Let me start off by saying that at the onset of writing this my intent is not to write a partisan post telling you all how wonderful President Obama is.
This isn’t about HIM.
It’s about US. About us as Americans. As people. As parents.
The ridiculous nonsense that has erupted over the President’s intended speech to America’s youth has left me kerfluffled.
Kerfluffled, speechless and, quite honestly, disgusted.
When I first heard about the speech, and the intended listening boycott proposed by some members of the Right, I rolled my eyes and chalked it up to another stunt intended to gain headlines and put another chink in the armor of the Left.
And then I started thinking about it. And I found myself supremely annoyed by the entire situation. Because, REALLY? You’re going to tell me that the President is going to concoct this elaborate scheme to indoctrinate America’s youth into socialism or communism…or WHATEVER, by speaking to them about staying in school, all the while sending subliminal messages about socialized healthcare and bailouts and voting for Democrats and becoming Communists?
That’s CRAZY TALK.
Crazy talk that normal, everyday American folk are LISTENING TO!
And BELIEVING!
And OH MY GOD, MY HEAD IS GOING TO EXPLODE.
And even though I was supremely annoyed, I wasn’t going to talk about it. Because I didn’t think there was any way I was going to be able to post about it without a lot of CAPS and swear words. Clearly I’ve failed at one of my goals.
But then, the text of the speech was released. And I read it. You can read it here. And I could NOT keep my mouth shut any longer. Because it’s inspiring. It’s brilliant. It’s NOT AT ALL PARTISAN. Not even a teeny, tiny bit.
And I couldn’t keep my mouth shut any longer.
Because if you keep your kids home today so that they don’t hear what the President has to say about the value of an education and the importance of staying in school, we can’t be friends anymore.
If you want to keep your children from hearing thing like this:
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.
Or this:
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. I do that every day. Asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness, it’s a sign of strength. It shows you have the courage to admit when you don’t know something, and to learn something new. So find an adult you trust – a parent, grandparent or teacher; a coach or counselor – and ask them to help you stay on track to meet your goals.
And even when you’re struggling, even when you’re discouraged, and you feel like other people have given up on you – don’t ever give up on yourself. Because when you give up on yourself, you give up on your country.
The story of America isn’t about people who quit when things got tough. It’s about people who kept going, who tried harder, who loved their country too much to do anything less than their best.
then you’re not someone with which I have anything in common. It’s as simple as that.
There’s just no way around it.
It’s not about President Obama. It’s not about brainwashing your children. It’s not about turning America into a socialist state. Even though that’s what some people will have you believe. That’s another post for another day (I’m looking at YOU Gl*nn B*ck and YOU R*sh L*mbaugh).
It’s about encouraging your children to the everything they can be. It’s about INSPIRING America’s youth to BELIEVE again.
To believe in themselves. To believe in their peers. To believe in their parents and elders. To believe in US.
If that’s not something you can get on board with, I have no room for you in my life.
Related posts:
{ 83 comments… read them below or add one }
← Previous Comments
Giving you such a high five from here…
.-= Jennifer H´s last blog ..Tunnel =-.
Everyone else has already said it…but, dayum…that was a fantastic post!!
.-= Bridget´s last blog ..To My Child’s Teacher – Part I =-.
Slam Dunk Meg! That was bloody brilliant. And I sure don’t remember hearing all this stink when the 1st George Bush gave his speech to School Children.
I.
Love.
You.
And there is ALWAYS room for you in my life, especially after this wonderful post.
.-= Lara´s last blog ..Awesomesauce =-.
AMEN! Meghan, you wrote what I would have if I’d gotten around to it! You are an inspiration and I think it’s time people spoke up on such an important issue. You are right, we are all parents, mothers, sisters. It’s our future generation that this will all impact. I grew up in a different political culture and I have great frustration with the sentiments of some people about politics in America. It’s also about life and our future. I am glad that you pointed out here that the speech was inspiring and should be heard by every child that can understand it. My children’s elementary school principal let the children watch – he is forward thinking and I was proud that he didn’t feel he had to ask permission. My daughter has just started middle school and they did not see it, but she watched it with me last night.
I applaud you your courage in speaking out when so many people just follow the sheep and don’t get the facts. It is frightening indeed to think that people actually believe all this stuff about indoctrination and subliminal messages. WHAT is our country coming to?
Thanks for your great post!
Tricia
.-= Tricia (irishsamom)´s last blog ..Grieving =-.
Finally, somebody with a lick of sense. Thank you!
