I thought this speech was actually a downer. As I wrote elsewhere on FR tonight, it seems to assume that every child is struggling and doesn’t like school. He makes learning sound like going to the dentist. There is no true enthusiasm there for the excitement and joy of learning or how it benefits the individual — plus a lot of the focus is collectivistic, you have to learn for the good of your country, not yourself and your family.
Unless he went to bed very very early, what on earth was his mother doing getting him up to study at 4:30 as a young child? That sounds borderline abusive, not something to remember with pride.
Someone suggested he had to wake up early for Muslim prayers.
I read the text of the speech and I agree with you; it's a downer. BO focuses way too much on himself and his "background" and does seem to assume the kids think school's a drag. If the speech is to be aimed at grade-school (rather than grades 9-12) kids, I can't imagine a more depressing message.
A real President, an American President, would choose an occasion for his speech that was newsworthy and edifying.
Sounds more like more of his made up baloney to me. He doesn't think like an American because I doubt he has even been in this country enough to soak up the way we are. He always sounds like some kind of programmed political android. He just doesn't sound quite human.