I love it. If there is nothing to tear Obama down about, just make something up!

That assignment has been eliminated.

I read the speech and it really was not bad and over hyped. I hope it makes a difference on some people who are thinking of dropping out.

Why can't he actually do something about education instead of simply talking about it?

Like what? We spend more per student than any other nation on the planet and our kids just keep getting more and more ignorant. It isn't the money that's the problem it's the teaching. Private schools don't have near the poor performance as public schools. I went to one for several years as a middle schooler. Those private schools are hard as hell, with a much higher grade scale. They don't have a bell curve and they didn't go by 10% where 90 to 100 was an A, they went every 5%...so anything below a 75% was an F.

But people don't want him to even talk about it!

You should know very well I did not specify a time. Even then, if it would have taken that long, then the faults on those who allowed to take that long (pretty much would be congress).

Really? So your putting yourself over the parents on how to raise there children. Your not in a position to judge others who feel a legitimate reason to be apart of there child's education. In a way, a parent who sees something (again, you should not have to be said but people have different views on subjects) that *may/not* influence there child in a way they don't belief is best for there child is there concern, NOT yours (Again this is not about how good the speech would be, so it doesn't need to be said how "great" it is for someone to speak to children on good points). You probably don't agree with what they are doing, but regardless of how you feel about the speech, a parent who is looking out for the best for there child would be good right? At the base that can said of what is going on here. Simply put, there is more then one level at play here (it's not as simple as being black-white). Would you hold then accountable when they are trying (in there view) to do what's best for there child?

Now the question is, are they honest about what they believe?

there is a reason why I put that into my first post. there is much to be said about a position that one holds in honesty, to which some may and some may not (my points are on those who are, wither you agree with them or not). Patronizing someone on those, does nothing more then polarize the situation even further. Even the people who you disagree with hold the view that inspiring children to do great is good. You can have a disagreement on how they should handle the situation to there children, but you cannot assume a moral high ground, when they may very well be trying to look out for there child, even when the fear may be unfounded.

Respect is a issue here.

solemnclockwork, I would enjoy your posts if they didn't completely misrepresent and distort both the spirit and the literal words I am saying.

But thank you for giving me insight into the mindset of someone who would believe such an incomprehensible notion to me that having the most powerful man in America (and maybe the world) speak directly to our sons and daughters to do their homework and stay in school is anything but a good thing.

The fact that my words can be so misconstrued makes it easy for me to understand why the president's good intentions have been twisted and turned into "indoctrination" and "brainwashing" by those that see the president's tongue as a serpent's and devil horns growing above his ears.

Your not in a position to judge others who feel a legitimate reason to be apart of there child's education.

Of course every parent should be a part of a child's education.
There is no need to be have a "legitimate reason". You are SUPPOSED to be a part of your child's education. Without the parents the child will probably fail.

In a way, a parent who sees something (again, you should not have to be said but people have different views on subjects) that *may/not* influence there child in a way they don't belief is best for there child is there concern, NOT yours (Again this is not about how good the speech would be, so it doesn't need to be said how "great" it is for someone to speak to children on good points).

Education is influence. Education influences children to explore, dissect, ask questions, get answers, come to conclusions, experiment, and to listen to all sorts of opinions and construct a belief system that fits ones worldview.

Education is not about shutting down voices we don't agree with. Education is not about shutting down voices of our leaders, like them or not. And Education is not about telling the person sitting in the most important office in the country that he isn't good enough to talk to my child.

a parent who is looking out for the best for there child would be good right?

Of course I agree with that. And blocking a child from hearing a message about staying in school, taking responsibility for themselves, doing their homework and respecting their teachers is the opposite of "looking out for the best".

Simply put, there is more then one level at play here (it's not as simple as being black-white).

I agree. There is another level at play here, and I think it has everything to do with being black or white.

Would you hold then accountable when they are trying (in there view) to do what's best for there child?

That's exactly what I am trying to do. Teaching children that people are not trustworthy and we shouldn't listen to what they have to say, even though we don't know what they have to say, is backwards thinking. Instead of "give him a chance" it's "DON'T give him a chance". Instead of allowing children to see more than one side, people are censoring multiple opinions. Instead of giving education and the benefit of the doubt, children and teens are being told "you are too stupid to listen to our leaders words".

I am not sorry, solemnclockwork, when I say you have no leg to stand on. The speech is out there. It is good. Conservative naysayers are backing down, saying children SHOULD listen to this speech. But it is sad that it is mostly too late. Teachers have been threatened, people have been called all kinds of names, and this becomes a black-eye on a valiant attempt by the president to do a good thing for children.

It's a real shame, too.

they may very well be trying to look out for there child, even when the fear may be unfounded.


So how is saying "the fear is unfounded" wrong?

Respect is a issue here.

Amen to that.