Brookey's Cafe Blog

Happy Tuesday!

I hope everyone had a great, long weekend! Spending time with my family always relaxes me and puts me a fantastic mood. This weekend was no exception. The hardest part is always leaving, especially when my nephew Kyce asks me to stay. I came incredibly close to letting the job know that I'd be in late so that I could see Kyce off to school today - his first day of kindergarten.

We spent some time this weekend practicing writing his name, reading from his favorite books and getting him back in the "school" mindset. He's even started talking about what his "reward" will be for getting a good report card. As much fun as he had this summer, he seems truly excited to be starting school again, seeing all of his friends and his favorite teachers.

When I learned that President Obama planned to speak to school children around the country via video today, I was SO hoping Kyce's school would play it. I've never seen televisions in Kyce's school, so I'm not sure he was able to see it. If not, I'll be reading the speech to him this weekend when I go back to reinforce what President Obama said. The fact that it's drawn this much controversy baffles me.

Click the link below if you have no idea what I'm talking about:

Obama's Speech: Inspiration or Propaganda?

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So...pushing education is...wrong???

His speech touched on personal responsibility for one's education. He encouraged students to go to school, to pay attention to their teachers, to stop playing video games long enough to do their homework and to be the very best they can be.

That's political? There's some sort of "agenda" there?

Fuckery. Pure....F-U-C-K-E-R-Y.

Everything President Obama speaks of regarding the importance of education are things my mother taught me. She would always tell me that she couldn't sit in the classroom with me, learn for me or do my homework for me. These were all things I was responsible for doing myself. I was educated in a great school district with awesome teachers, concerned parents and abundant resources. I was lucky...blessed.

But none of that meant anything if I didn't apply myself. You get out of education what you put into it. No one can do it for you.

These are lessons that we're trying to pass down to my nephews. Personal responsibility for your own education is something ALL parents should encourage in their children. Not just "Democratic" parents...or "Republican" parents. ALL PARENTS.

It's so sad that we let our biases, prejudices or political affiliations get in the way of common sense. How is teaching personal responsibility for education wrong? Is it because the President chose to address children while they're in school...where they OUGHT to be taught about education? Is it because he's encouraging dialogue between teachers and students that we're so upset? Do we feel he has too much power to influence our children?

Or is it because some STILL can't get over the fact that Barack Obama won the election fair and square and is now pushing his "agenda" by actually telling students to be better...to be smarter?

Presidents before him, both Democrat and Republican, addressed school children and implored them to read, study, go to school, get an education...make something of themselves. Kennedy, Reagan, Clinton...and even Bush...all of them were advocates for education - as they should be.

So...this President...our President does the same thing and it's wrong? It's controversial?

I'll tell you what it is. It's ridiculous. It's fear mongering. It's asinine. It's buffoonery.

Say it with me now...it's PURE FUCKERY!

-b