when the president spoke to the nation?”, many things come to my mind. President Bush speaking to us after 9/11, President Kennedy speaking to us about the Cuban Missile Crisis and President Nixon’s resignation are the big three in my lifetime. I would think most middle school and high school students would remember speeches by President Bush after Katrina and after 9/11, and President Obama’s inaugural speech.
That’s my take on it. You are certainly entitled to yours.
I would say that this particular speech doesn’t qualify as a historic moment, as that question seems to suggest.
peace

I find it ironic that the critics of this whole ordeal have no idea and/or control over what is actually being said in the classroom via their teacher, but THE PRESIDENT – “let’s attempt to control that.”
They should be celebrating the fact that this is the one time they actually know what is being said. Have a healthy conversation with your kid. Put that inevitable fear and distaste of the Presidency in their head at an early age. And for sure don’t let them think for themselves – especially at the age of 7 (Jeremy). Come on. We would do a lot for the next generation if we gave kids the space to think – especially alongside adults.
(I have 7 yr. old by the way).
I am most saddened by the reality that this is “mostly” led by Evangelicals. Really? What are you saying by standing against?

I got too deep into a conversation about this yesterday and I regretted it. However, I must say that as a conservative, a devout Christian and a homeschooling mom who did not vote for Obama, I am appalled, embarrassed and frankly a bit frightened by the response of a portion of Americans to this non-event. Comparisons to Hitler and Castro and Stalin? Warnings about internment camps and Obama Youth styled after the Hitler Youth? It’s a complete detachment from reality that a good number of people have been sucked into. I can’t help but think (hope?) that many people will be embarrassed at their response when they look back in a few years.
I think that part of what is happening here is a very typical human response; we rarely make our decisions for purely rational reasons. Mostly we have gut reactions to things and then look about for reasons to justify what we already think. A person with a disciplined mind has some understanding of this and looks for reasons that oppose what we already think so as to examine the original gut level reaction. However, many people simply look for that which supports what they already feel and finding something which can conceivably justify their gut level reaction, take this as validation of what they already think. In an intense situation, this “evidence” can magnify the original gut level reaction and start a close loop process wherein a person becomes more and more attached to their reaction and less and less able to hear even simple facts which would challenge their POV. I think there’s been a lot of this going on around Obama.
Anyhow, all I can really say is that those of us, particularly those of us who are not Obama supporters, probably need to calmly speak out against this nonsense. Myself, after learning that the local school I just enrolled two of my boys in was fielding a lot of calls from parents who had been worked into hysteria over this speech, I took a minute to call and offer an opposing view. I will probably take a minute to write a very calm letter to the editor as well to offer my view as a “right wing” person that this sort of thing is not only perfectly acceptable, but should be a normal part of our civic culture. I actually try not to wade into political and controversial things in public, but too often this does allow the face of religious conservatives to become associated with those who are just the loudest and most radical.

At Dave #20 – I’m not referring to baby baptism. I’m referring to child baptism. People are talking about taking their kids out of school that would refer to ages 5-18. I’d bet many of those kids have been baptized (as infants, children or teens). Why are they allowed to swallow their parents’ religion uncritically, but don’t have the capacity to process a simple pep talk? I say if their kid is baptized s/he had better be in school otherwise that parent is a hypocrite.

I just want to interject, as one who voted for Obama and is as appalled as anyone else by the reactions/statements being made by many parents, that I want to support any parent’s right to have their child stay home or be out of the classroom for this time period. I believe that schools should have to comply, opening up library time for the student to read or work on some school work.
In this country the parents still have right over their children and what they hear. This should be honored. I just ask that these parents go about this in a peaceful, legitimate, responsible way.
That being said, I can agree that this has not been handled in such a way by many people and the reaction has been absolutely, down-right appalling.

Ben, I’ve been waiting for someone to say that. I agree, but I would hope that parents would ask for a more educational approach — send them to school and ask the school to provide an alternative in the library or something.

