IndoctriNation
04 Sep 2009 2 Comments
in Uncategorized Tags: obama, parenting, politics
There is a lot of controversy right now about President Obama’s plan to speak directly to school children next week.
In general, I think it’s a little silly to be so concerned about children being exposed to, gasp, the president. After all, he was elected by a majority in a democratic society, and – again, generally speaking - that should inspire enough confidence in us that we wouldn’t think twice about it. Unfortunately, this is not the case, and hasn’t been in a long, long time. We’re irreparably partisan, it’s just a fact, and nobody trusts the ‘other side’ to maintain respect for our parental right to shelter our children and raise them our own way.
We have one thing in common, no matter what political or religious beliefs we have: We all – every one of us - think we’re right. As adults, we can choose to coexist peacefully, to state our opinions and speak our belief, and if we’re really optimistic, we think we can change someone’s mind who already has their mind made up. In reality, you can’t change someone else’s mind unless they want it to be changed. This is true of adults.
It’s not so much true of children. Children are highly impressionable, and it is our privelege – no, it’s our right and responsibility - as parents to impress upon them those beliefs and values that are important to us and to shield them from those we don’t agree with. After all, once they’re grown, it’s out of our hands. It’s a very brief period of time we have to teach them the values we hope they will hold on to as adults.
Responsible parents investigate and know what is in the books or movies or music or curriculum in school, and do not allow their children to be exposed to it if it’s not in line with their values. So why would we blindly allow someone – even the president – to speak directly to them if none of us know the subject matter? Is it a general “stay in school, stay off drugs, do your best” message? If so, great, but prove it. I don’t automatically trust politicians because, and I know this will come as a shock to you, sometimes… politicians lie.
It’s not really important what the message is. What is important is that we are fully informed and are given the choice to let it be absorbed in those little minds we are completely responsible for. If we’re not afforded the opportunity to preview the complete text of Obama’s speech before he gives it, I can’t say I blame the parents whose kids are mysteriously sick Tuesday. If there’s nothing to hide, I don’t think it’s an unreasonable request, and the parental concern shouldn’t be garnering so much criticism.
Sep 04, 2009 @ 04:03:17
Here’s a fact you can rely upon: President Obama will not use this first speech as anthing more than a meet and greet, a get to know me, and will stick to the script “stay in school, don’t do drugs (of course, he did and look where it got him), do your best.” But the next speech will have more attached. He’s looking to do two things: First, build a rapport with the future voters, i.e. the fresh and soph students. Second, rewrite American History–this is evident in so much of this administration’s agenda; eliminate the elderly via unavailable health care, early termination, etc., and utilize a Pol Pot style of “the children are our future,” but don’t tell them everything.
Think I’m a wackjob? A weird conspiracy theorist? Read Fidel’s book.
Sep 11, 2009 @ 20:58:09
Great post – I like that you showed both sides of the debate, and I agree with your conclusion. It’s a strange world we live in these days..
p.s. – thanks for sticking up for me on my “controversial” blog post.