Obama's address to students...

Mr. Peacock was very saddened and disappointed, at the beginning of the week, seeing parents on television news not allowing their children to watch President Obama’s address to students in the United States this past Wednesday. President Obama gave the speech at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia.


These boycotting parents were afraid the President was going to indoctrinate their children into beliefs against their own (Socialism or health care for all Americans?) within a 20 minute speech, and decided it was better to censor the speech from their children. Their kids, unfortunately, were some of the children that really needed to hear some encouraging and inspirational words from an authority figure like our President. And shame on the schools that refused to show the speech!


I feel fortunate knowing my parents, when I was a child, would have required me to watch any American President’s address to students whether the president was a Republican or a Democrat—and would have talked about it with us in our home that evening. I’m also thankful my parents taught me that you can have different opinions, beliefs, and values than your President (or neighbors, coworkers, whomever) without being disrespectful. And my mother taught me by example, that you can actively voice (and fight) those disagreement of values and beliefs in a constructive and productive manner (most of the time).


I wish these disgruntled parents would have voiced their disappointment that President George W. Bush never made an address to students nationwide (no child left behind) during his 2 terms in the White House, as did his father, President George H.W. Bush Sr. and President Ronald Reagan. Thank you President Obama for taking the time to address and encourage American students.