I want to ask the parents who desire to protect their children: What are you afraid of? Take this as an opportunity to teach your children the values you want to instill in them. If you have a good argument against Obama’s proposal, take the time to explain it to them. They will trust you over Obama. The best you can do for your children is to teach them to stand on their own two feet. It is counter productive to keep them away from the world.

I’m a parent of a Pre-K, 1st and 3rd grader; I’ve learned that parents don’t like being surprised about what’s going on in school (me included). The first thing I thought when I heard the President was going to give a speech to my children was, “well, what is he going to say?” The administration could have served themselves enormously if they would have published/distributed the speech the moment they announced their plans… (i.e. “I’m planning on encouraging our children on their first day of school and you can see exactly what I’m going to say on the whitehouse website.”)
I waited several days wondering, “what is he going to say?” You don’t want parents thinking that concerning their children. Now that I’m able to read the speech, intelligently discuss the material when they come home from school, I’m cool with it; the President can be very inspiring to kids.
Unfortunately, the administration unnecessarily provoked frustrated Americans.

“sends the wrong message — that one should not listen to someone with whom you disagree.”
I’m not sure 10-year-olds really have that skill — or the critical thinking skills necessary to process the BS that comes from politicians.
But the creepiness of this whole thing cannot be examined apart from the (original) supplemental materials the dept of ed put out. Frankly, a cult of personality has existed around Mr. Obama from day 1, and this reeks of that kind of insanity.

Ben and Scot, actually when parents place their children in public schools, they give up an enormous amount of control over what their children are exposed to. The school and teachers make decisions all the time about what kids will read, what they will write about, the text books they will be given, etc. And apart from cases where schools do something really, really egregious parents simply have no say over it. To claim that a speech by the president of the United States should be treated like sex ed or a novel which borders on the pornographic and alternatives offered just doesn’t fit with the way schools work. This is part of the reason I homeschooled my children for a very long time. It is also why I am biting my tongue over my 14 year old being assigned a shoebox diorama in his freshmen honors history class.
I understand that offering an “opt-out” for parents who for unfathomable reasons don’t want their children encouraged to take school seriously because they don’t like the president may be the most practical option for diffusing this situation. However, I do not think it can be described as the “right” way to handle the situation.

Ben and Scott, at my school we are doing just that. Parents and even teachers have the option to not observe the speech without reprecussion. I am highly in favor of this approach as it doesn’t limit the freedom of anyone involved: president, parents, children, and teachers.

Cults of personality and personal freedoms are to be taken in consideration. History attests to the power of civic leaders and world movements. Democracies thrive on student choice, employee empowerment, and open dialogue. This is the other reason I am glad of my districts stance on this issue.

Well…. I can see now why most pastors don’t approach politics from the pulpit or otherwise.
True, some reaction to Obama’s “influence” is a bit over the top. My hunch is some of that is a reaction to Obama and his minions dismissal of anyone who disagrees with their far left agenda.
Then again, if you look at the people who surround him, the Czars who apparently are the real source of power in our government, to the exclusion of Congress and the Senate, it gets pretty spooky. As Obama said in his campaign, if you want to know what I believe look at the people who surround me. Of course, the positions and beliefs of those surrounding him may not really be affecting our President, after all, he can sit under Jeremiah Wright’s preaching for 20 years and apparently not hear a word the man said!
Are we really that gullible?
Wake up folks! He really is attempting to “fundamentally transform this country” and it won’t look anything like a Republic.

If I was the parent, particularly the single mom, of an african american boy who needs role models and encouragement and his teacher used their freedom not to allow the students to watch this speech, I would be furious. That is not freedom for my child. It is a person using their fears over the most unlikely things to deprive my child of a much needed bit of encouragement. The odds of Obama actually saying anything remotely damaging are less than zero. The odds of a kid who really needs every bit of encouragement he or she can get being deprived of this chance because of this insanity are quite high. It is paranoia and selfishness posing as freedom.

