I'm sure by now, many of you have already seen the horrified conservative mother who was brought to tears thinking about the President giving a speech to her children. There was a well-publicized outcry against having our children exposed to the President's "agenda" today in schools, but here's the text of what they were so afraid of, as well as the video:
There was nothing in there that smacked at all of politics. Not like, say, Reagan's speech. Obama's address was a call to be creative, work hard, and be open to asking questions and exploring one's world. Gee, gotta protect your children from that. ("You have to be carefully taught.")
Frankly, I'm with John Harwood:
One mother's permission slip:
What's all the fuss about?
And I'm not embarrassed to admit, I got a little teary-eyed listening to Obama's speech. What was more amazing? While Ana was listening to it, she said, "mhm" at several places, or said, "like me" at others. She was engaged, and she saw herself in his words. For the first time in my life, I want to write a letter to a president to honestly thank him for his words and efforts. Yeah, that good.
There was nothing in there that smacked at all of politics. Not like, say, Reagan's speech. Obama's address was a call to be creative, work hard, and be open to asking questions and exploring one's world. Gee, gotta protect your children from that. ("You have to be carefully taught.")
Frankly, I'm with John Harwood:
One mother's permission slip:
"Despite the warnings of right-wing radio hosts, and fully cognizant that my daughter risks learning a lesson in civics, I, nonetheless, grant her permission to watch a televised address by the duly-elected leader of these United States, President Barack Obama, on the controversial subject of the importance of school."
What's all the fuss about?
And I'm not embarrassed to admit, I got a little teary-eyed listening to Obama's speech. What was more amazing? While Ana was listening to it, she said, "mhm" at several places, or said, "like me" at others. She was engaged, and she saw herself in his words. For the first time in my life, I want to write a letter to a president to honestly thank him for his words and efforts. Yeah, that good.