What is wrong with us????Or should I say, what is wrong with what we believe in the media?Somebody help me here. I am reading an article written by Lili Ladaga, a Yahoo news blogger. According to Ms Ladaga, we parents are up in arms about the upcoming speech by President Obama to our children on Sept. 8th.Some parents and conservatives are blasting the president, calling the speech an excuse to brainwash American children.Mr. Obama told an 11 year old student reporter Damon Weaver, of his big back-to-school plan:“I'm going to be making a big speech to young people all across the country about the importance of education; about the importance of staying in school; how we want to improve our education system and why it’s so important for the country. So I hope everybody tunes in."Now here is where my problem is. What is wrong with what the President wants to say to our children?NBC spoke with Katie Gordon, a spokeswoman for the Florida Republican Party, who said the party's "beef" is with the accompanying lesson plans. The guide for pre-K through grade 6 suggests questions students think about during the speech, such as "What is the President trying to tell me? What is the President asking me to do?"The plan for grades 7-12 includes a "guided discussion," with suggested topics: "What resonated with you from President Obama's speech? What is President Obama inspiring you to do?"Will someone please explain to me what the heck is wrong with this? You have someone in a positive roll asking for our kids to THINK about what they have just heard. And what they will hear is someone telling them how important school is. How important paying attention and getting good grades are.Hello???!!!. What gives??? If I ask my son this or do this, he looks at me like, Mom you just don’t understand. Basketball is my future. Or, hey Mom, chill out. School is not all that important. I am going to be the next great Football hero.No we have a man who people take notice of because he is a successful Black man who made it to where, until now, I would not have even suggested that my son strive for.Besides all that, what parents are upset? I wasn’t asked if I was upset. Where you asked if this makes you upset?I am sick of media telling me how I am supposed to feel about this or that subject. I can think for myself. And I am sure you can too.They say the President Obama is brainwashing our kids. Brainwashing them to do what??? Do better???? Get better grades???? Make something out of them selves????In the Sept. 8th speech, President Obama will challenge students to work hard, set goals for their education and take responsibility for their learning, Education Secretary Arne Duncan said in a letter to principals."He will also call for a shared responsibility and commitment on the part of students, parents and educators to ensure that every child in every school receives the best education possible so they can compete in the global economy for good jobs and live rewarding and productive lives as American citizens," Duncan said in a press release.But a chairman for the Republican Party in Florida is condemning President Obama's speech as an attempt to "indoctrinate America's children to his socialist agenda.""The idea that school children across our nation will be forced to watch the President justify his plans for government-run health care, banks, and automobile companies, increasing taxes on those who create jobs, and racking up more debt than any other President, is not only infuriating, but goes against beliefs of the majority of Americans, while bypassing American parents through an invasive abuse of power," Chairman Jim Greer said in a press release.Now, I am sorry but that is not what President Obama said he was going to talk about. Where does this fall into the speech about education. I am sure he knows a little 3rd grader knows little about the things we adults are concerned with. But if you bring them up thinking about how important education is, you will see a big difference in the grades they get and then the jobs they are qualified for once they reach adult hood.This is far better than what has been going on the last few decades.Come on people. When you read something the media puts out there, investigate it yourself before you just act the way the media tells you to act.I for one parent, am not the least bit upset about what the President will say to my children on Sept 8th.But then again, I wasn’t asked.Lenisa
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