I sent to the following letter this week to my school district after receiving a letter saying that parents had the option of their kids “opting out” of listening to the President’s speech.
Mr. Jackson,
My oldest daughter is a student at Briggs Elementary in 5th grade. This is her second year at Briggs and we appreciate the faculty and learning environment at Briggs. We received the letter regarding President Obama’s address on Education yesterday. I do want to share some thoughts with you about this.
First, let me say I am an Independant politically. I do not have a partisan agenda here. My concern and really suprise was that the district felt that had to offer an “opt-out,” for students for President Obama’s speech. I agreed with much in your letter about the value of debate and students hearing things from different viewpoints and then learning to think critically about issues on their own. This is what has made our democracy great. Unfortunately, it seems that our country is moving more and more towards polorization and either you are a Republican who watches Fox News or a Democrat that watches MSNBC. The real problem is that we are losing our ability to listen to each other. Let me say I am for parent control of education and being able to choose what students are exposed to educationally. But I am also concerned that we are teaching our children to just “opt-out” when someone is talking that we don’t agree with. Especially when it is the leader of our country and the free world! There is much value in our children hearing both sides of an issue and learning to think through things. I really wonder if there would have been any discussion of “opting-out” had the President been a Caucasian and Republican? For the record, I am Caucasian.
I hope you will read this not really as a complaint, but rather just a concerned parent. Thank you for all the work you do for our children here in Florence! Please let me know if I can be of any assistance.
Clint Scott LBSW,M-Div
Palliative Care Counselor

If we can ignore the asinine Hitler/Stalin allusions for a moment, would critics please answer the question:
If I understand correctly, the president’s message will be about the importance of hard work, responsibility, and the value of education. Its fundamentally a “conservative” message. What is your objection to this message? I’m not asking rhetorically. I’m truly at a loss here as to what the controversy is.

Brandon,
May I ask. Does a teachers choice to “opt-out” include their students not hearing the speech? This would be a HUGE mistake. I would hope that if a particular teacher chooses to “opt-out,” that another school official would sit in their place and supervise while the children watch. Maybe the teacher who opted out could supervise the children whose parents opted them out?

Rebeccat,
I would hope that any parent could choose to opt their child out of any 1-day out-of-the-norm student activity. I understand not being able to choose to opt your child out of whatever heck you like – but it seems that something like this would be the prime example of that which a parent should, and would, have control over.

Wow! There has been a lot added here since my earlier post (#14). I appreciate being able to read all the feedback. As one of the handful who expressed some honest questions about the appropriateness of this speech/lesson-plan combo by the president, I read through all 40-something comments. While I love respectful debate, I am a bit amazed by the tone of many who I am sure consider themselves the more “tolerant” ones (those on Obama’s side) – as their words seem vastly more cynical, sarcastic and cutting than the few of us that raised questions.
I agree that those comparing Obama with Hitler are regrettably overstating their case (which unless I misread something did not happen on this particular blog). But I have 3 vibrant boys ages 10 and under – and yes, one of them at this point has asked to be baptized – and now Blake (#19) accuses people like me of “hypocrisy” because I may consider opting them out of the president’s speech and assignments? How does my child choosing to be baptized and being forced to listen to a presidential speech even remotely relate? If my child chooses to be baptized prior to age 18, then this is apparently because of my “indoctrination” – whereas a president demanding the ear of 7 and 8 year olds is purely innocent?
For the record, I am an independent voter who was dissatisfied with BOTH choices we had during the last election – but that is totally irrelevant to my concern. i would be raising the same questions if Mother Theresa were president. Obama’s rock-star days are over. It’s time for him to start being our president and focusing on building unity in congress, leaving classroom unity to parents and teachers. My how the self-proclaimed “tolerant” ones are anything BUT when their ideas are the least bit encroached upon! Can we stop calling each other names and get back to some respectful dialogue?

