I know this will ruffle some feathers, and I apologize for that, but I have some things I want to say. I promised myself last week that I wasn’t going to post on this subject, especially after the firestorm at a friend’s blog, but here goes…
I’m tired of being lumped into a category that makes people assume they know what I think. Just because I’m a conservative and not in favor of the president’s speech to all school-aged children, people assume I’m in the group who think he’s trying to brainwash children. If anyone cares, my main opposition was to the Dept of Ed’s suggested curriculum that I felt was unnecessary and politically charged, which has now been altered due to the opposition. If my children were older, I’d have no problem with them seeing this in school and discussing it with them later. As it stands, with a 6-year-old who is just shaping his own worldview, I’m glad our school has decided not to show it, and Luke and I will watch it together and discuss the importance of education and what he can do to be a productive citizen (not what he can do to help the president). Education starts in the home, right?
I’m tired of people who are not in favor of this speech indirectly (via comments in all kinds of places) being called names for disagreeing with others. These include bitter, dumb, nasty, paranoid, hateful, psycho, afraid of an intelligent president who can speak in complete sentences…you get the picture. The list goes on and on. None of these could be further from the truth, and if anyone cared to have a real discussion about this instead of just shouting their bullet points, they’d potentially be able to see that, even if we still disagreed in the end. Which CAN happen. People CAN disagree and not insult someone’s intelligence, character, or morals, and obviously, this goes for both sides.
I’m tired of people thinking that I’m small-minded for wanting to limit my young child’s exposure to opposing viewpoints (much in the same way one limits a child’s exposure to many things in life until he’s old enough to handle it). It’s my job as his mother to help him filter what he hears and test it against what we believe…at 6, he’s not ready for the responsibility to do this himself. This does NOT mean that he doesn’t get exposure to what others believe and get taught to respect people despite our differences. This means that he is SIX and needs his parents’ guidance.
I’m tired of the direction our country is headed, and this was long before Obama was elected, though I have much graver concerns now. This is a nation of selfish children who think they deserve it all. The lack of personal responsibility is appalling.
I’m tired of people thinking that because I’m not for the proposed healthcare reform that I don’t care about people less fortunate than I am. Nothing could be further from the truth. I KNOW there’s a major healthcare problem in this nation (seeing what my mom went through with her appallingly expensive cancer treatments, even with insurance, solidified my belief that things are not right), but socialized medicine, to me, is not the answer. There are many ways to go about fixing a problem.
Please, don’t mistake me being tired of these things for giving up. Because there’s no way that’s going to happen. There’s way too much riding on it.
I’d love CIVIL comments on this subject, whether you agree or disagree.
Filed under: me and my thoughts, politics, school, things i don't love
Very well done Nicole. Your mother did a good job in raising you and your siblings in what is right and what is wrong. I agree something needs to be done with our health care system but it is not another welfare program. That is the way I see it. How can we possibly let the government run a health care program? They can’t even run the programs they have right now. Don’t ever give up on what you feel is right for you and your family.
Mom did a great job, Dad, but you did, too
I agree, great post Nic. It’s amazing that people assume just because you have a certain stance on something it automatically lumps you in with some fringe minority. We don’t have to be complacent just because Obama won the election.
As far as the video goes, I think it would be more beneficial for Obama to address a lot of the loser parents out there who don’t care about their child’s education. Coming from my standpoint, that is probably the hardest part of Michon’s job – getting the parents to care.
Well said, Nicole – as usual. I completely agree with you on every point – but you said it all much more eloquently than I could!!
I also totally agree with your brother that there A LOT of parents who would benefit much more from hearing Obama’s speech. If parents don’t show any enthusiasm toward their child’s education, how can we expect the kids to care?
Kevin asked me if I am going to watch it with Norah. At this point I don’t think so – maybe if she was a couple of years older – but I intend on watching it.
