Principal Obama

[Winnie]

I already said it was there to some degree during GW's tenure. Remember- I am not advancing a theory as to why we have disagreement between 2 politcial parties and their ideologies. I am advancing a theory as to why we are so polarized and in particular- why Obama is FEARED...



Some people- yes. But nothing that would have made it into the mainstream. Heck- my grandmother is saying it. She NEVER would have used that word. There was a handyman handing out business cards at Home Depot yesterday wearing a "Fed up with Socialism" teeshirt. Of course the word and its concept existed. But not for the vast majority who throw it around these days. It was mostly only heard in polysci and history classes.

Consider this-
Clinton tried to pass healthcare reform. He lost. Can you recall socialism being any part of argument used by his opposition? I honestly can't. I suspect that's because no one taught people like my grandmother to use this word to scare and rally others against his ideas. It wasn't in the GOP playbook or they didn't need to break it out.

Your grandmother probably would have used the word Communist or Marxist to describe the ideology that people attribute to President Obama by calling him a Socialist. Just an overall sense that he believes people should work as a collective toward collective goals rather than as individuals toward individual goals.

Do you recall learning about the early 1900's "Red Scare?" Later, opponents said that FDR was leading the country to communism.

My theory is that it just appears we are more polarized than before. More aggressive, meaner, and less bound by integrity and humility. I believe people are not as polite in general as they used to be. Gentlemen used to clean up their language around women and children. It was the "norm," not the exception. Social rules have changed. People are much more open and speak their minds more freely now. Not right or wrong, just how it is.

As to why President Obama is feared. I don't know that he is any more than Hillary Clinton would be had she won. I think it is his stated ideologies that most conservatives fear, not the man himself. I know he isn't feared any more than former President Bush was. He most certainly is not as widely despised.

 

[Mango]

Illinois law requires that all students attending a public school must pass the following:
(105 ILCS 5/27‑3) (from Ch. 122, par. 27‑3)
American patriotism and the principles of representative government, as enunciated in the American Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States of America and the Constitution of the State of Illinois, and the proper use and display of the American flag, shall be taught in all public schools and other educational institutions supported or maintained in whole or in part by public funds. No student shall receive a certificate of graduation without passing a satisfactory examination upon such subjects.

The exam was based on the exam prepared by the INS that immigrants must take in order to become a U.S. citizen. We had to pass it in eighth grade and again in high school - I remember I was annoyed at the prospect of taking it again, because we put such effort into it in the eighth grade; it was a very big deal and we spent several months in preparation. But revisiting it at an older age gave me new perspective, and a greater understanding of what it means to be a citizen of the United States.

I had no idea until recently that this is not a requirement in every state; in fact, from my research this morning, IL is the only state that requires this. How sad. I now understand why we have become society of ignorant citizens who do not have a firm understanding of how our government works. It makes sense that the uneducated are much more susceptible to fear and lies. We have become victims of our government instead of constituents.

Like it or not, we need this educational message now more than ever, from our president and every other government representative. Partisanship has no place here. Without education, we are nothing.

It's a sad commentary when immigrants know more about our Country's history than borne and bred Americans. We could probably hand out a test with questions like....When was the War of 1812?; Who is buried in Grant's Tomb?, and who is that guy sitting in the chair at the Lincoln Memorial, and most would fail.

It should probably be a requirement to pass a test like the IL one to have the privilege of voting.

 

[Winnie]

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Need to find a copy of that speech ... Did Bush promote political agendas or did he actually urge studying harder, avoid drugs, etc.?? If Bush did the latter without injecting his political agenda, then I guess Gephart was wrong and Gephart was "playing politics".
.

I ran across it today.

George Bush Presidential Library and Museum :: Public Papers - 1991 - October

It contains the same type of message I expect from President Obama except addressed to a different age group.

 

[steyou]

I do not trust Obama. That simple.

 

[Minnie]

I can not believe anyone is seriously upset about this. Methinks many of you just like to argue.

Being a former teacher I can assure you most of the students will probably not even be listening.

I seriously doubt any will be harmed by this.

 

[TooFarTampa]

I can not believe anyone is seriously upset about this. Methinks many of you just like to argue.

Being a former teacher I can assure you most of the students were probably not even listening.

I seriously doubt any were harmed by this.

Unfortunately Minnie, it's still not over. The speech isn't until Tuesday!

But people are seriously upset about this. And what is so disturbing is how disruptive it has been for the schools, the teachers and the school districts.

 

[Minnie]

Unfortunately Minnie, it's still not over. The speech isn't until Tuesday!

But people are seriously upset about this. And what is so disturbing is how disruptive it has been for the schools, the teachers and the school districts.

well you can tell how not upset I am about it. Kids are very good about taking things in stride if the adults will leave them alone. My personal life right now is so stressful, I have stopped watching the evening news.

 

[Rita]

I ran across it today.

George Bush Presidential Library and Museum :: Public Papers - 1991 - October

It contains the same type of message I expect from President Obama except addressed to a different age group.

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TY very much Winnie!..
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I remember teachers having students write the President and the hope was always that someone would get a response back. This would have been elementary school & we weren't concerned if the prez was dem or rep, we just wanted to be the one to get a letter postmarked from the White House.
Reflecting back to my wasp, small-town farming community in IL where I grew up, there was probably a collective sigh of relief that the Pope didn't end up running the country after Kennedy was elected president. I think my parents may have actually liked him - not sure.
I do know we all had to participate in Kennedy's Physical Fitness program one year because I have the little plastic trophy for being the winner of the girls in my class!

I remember sneaking a smoke in my room and hiding the ciggy butt in that tophy..:shock: - Ha!

.

 

[scooterbug44]

The whole thing is freaking ridiculous!

If Obama was such a powerful speaker that he could indoctrinate our nation's schoolchildren with a 15 minute speech, don't you think that both his approval rating and number of public speaking engagements/addresses to the country would be much higher?

Pssst! Hey, hysterical nutjob parents, there is a good chance that one of your children's teachers is a Democrat! Better check that out - we wouldn't want them tainting your little one's views either! And Aunt Susie and Cousin Fred said they voted for him - better not invite them to Thanksgiving!

Hysterical fear-mongering jackasses.

 

[Winnie]

.
TY very much Winnie!..
.
I remember teachers having students write the President and the hope was always that someone would get a response back. This would have been elementary school & we weren't concerned if the prez was dem or rep, we just wanted to be the one to get a letter postmarked from the White House.
Reflecting back to my wasp, small-town farming community in IL where I grew up, there was probably a collective sigh of relief that the Pope didn't end up running the country after Kennedy was elected president. I think my parents may have actually liked him - not sure.
I do know we all had to participate in Kennedy's Physical Fitness program one year because I have the little plastic trophy for being the winner of the girls in my class!

I remember sneaking a smoke in my room and hiding the ciggy butt in that tophy..:shock: - Ha!

.

I'm in awe! I never could get good enough times and/or repetitions to even get the little patch.