As an interested outsider looking in, I am bemused by all the fuss made about President Obama. I struggle to comprehend why conservative Americans are so worried about this so-called ‘liberal’ President. If Obama was an Australian politician, he would be to the right of our conservative party, so I guess that this whole left/right distinction is relative. During the election campaign I was shocked by all the smear he was subjected to by the conservatives, a smear campaign that has continued to this day. I was very glad to see the US elect an African-American President and thought it was a sign that your great nation was overcoming its divisions. Was I wrong?
I’m happy to be enlightened, but I really don’t see how Obama is such a threat… surely Christianity is about more than a few ‘hot button’ moral issues? Aren’t we also supposed to look after the widow, the prisoner, feed the hungry and clothe the naked? This is why I don’t understand the conservative’s attack on universal health care. It serves us well here in Australia; we don’t euthanise our elderly…lol. Under our government funded system, when my wife had aggressive breast cancer she received excellent care and we didn’t have the added stress of worrying how her treatment was to be funded; we didn’t have to pay a cent. We never pay more than a few dollars to go to the doctors and have an excellent standard of care. We pay in advance through a health care levy of 1-2% of taxable income – a bargain. I know that was off topic but I thought it relevant to the debate over Obama and what I perceive as his unfair treatment by many conservatives. Give him and his policies a chance and then judge them on their merits. They can always be changed by a future Administration.
Back on topic, I am interested to know why parents would object to hearing a speech by their President? Surely, one speech, even by a Democrat, will not unduly influence a child – prolonged exposure to a set of values will. That is the role of parents, teachers and pastors. I am worried about the message that is sent if parents choose to make sure their kids miss Obama’s speech. Does it tell our kids that you shouldn’t listen to those you may disagree with? How does that help anyone? How does it prepare our children to interact in meaningful dialogue with the world?

Jeremy 43, would you be able to point to some specific places where you are seeing intolerance from Obama supporters in this blog? I noted only one, from someone who I don’t recognize as a regular contributor here.
“I agree that those comparing Obama with Hitler are regrettably overstating their case (which unless I misread something did not happen on this particular blog).”
I guess I don’t see a Hitler reference in this thread of comments, but one commenter did compare the Obama administration to the Khmer rouge. I’d say its more than overstating; its disingenuous and intellectually lazy. Its also ironic that it was the former administration that encouraged the use of Khmer rouge torture tactics on detainees suspected of terror ties– not Obama.
BTW, I agree with your original point about young children. Where I think some of us are rolling our eyes is that I it seems unlikely the same controversy erupted around Reagan and GHWB doing the same thing during their tenures. Of course, they didn’t have black skin and an Arabic sounding name.

I agreed with Jeremy White’s first comment (#14) and I agree with his latest comment (#43). I moved to Texas when I was six and left Texas when I was 20. I graduated high school in one of the North Texas school districts that has chosen to delay broadcasting of President Obama’s speech to the students until after he has completed speaking and they know exactly what he said. I applaud them.
Even though I am a grandparent now, as a parent I wouldn’t have wanted someone else — anyone — to have free, unlimited access to my young and impressionable, even naive, children without my being aware of what is about to/will take place. When the “anyone” is a Sunday School teacher or a public-school teacher, I have no qualms. When the “anyone” is a politician of far-left persuasion, I am suspicious of the motive behind his decision. The media can call it a “pep talk” but he is free to say anything once the microphone is turned on and the cameras start rolling. I hope and pray that our president will refrain from pushing his political agenda on these youngsters. Campaigning to adults is one thing; campaigning to the innocent and uninformed is another.

Rebeccat,
Thanks for being a voice of logic and thoughtfulness on this discussion. Coming from a public school teacher, your approach to education is delightful and inspiring.
BenB,
Kids *have to* learn to listen to those they do not agree with. If our kids are not learning that, we are not equipping them for life. And we parents have to demonstrate that day-in and day-out in front of our children. In fact, that’s part of the schooling process.