.-= Sue´s last blog ..My own little raccoon =-.
Boo’s school is one of the school’s that wasn’t showing the speech because of parental protest. I spoke with the principal and sent a letter to the Superintendent expressing my disgust with NOT showing the speech. I DVRd it, and we watched it last night. I was proud to have my daugher watch it, no matter where she was.
Having someone of power tell my child to work hard, stay in school and do your best is HUGE . For any child really.
.-= Kellyn´s last blog ..What I learned this week =-.
*stands up. applauds. sits back down.*
thank you. i can’t even think about politics. (best friend has different view from me – we agree to disagree and NOT discuss. last bf had even more different views. he didn’t understand the NOT discuss memo. it frustrated him.) they just make me kind of sick and angry.
.-= zeghsy´s last blog ..speeding =-.
A-freakin-MEN! I wrote about this the other day on my blog. I was furious that I had to sign a permission slip for my child to watch it. Oh, but wait, he’s in Kindergarten and they are not showing it to Kindergartners. Whatever, he has already watched it twice and begs me to watch it over and over and over.
Oh, and they haven’t shown it at his school yet. They had to record it and make sure it was ok to show the kids. WHATEVER.
.-= Kim´s last blog ..Happy Birthday Baby =-.
YAH-HOO!! How many of these idiots do you think could even SPELL “indoctrination?” Their kids won’t be able to spell it either because their parents keep them out of school because they are insane. GAH! So when can we expect your health care post?!
I give you a STANDING OVATION!!
Thank you, Thank you, THANK YOU for saying exactly what’s been on my mind!
I am not even a democrat, or a President Obama supporter, but hello… Many of these damned people who were so against the speech, just voted him into office less than a year ago!
Wake up people, seriously, WAKE UP and stop falling for all the propoganda!
I did not vote for Obama and don’t necessarily agree with his stance on a lot of issues, but I agree with this post 100%.
I currently live with my inlaws (seriously) where fox news is on all.the.time. There is a shit storm of panic over what Obama is doing at any given point in the day.
They honestly believe that Obama is going to turn this country into a socialist nation.
It’s ludicris beyond belief. I drink a lot of wine to cope.
Good for you for writing this!
.-= amy d´s last blog ..I Know! I’ll Bribe You With Sweet Family Pics… =-.
I loved the speech- and I’m a republican.
Heck, when I was in school we *had* to watch Channel One – marketing-focused media with ads for shaving products. And that was in 1991.
I remember a time when it was exciting just to *see* the president on TV.
The democrats threw fits when Bush I talked to students back in the day, but nobody whined about not letting their kids watch it – it was more about the money spent and that sort of thing.
The whole thing just makes me want to hide.
I spent 5 weeks with my parents this summer and my dad is a fox watcher. Those people on that network should be ashamed of themselves with the lies and distortions they are reporting.
Sometimes I think the 24 hour news cycle will go down in history as the end of society as we know it.
I think I need some chocolate.
You wrote the post I wish I had taken the time to write! And you rocked it!
Our school district used the excuse that their internet couldn’t handle everyone logging on to watch the address; however, when it was shown on cable and they didn’t have a viable excuse anymore, they still refused to show it.
My son did end up seeing it two days later. It ended up being shown at each teachers discretion with parents being able to opt out of their kids seeing. it.
Let me tell you how pissed I was at the school district!!!! Oh no, I really can’t talk like that on here.
I did email our superintendent and cc’d all the board members. I heard back from one of the board members, that was it! Nothing from the superintendent. You better believe I’ll be voting in the next school board election!
Anyway, its just amazing what fear can do and how easily people fall into believing what they think they want to believe.
Thanks for writing such an awesome post!
.-= Mommy Needs Therapy´s last blog ..A post where I rock the honesty, and fear the fall out. =-.
Agreed… You can check my post on the subject… Many presidents have given speeches to the nations schools in the past including President Ronald Reagan and others. Most schools to my knowledge also televised the inauguration; and as an example our own School District HOSTED former president Bill Clinton when he was – formally campaigning for his wife! – DURING SCHOOL HOURS! – Allowing high school and middle school students to attend! – So what makes this speech so different? Maybe it was the money the district received from Clinton for the use of the gym…! Haaa…
Our school district DID delay show the speech (because of lunch), but most seen it, and news reports say, their where no complaints.
.-= Rich´s last blog ..Ladies and gentleman I give you JUDO at the White House… =-.
← Previous Comments