Second of all, surely we all agree that this is a positive message and one that our students desperately need to hear. Is anyone suggesting our kids should not do well in school or that they should drop out?
I think his critics need to get a grip on themselves quickly because it is now becoming a question of either intelligence or hatred. At this point, it is hard to tell if they are ignorant when it comes to the facts or if their hatred has simply blinded them to the truth. It has been said that ignorance is bliss but that is not the case. Ignorance is simply ignorance. Bliss requires knowledge of and appreciation for your circumstances thereby ruling out ignorance. FYI, ignorance is not a good look.
According to a news article, the President’s critics seem to have a problem with the questions on the study guide that has been provided to assist in a discussion session to follow his speech. Questions such as “What do you think the President is trying to say to you?” Where is the offense? If the President is the one who gave the speech, isn't it legitimate to ask, “What is the President trying to say”? This is simply getting ridiculous. Instead of making intelligent points, they are grasping at straws and making themselves look less than intelligent. Much less.
Our country is falling behind other countries and our children need encouragement from every quarter and President Obama’s critics want to play politics! You know what? President Obama is not perfect. If he makes a mistake, he should be called on it but this petty straw grasping does not reflect well on his critics at all.
I do, however, have to give our President credit for his incredible ability to stay above the mess. I hope in a similar situation I could react the same but as agitated as I feel now on the sidelines, I don’t think I would handle it as brilliantly as he does.
I should not continue to be surprised at the low level tactics of his critics, yet I am. I am disappointed as well. See, having been born post slavery, it has always baffled my mind that this great country I live in could have such a period of shame in its history. Yet, as each day passes and the hatred becomes more blatant, my mind becomes less baffled.
A speech on the importance of education is now a BAD thing? The President is being criticized for sending out questions to get students thinking about the speech he just made? Not comments, mind you, but questions? So, the students should listen to his speech and then what? Not discuss, not think about it ever again? Not question the message they just heard? I think it is a sign of strength that President Obama didn't just expect to give a speech and have students mindlessly swallow it whole. Instead he chose to spark discussion with the students about the value of education and the wisdom of staying in school. He chose to get them thinking and talking.
Show me the downside! It’s wrong? Really?
I’ll tell you what’s wrong. What's wrong is that it is 2009 and this conversation is historic in that it has never been done quite this way.
When graduation rates dropped, this should have been done!
When the achievement gap widened, this should have been done!
When other countries began to surpass us, this should have been done!
If you want to point fingers, let’s at least point them in the right direction!
I am more than ready for people to stop politicking, roll up their sleeves and get to work! Let’s get to the hard work of getting us back on track! Our situation is entirely too serious for us to still be playing politics! Let’s get to the hard work of getting our kids to see the value of education, what it means for their future and for the future of our country.
It’s time for some people to wake up! Instead of worrying about us drinking the Kool-Aid, I sincerely wish they would start smelling the coffee!!
Why is there a debate over what we call our new President? Yes, he is cool. There is no doubt about that. Yes, he feels familiar, as if we know him, as if he’s down to earth, one of the people. Yeah he’s all that...and probably a bag of chips too! I too called him Barack and shouted O-BA-MA!! like the rest of us. However, on January 20, 2009, an increased level and a deeper more profound respect was born in me as I happily made the transition to addressing him as President Obama. It actually gives me a small thrill to put the title President in front of his name now.
For me, it is a matter of respect and recognition of what he has achieved and the price he has paid. I don’t know if he cares or not what we call him now. He gives the appearance that he does not stand on ceremony but I would no more call him Barack now then I would address my mother by her first name. It is a matter of respect.
I understand the argument on the other side. I have to admit, it has been a bit of a transition for me as well. I have occasionally slipped and called him Barack or Obama in my head but I am working diligently to wipe that from my mind and replace that with PRESIDENT OBAMA forever more.
See, I look at it this way.
When I start to heat up the white supremacist websites and elicit death threats at the same rate, maybe then I can call him Barack.
When I volunteer to take the LEAD role in fixing the mess this country is in, maybe then I can call him Barack.
When I sacrifice precious time with the family I love to work to ensure not just their future - but yours as well, maybe then I can call him Barack.
When I sacrifice and agree to share my husband with the world for the past two years, the next four and prayerfully the four after that, maybe then I can call him Barack.
When my every move is watched, my every association questioned, my every action judged, usually with the intent to find fault, maybe then I can call him Barack.
When a nation, make that a world, of supporters pray daily simply for my very safety, maybe then I can call him Barack.
When perfection is expected of me and the smallest mistake becomes the biggest headline, maybe then I can call him Barack.
When the rest of the world looks to me for the answers to situations our country has never faced before, maybe then I can call him Barack.
When the weight of the free world, and that of the not so free as well, rests on my shoulders, maybe then I can call him Barack.
When I blaze a trail through history, lighting the way for others to follow, maybe then I can call him Barack.
When I ignite a dream others thought long dead or manifested into a nightmare, maybe then I can call him Barack.
When children attempt the improbable because I have achieved the impossible, maybe then I can call him Barack.
When I renew a sense of pride in a people that lay dormant, maybe then I can call him Barack.
When I am the first to utter the words on everyone’s lips and on every page like “Yes We Can!” and “Change”, maybe then I can call him Barack.
When I validate what parents have told their children for generations, “You can be ANYTHING you want to be!”, maybe then I can call him Barack.
Until any of us have achieved all of that, his name is and will forever more be PRESIDENT Obama.