I’m a moderate. I was mortified by the way people spoke about Bush. And I’m equally mortified by the way people speak about Obama. Romans tells us to treat our authorities with respect and honor. Christians aren’t doing that.
This doesn’t mean we can’t disagree with our president. Of course, we can. But the vitriol that I saw against Bush and the vitriol that I see against Obama is disgusting.
As to this issue in particular. I was a public high school teacher for 8 years. This would have been a great lesson to engage my students in citizenship. And believe me, high schoolers are in more danger of being brainwashed by the entertainment industry than they are in danger of a few minutes from Obama’s talking head.
But I understand why independent school districts are caving into a few loud, obnoxious parents rather than risk costly litigation.

I also happen to agree (I think) with Marcus Goodyear (#48). My concern is not so much with the high school students but with the elementary-age students, especially the younger ones, who will probably be in awe and soak up whatever their president says as gospel. That is how children differ from adults. I hope none of us ever soaks up whatever our president, no matter the party, says as gospel.
I also hope he hasn’t put me in the “loud, obnoxious parents” category. One big problem many people in our country have is the tendency to demonize those with whom they disagree — and it seems far more vitriolic, at least to me, when it is directed from the left toward the right. Just because I don’t support some of the current president’s policies doesn’t make me “obnoxious” — just not in the current majority (although polls seem to be changing). I thought this country had majority rule with protection of minority rights. That should hold true regardless of who happens to be in the minority. A little respect in both directions would go a long way.

Bob Brouge, I’m one of those political moderates and I agree that respect is a two way street and that there are some libs who said some dumb things about Bush, but I think if you look objectively at what has happened in this country over the last six months you can’t say with a straight face that “it seems far more vitriolic, at least to me, when it is directed from the left toward the right”.
I’ll provide a short list of examples:
-we have elected officials calling Obama a Marxist
-we have elected officicals who spread lies that Obama wants to kill the elderly and disabled
-we have elected officials calling the first lady “a monkey”, and others who forward racist jokes in their emails.
-we see signage at the protest rallies of swastikas and hitler mustaches on Obama
-we have politicians claiming Obama hates America.
-we have politicians questioning if Obama is “on the terrorists side”
-we have elected officials claiming Obama wants to “set terrorists loose in the U.S.”
-there are people at protests with signs that say “death to tyrants” and “death to Obama” and one that said “death to obama, michelle, and their stupid kids”
-there are people showing up at presidential events with guns
-the secret service has been working overtime as Obama has received more death threats in his first 8 months than GWB received his entire 8years.
-we have “pastors” praying for Obama’s death and preaching such things to their congregations
-we have cable TV news hosts with an audience of millions claim that Obama, “has intense hatred of white culture”. Others who claim that Obama is mirroring the tactics of Hitler.
The list could go on. There are plenty of reasons for conservative people to take issue with BHO’s policies. Lord knows I disagree with him often. But our current political climate is toxic with an extreme element of the right-wing that has taken up the bullhorn and allowed lies, racism, and fear to dominate the conversation.
I’m not very fond of the democrats or far-left liberals, but I really don’t think one can claim there is some equivalency between the criticism of left and right in this debate. The GOP has become unhinged.

I think this whole thing is sad. The White House could have given more details about the speech earlier in the process. People who oppose the White House could have been more patient and less vitriolic in their comments. If this was any other president people may disapprove but not to this level (see George H Bush 1991). I hope that parents will read the speech and if there is no “hidden agenda” they will support the president’s attempt to encourage our students to get an education and achieve their goals.

That’s a very depressing list, Matt, but truth.
Four or five years ago, my kid had to endure a ton of pro-Bush propaganda at her school, including being marched out to the street to wave as his motorcade went by, a host of lesson plans inspired by the visit, and watching some speech.
There was no option given the parents or her. It was a mandatory day filled with practically making GWB a deity. She came home depressed that “my whole school is filled with Republicans.”
I used it as a teaching opportunity to show the importance of remaining steadfast in what you believe is right, especially when everyone around you says you’re wrong.