I know you quoted much of my facebook debate in this post. While I do not take back everything I said, please know that some things were spouted out in frustration. Frustration not just at this argument but for so much of the prejudice and distrust I see out there. It’s no secret that I’m pretty liberal and evolving into a Democrat over time (since I used to be a Church of Christ conservative growing up). I know this is an area in which you and I personally have not delved. But I feel suffocated by some of the views out there surrounding this controversy and many others we are dealing with right now. I did not mean to lump all conservatives together but it is something that is a split debate right now, with the more conservative people not approving of the idea of the broadcast, and more liberal people being in favor of it. And while my friend Lisa did make a comment about a president who can speak in complete sentences, it’s much like some of the comments thrown at Obama. Unfortunately, it’s what humans do when we do not care for someone and what they stand for. We shout hurtful words that do not do anything but cut others down. I don’t like mudslinging and for that I apologize. I just know that if the tide was turned and McCain (who I obviously did not vote for) was giving a speech that would be broadcast throughout schools, I would NEVER have thought about questioning what would be said or keep my kids home. Liberal opinions are USUALLY ones of acceptance, diversity and understanding. Conservative opinions are USUALLY ones of black or white, right and wrong (sorry to lump again but that’s all I can do). For me, it’s refreshing to have the stifling burden of all of those stipulations lifted. I know there are things that will be said and done that my children will witness, and I will not agree with. But lets have a little faith that the things WE teach our kids are the ones they will hear. And if by some chance, someday they feel something different (gasp!) we can celebrate that as well. I truly respect being your children’s filter and guidance but sometimes letting them navigate for themselves is most rewarding. I hate that politics have to drive walls between friends. I knew that my views would not be felt by everyone and I’m okay with that. This is one thing about growing up and finding my own way politically and spiritually that I’ve come to accept. I’ve changed over that past 15 years and I’ve lost old friends and gained some great new ones. But I want there to be differing opinions and still be unity. Please know that that is my wish, even if it’s achingly hard to do.
Respectfully,
Megan
Megan, I appreciate your comment. And actually, only one quote was intentionally lifted from your FB debate, and it was your friend’s, not yours. While we disagree on this, I didn’t feel that your personal comments were over the top. The rest of the comments have come from my family members (one in particular) and other message boards all over the internet. Clearly, I realize that my opinions won’t sit well with everyone.
Again, if you go back to what I just wrote, the actual speech is not the problem for me, and keeping Luke home from school was not a choice I considered. And I can TOTALLY see that if the tables were turned and a Republican president was in office, a select group of liberals would loudly protest, and I would fully expect them to and understand where they were coming from.
As for the “comments thrown at Obama”: that’s not me. I don’t agree with nearly everything he stands for (which, yes, results in distrust), but he is my president. And for that, he deserves respect. Like my brother said, though, that doesn’t mean that I have to sit back and take it for the next four years…I can respectfully disagree and fight for what I think is right. Over the previous 8 years there was daily mudslinging at President Bush, and not many people were concerned with degrading his character in the media. No one wins when people resort to name calling. No one.
As for Luke learning to navigate for himself…true, it’s very rewarding to watch your child make a responsible decision. I guess at 6 I’m not ready to fully turn that over to him in all areas of his life.
And Meg, I still love you, even if we disagree!
It seems that this whole ObamaSpeech issue is really one of trust. The curriculum suggestions that came from the DoE were politically heavy-handed for a talk that was supposed to be only about education goals, blah blah. Even after the DoE changed those documents, thoughtful parents still didn’t trust that the whole thing was politically neutral. That isn’t too surprising since this administration hasn’t really shown neutral or bipartisan efforts on any front.
Oddly those that pay lip service to wishing that more parents would invest in the character building of their children are frequently those same people that hit the name-calling buttons when parents such as yourself draw a line based on a God-centric world view.
i started to write a post on this last and then deleted it b/c i didn’t know if i wanted to deal w/ it:)
i’m (obviously) conservative. my main problem was w/ what the department of education put out last week for teachers to discuss/do with the students after the speech, which has been altered since. i talked to kenny’s teacher about it and since half day kindergarten gets out at 11:05 and the speech is at 11, his class won’t even be seeing it.
i will be watching it at home though. i really do think it’s going to end up being a ‘do good at school’ speech so i’ll let kenny watch it afterwards if that’s the case.
I’m glad that others have the same issue I did…with the DoE stuff, NOT the speech itself. I don’t feel like I’m being judgmental when I’ve read the questions and disagree with them.
