I finally read the text for Pres. Obama's speech to school children tomorrow. I have to admit, my mind is put at ease, if this is the totality of his words. I don't really think there is anything wrong with the text that was released.
I think the true issue is not that Pres. Obama, or Bush, or whomever you may name has talked or will talk to school children. One issue is that nobody knew what was going to be said to the children. One issue is that the text was not released until 24 hours before the speech was to take place. As a teacher, and as a parent, I would rather know more in advance. That, for me is not the crux of the full issue.
The true issue is that as a rule, though none of us want to take their place, politicians, as a species have become so totally untrustworthy that we dare not allow ourselves the luxury of relaxing when they open their mouths. We know that too many politicians have become drunk with power, and have not conducted themselves in moral manners.
Our nation was founded on the principles of honor and integrity. It would be nice if those values were reflected in the political lives of our leaders! I have often wished that my kids could have an interview session with some of the prison inmates I work with, but I would be hesitant to allow them to do the same thing with some of our nations leaders!
I have come to realize that I have a fairly dogmatic view of the world. So be it. If that means that the things I believe strongly in today will be the things I believe strongly in tomorrow, then let it be so. If that means My children grow up realizing that homosexuality is a life-style choice, and not an excuse for celebrity, then so be it. If it means that I start telling smokers to keep their cancer away from me and my family, then everyone else can deal with it!
This is not a political discussion, it is a moral discussion. I have not always been the most moral person in the world. I have learned from my mistakes. I have learned from failure. I ask the leaders of our country: What have YOU learned? Cigarette smoke kills more people than texting while driving and assault rifles put together, and second hand smoke is even worse. But some of our leaders smoke, and others are lining their pockets with funding from tobacco companies. Alcohol companies do the same thing, I'm sure.
I am not suggesting that they should be more than human, and I know we all make mistakes. I know I've made my fair share. I am suggesting that the political leaders of our nation should step forward! Be LEADERS! Be Role-models! Stop allowing our country to wallow in the degradation that is encouraged by the actions of its "Ruling Class." Be someone we can TRUST again!
No, I am not so naive as to believe that any of this will change any time soon, nor do I believe that this blog post will ever have any effect on the rules of the establishment, but I feel a little better already!
1 comment:
I was thinking the same thing! When I saw the text of his speech, I realized that my biggest problem is that I don't TRUST him! The video was much different from the speech. What kind of response did he expect?! And who knows but what he altered the speech after he saw the response of the public. Plain and simple, he is a socialist, and he is finding that Americans don't want socialism.
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