Tuesday, September 8, 2009

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?

Shared via AddThis

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

10 comments:

annamaria said...

First bitches!

Anonymous said...

here-here brooke!!!

Brooke said...

Liz is back!!!

And Annamaria and baby Sophia are FIRST :-) LOL!

Rameer said...

Nothing more to add. As Ms. cleo would say...

"You Speaka di TROOF!!"

NightFall914 said...

"Or is it because some STILL can't get over the fact that Barack Obama won the election fair and square"

That sums it up right there.I'd rather they just say what it is then pretend to oppose everything Obama pushes.

Bobby Broadway said...

I appreciate you blogging about this topic. As you mentioned in your blog past presidents have made similar speeches to kids pushing education. One thing you got wrong is that President Obama is not the only one to criticized this type of speech to kids.

In 1991 former President Bush was criticized by Democrats for trying to push his agenda to our youth. Both Bush and Obama were giving the same message of education. This is all about politics and the GOP not wanting to support anything the President wants to put forth. The same thing Democrats did to George HW Bush, the only difference is that Dems waited until after the speech to go after Bush.

Karen said...

I'm so glad this is your topic today - it's been really upsetting that teachers and parents all over the nation are going nutso over this. I think it's about their insecurities and their fears that a man of color is our President, combined with his empowering of youth of all colors to take responsibility, may result in an even more multicultural administration here on out.

DMoe said...

Thanks for a good topic Brookey.

It is foolishness, and common sense goes out the window when folks get on their thing.

Dmoe

annamaria said...

All the haters should be tased!!!! Since when are words of encouragement to do the right thing bad?? Why is it that when our president wants to do something beneficial for our kids all hell breaks lose! Straight up baffoonary!!! Great blog Brooke!!!!

Serena W. said...

I know I'm a day late and a dollar short on this blog but people need to wake up. One guy said, "I don't need anyone like the government telling me what to do about my childs education."

Really? Can we be angry over more important things like the leader of Iran not wanting to stop his nuke program, or our men and women still fighting for their lives at war, or how about the homeless and underserved in South East DC (minutes from the capitol).

People need to refocus their energy and stop fighting our president over his good words on education.

My two cents a little late but had to comment :)

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