America's Uber-Parent? I Think Not

Every year, on the night before school starts, I announce that it’s time to take a walk. All six of us fan out throughout the house to find our flip flops, someone gets a leash for Scotty the dog, and we set out in a disorganized band up our street. But it’s not just a walk. It’s a ritual.

This year was no exception. On the evening before we took our second daughter off to college, my husband, our four children and I took turns confiding our goals for the coming school year. It’s an annual rite that connects us to our dreams and helps each of us to look forward to the challenges ahead, but also reminds us we’re not alone in our efforts – we have family cheering us on and faith to support us.

The message we deliver to our children as they reveal their fondest hopes for themselves is not unlike the message President Obama attempted to deliver in his address to school children yesterday.

Make goals for yourself and announce them to others so you’ll be accountable. Work hard. Take responsibility for your success. Get help when you need it.

Since the President’s message was so similar to the advice we give our own children every year, why am I so bugged by the fact that he took to the airwaves and the Internet to deliver this speech to America’s public school students?

I’ve wrestled with this question since last week when it was revealed that the speech would take place. I certainly don’t object to presidential addresses being aired in schools in the event of a national emergency such as 9/11, or during an historic occasion such as an inauguration.

So I asked myself, am I cynical about the overly political nature of this speech simply because I disagree with the President’s politics?

Those who favor the president’s speech to school children point to previous addresses by George H.W. Bush and Ronald Reagan as proof that a precedent has already been set for such an address.

I’m loath to be labeled a hypocrite, so I went back and read those speeches. Now I know why President Obama’s talk bothers me.

George H.W. Bush talked to schoolchildren via closed circuit TV to encourage greater interest in science and math. He used the occasion of a space launch to focus on the sciences at a time when it had been well established that US students paled in comparison to others around in the world in this essential discipline. Even still, then-Speaker of the House Richard Gephardt said, “The Department of Education should not be producing paid political advertising for the president, it should be helping us to produce smarter students.”

Ronald Reagan’s speech was something else entirely. Was it political? Absolutely. It was a primer on American political theory. Reagan didn’t insert himself into the personal lives of his audience, but instead asked school children to insert themselves into the public life of our nation. His speech didn’t focus on personal goals but on the sacrifices of our founders to establish the freedom to make such goals.

That’s the crucial difference, and the reason Mr. Obama’s message bothers me. The President of the United States is not the “First Father.” His role is not to be an uber-parent, offering sage advice on personal behavior for school kids via televised lectures.

If we accept this display of “non-partisan parenting,” we’re tacitly acknowledging that the government of the United States of America has an appropriate role to play in raising our children. I don’t think it does.

Even if the message is a positive one, the very fact that it has been delivered is intrusive and assumptive and just plain creepy.

Then again, my kids didn’t see the speech. They went for a walk with their parents instead.

So I asked myself, am I cynical about the overly political nature of this speech simply because I disagree with the President’s politics?

You have absolutely no need for this type of examination of conscience. It is fair to assume that everything this president does is political and contrary to our best interests.

In his speech, Obama explained that his mother couldn't afford to send him to a school with other Americans - so she got up at 4:30 in the morning, got him up, and taught him what she thought he should learn that his school wouldn't teach.
He implied that that was a wonderful thing for her to have done - but he thinks the teachers' unions should do all the teaching here.

Not to mention he lied to the children through every bit of his poor deprived childhood speech. Hard to be poor when all four of the adults in your life ( grandparents, mom, Soetoro) have such good careers they could travel the world and send you to private school.

Not to mention he lied to the children through every bit of his poor deprived childhood speech.

Why? Did he plan to garner sympathy? From Kindergartners? The man is so pathetic it scares me. He simply is THE most narcissistic person I have ever been exposed to.

I was happy to see the backlash. I guess it’s partly because of the attached “homework” piece that was eventually dropped. But being largely untrusted is the real focus. Even bammy’s previous supporters are now realizing he’s just another bloated politician. We know his goals include only what HE wants. It doesn’t much matter what we want in his view. Hell, just look at the dem stance on healthcare today... “we can ram it through if we hurry”. How could you ever trust these boobs ?
The only thing saving us right now is the looming election coming up.. and I hope to see a new atmosphere, that is; anything obama is something to distance yourself from if you are ANY politician.
One lesson the president should learn is that even though his minions will defend him no matter what kind of amateurish stunt he pulls, you should never, and I mean never include their children. We all share that line in the sand and if you can’t be trusted, better keep your distance from our kids because there is no compromise no matter how silly the threat may seem.

You only need to read the United States Constitution to understand and see that the Federal Government has NO BUSINESS near our children at any time, for any reason.
Problem is the Constituion seems to be meaningless in todays America..............

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