I literally pray that this speech is nothing but motivation for our kids’ attitudes towards school. Our district will be previewing it and each teacher will then decide if they want to show it in their classrooms.
I have to say that what I honestly question is if it hurts us to have so many modes by which to debate (internet news / blogs / dozens of TV news channels / newpapers / radio). I also wonder if a president such as Kennedy were to suggest a speech to school-aged children what the reaction would be. I think we may be living in a time where we are too quick to judge and criticize.
very well written post, nicole. i too am a conservative and hate when others think my viewpoints are a certain way JUST because i say in conversation that i am conservative, however, i know that i find myself doing just what i hate to someone else when they say they are a liberal. i am sincerely trying to stop being so judgmental without hearing someone’s views on a certain topic. it’s not easy though. it’s odd (and a bit scary) to see just how partisan our country has got over the last decade.
ok, i’m going to stop now. honestly, i could write a very long essay here but i’m on vacation and well, i don’t want my brain to work so hard tonight.
but again, very well written.
Great post, Nicole – my brave friend! I just read the speech for tomorrow and, as I suspected, it’s not political. I never thought Obama would be foolish enough to be political in the classroom. But, I agree 100% with Jan, this debate is less about the speech and more indicative of the broad level of distrust that people have in our President. And I find that to be telling.
Also, to be honest, while I like Sloan’s school teacher – I don’t know her. The culture we live in is so politically charged that I worry more about the teacher’s response to such a Presidential speech, than the speech itself. The fact of the matter is that I simply don’t know her very well and therefore, it’s still my responsilbility to protect Sloan’s still forming worldview.
This whole debate is, in my opinion, more about a parent’s rights to know what their child will be hearing and less about conservatives getting up in arms and being “silly.” Because I stated a very reasonable desire to protect my child last week, I was called everything from stupid to a communist and everything in between on my own personal blog.
These are crazy, politically charged times. I am not comfortable trusting anyone in the political arena to talk to my child, about any subject. It’s my personal opinion and right as Sloan’s mother to help him filter what he hears through the worldview that we share as a family. I’m not cheltering him – I’m protecting him. Remember, he’s 6.
Sloan will not see the video at school tomorrow because his school is only showing it to grades 3-5. I will probably watch it later with him and we will have a discussion within our home about goals in education.
Because that’s where education starts – in the home.
I think your post is so well-written that I can’t add a thing! I’ve really enjoyed reading everyone’s comments & opinions and hope there are more when I check tomorrow!
Perhaps the President should encourage adults to take responsibilty for themselves and set the example for children.
Nicole – I appreciate all opinions on politics – it’s important to hear information on every topic so that you can make informed decisions. While not everyone agrees with the popular opinions – we live in a country where these differences are okay and are accepted and we are not punished for having beliefs that are different than our brothers/sisters.
Thank you for your post!
Angela
Great post, Nicole… and great comments from everyone.
Although I’m sure you and I would disagree on many of the core issues surrounding this debate, we can agree on something. I’m tired, too!
I’m tired of the mudslinging. Of the “us vs. them” mentality. Of the name-calling. The president isn’t a Nazi. Neither was President Bush.
I’ve written about this before, but I hate it when politics becomes less about issues and thoughtful debate and more about which “team” to root for.
I applaud you for thinking through the issue and making decisions on what is best for you and your family instead of simply taking the “party line” as gospel and regurgitating something you’ve read/seen/heard.
My biggest problem with this debate (on blogs, on facebook, etc) is people’s unwillingness to listen to various viewpoints and at least consider what the “other side” thinks.
I think you’ve done a great job opening up a reasonable and civil dialogue. Thank you!!
[...] this post over at Nicole’s blog made me think about some of the things I’ve said previously about [...]
Stay strong my friend and don’t get down. I too feel much of your frustration but have found great freedom in remembering where my final citizenship lies.
“We don’t have to be complacent just because Obama won the election” AMEN
“Over the previous 8 years there was daily mudslinging at President Bush, and not many people were concerned with degrading his character in the media.” SO true…
Incredibly well stated, Nicole. Thank you for sharing.