I like your posts on Jesus and orthodox faith in the 21st century Scot, but this is a little off topic I think, that is, unless your blog’s subtitle is about to be changed to “Obama and the politics of the left.”
If you ask me, the administration has plenty of pundits and bloggers doing their bidding.
Please stick to what we all have come to love about your blog.

does this fall under the category of: “we don’t want to have intelligent discussions with our kids about things like politics, disagreements, ideologies, etc. we’d rather just have them protected from people we don’t agree with”? and God-forbid our kids think differently than us…

This issue for me just brings up the public face of Evangelicalism. When people in the world think of Evangelicals, what do they think of? Fear and anger come to mind most easily. We are not portraying faith, love, peace, self-control. We are blasting anger and fear. We come across as terrified and over the top. Even if a democratic president is going to speak to our children in school, I just don’t understand the terror and rage at such a prospect.

Jason (#47)
I’m in complete agreement with you that our kids must learn this. However, aren’t there plenty of situations in 13 years of education where they can learn this that if a *parent* does not want their child to hear a specific something which is only a 1-day out-of-the-norm event… that this could take place?
I’m not saying I’d do it. I’m not saying I agree with parents who choose to opt their child out. I don’t agree with any of it. I’m with you – but does that mean we don’t honor parents’ rights? I’m at a loss for how that can be the logical conclusion.

Scott, If you have followed the Texas school textbook news you know that we are very concerned down here about the liberal ideas that our young people might get from people like him. We have a responsibility to protect our children from such ideas as evolution, global warming, and “secular” views of history. Our young people, as wonderful as they are, simply cannot yet think responsibly for themselves. We know this from the last election, when most of them voted for Obama.

BenB,
sorry. I think I got your name confused with one of the other commentators, particularly Dave. Not sure why that was. Lack of sleep, I suppose…

Jason Dye,
It’s cool. I understand.
Ron,
Why are these “liberal” ideas which children must be protected from?
If they’re true, then our children should learn them “liberal” or not. Liberal doesn’t make something “untrue.” If they’re not true, this will be borne out of the evidence and there would be no fear in having a child exposed to it – since they could evaluate the false claims against the evidence and therefore not believe the false claims.
This whole “protection” thing doesn’t make sense to me.

Hi Matt K (#45)
Sorry it took awhile to respond. Sundays are incredibly busy for me and I didn’t want to answer your question in an incomplete way. As I took about 10-15 minutes to re-scan the cynical, sarcastic and demeaning comments coming from Obama supporters, here are the most obvious I skimmed off the surface. Forgive me if I am taking anything grossly out of context. I do not believe that I am. Thanks for listening to my opinion. Here is the brief list of my observations:
#2 – “religious conservatives” are “against common sense and scripture”
#4 – Insinuates that concerned parents are “whacko”
#8 – Insinuates that concerned parents blindly think about politics as though they’ve been affected by belief in a fictional presentation of the anticrhrist in the Left Behind series
#10 – Insinuates that concerned parents have “outsourced” their parenting to schools, etc.
#11 – Insinuates that these concerns have no legitimacy whatsoever, but are “sheer ridiculousness”
#17 – Insinuates that parents are suffering from the mental illness of “paranoia”
#19 – The hypocrisy statement I already questioned
#21 – Another reference to paranoia and concerned parents labeled as “uncivil”
#28 – People who allow kids to be baptized are forcing them to “swallow their parents’ religion uncritically”
My point in brining these things up is not that I feel personally attacked by these individuals as a participant of this blog. It’s just that if there is any true “hypocrisy” in the dialogue here, it is equally present in the words of those who claim to be open-minded and tolerant, yet would paint concerned parents with such a broadly demeaning brush. I would argue that a huge percentage of concerned parents are not unthinking, fear-mongoring Obama-haters. Certainly I am not. I was just pointing out what I saw as an obvious double-standard and was hoping this dialogue could return more to intellect than frustrated emotion. Again, thanks for the opportunity to try to answer your question about my earlier post…

Jeremy,
Excellent point – I tend to avoid the political discussions on this blog because of the rhetoric. Politically I tend to lean left rather than right, and the form of expression still bothers me. A good rule of thumb is to view this as a conversation and to make points with language designed to convince others not belittle others. One real danger of any community, including a blog or virtual community is that it becomes homogeneous and develops a we-them attitude where it is safe to make fun of others.

