Friday, September 11, 2009

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.

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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!

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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).

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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.

3 comments:

Dusty said...

Mr. Peacock:
Well stated! Thank you. What you have said speaks for many I know with or without children. And I will leave it at that.

Julio Muao said...

Bravo to you Mr. Peacock for speaking out! This ridiculous behavior is nothing more then bitter voters over losing the election. They are so consumed with the political loss that they aren't willing to actually sit down and realize the benefits of the health care reform public option for all Americans.

Anonymous said...

Beautifully said. They're so afraid of ideas not their own. Instead of discussing the speech with their children, and explaining why they might not agree with the President, they choose to close their children's minds. Well, I guess telling kids to work hard and stay in school doesn't appeal to these people. Ignorance is bliss?