i think some of the anger in response to people’s bad attitude about Obama’s address is simply the ignorance that, frankly, is undeniably demonstrated by it.
Other presidents have addressed school children…and the supposedly rabidly liberal media didn’t have a melt-down about Reagan indoctrinating our children.
i think hypocrisy gets a special kind of scorn from people–from left OR right.
i’ll admit it’s not helpful for elevating the discussion, but at the same time hypocrisy deserves a bit of a poke in the eye.
just my nickel…

Jeremy, you misread me. I’m not an Obama supporter. I chose not to vote in November. Using my words as support for your argument that the Obama supporters around here are intolerant is an illegitimate use of what I said.
I stand by what I said not because of any political opinion I hold but because I have a deep love for the Body of Christ and count it a privilege to be identified with Christ. I am very saddened by how degenerate the Church is and continues to become because we do not take seriously enough what it means to identify with Christ and join the body of Christ. Allowing children who do not have the critical capacity (YOUR own words) to evaluate a presidential speech or anyone else’s words for that matter to join the Church is a prime example of what Bonhoeffer called “cheap grace”. Children that don’t at least have the discernment to tell false teachers from true ones much less analyze the trivialities of any politicians words have absolutely no place or capacity to be making the most important decision of their lives.
Those parents aren’t hypocrites because I’m some liberal Obama supporter (which I’m not). Those parents are idolaters for thinking the wisdom of the world is greater than the spiritual wisdom given us by the Holy Spirit and the Bible. They are false teachers for teaching their children that they don’t have to count the cost of following Jesus before they actually do (i.e. There is a double standard for what we expect of the behavior and responsibility accepted by a 7 year old new Christian and a 40 year old new Christian that has more to do with natural maturity and critical capacity than with spiritual maturity.). If parents deny they are false teachers or idolaters in the sense I have just described and allow their children to be baptized then they must be hypocrites because they know how important and costly it is to be identified with Christ and to submit to the Church, but then allow someone who clearly does not demonstrate the most basic comprehensive skill to make a decision that is clearly beyond their capacity to make.
My issue isn’t so much with this whole Obama speech thing. My grievance is with how little we must think of Christ and His Church to let the decision to become a Christian be a mere social norm and networking tool. To be identified with Christ and submit to a fellowship of believers is a very very serious issue and people that think their kids can handle that but not something as trivial as politics do great harm to the Church.

I won’t link here, but Al Mohler put up a really balanced approach to this speech over on his blog.

Very inspirational speech I loved how he aimed for our kids of today to plan for tomorrow, its not giving them political empowerment or guiding them in the wrong direction as the media portrayed but its giving them hope that through all the struggles and storms you may cross you will come out the hero In the end way to go Mr. President.

I can tell Obama’s speech already achieved its ends because there are thousands of children goose stepping in perfect unison down the street, carrying flags of Barack Obama and Chairman Mao, and singing Alice Cooper’s “School’s Out: – We can’t salute ya, Can’t find the flag…. School’s out forever, School’s been blown to pieces.”
That is what the president was encouraging as he indoctrinated them, wasn’t it?
Really …. Politicians go into schools quite frequently when they are back in their districts. (Never miss a photo op) Are permission slips needed every time Texas politicians (former Rep.) Tom DeLay, Kay Bailey Hutchison or Rick Perry go into a school?
No one was forcing teachers to use the lesson plans. They could modify them, and even add their own questions. That’s what good teachers do. They could add questions that ask students what they disagreed with in the speech.
And well they should – All that talk in the speech about setting goals for yourself and being a responsible and engaged citizen. Republicans hate it when that happens.
And some times Democrats do to, of course. In 1991, they complained G. H.W. Bush was injecting politics into schools when he held a teleconference with students. But that leftist hack Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., defended the speech, asking, “Why is it political for the president of the United States to discuss education?”