Oh, Brother - Here We Go Again....

A year later, a little less heated, but we're still having to give permission to our kids to watch the President's address at school.

I'm reposting my feelings from September 4, 2009 'cause they're still the same.

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Post preface: I don't get involved in a lot of conversations regarding the political world. Mainly because conversations I've had among family and friends don't usually end well and views and opinions run deep into people's souls. To the core of their beings. You tell someone you disagree with their political views and it's like you just kicked their dog or pinched their (ugly) baby. Jeff and I will discuss and banter because we've learned to agree to disagree. Neither one of us like to sleep on the couch, so we kiss and make up. I also know that he's a crazy Canook so he doesn't know much and he knows I'm just an imbecile of a housewife so I don't know much either. It's an even wash.

(Don't be hatin' on me, Canada! You know I love you!)

While we both have generally viewed ourselves as Republicans, he voted for Obama and I voted for McCain. So, in a sense, we cancelled out each other's votes. That's how much political clout we have.

...

Since it's swarming in the media, I know that most of you probably received the same letter or phone call I did yesterday. The ones with concerns over the upcoming address our current President plans to deliver to the students of this nation. The ones letting parents opt out of having their kids watch the address during school via TV.

By the way everyone is reacting, you'd think Obama was going to deliver the first ever Presidential address on sex education. With graphic posters and correct anatomical vocabulary. And free samples.

I really don't get what all the fretting is about. He is our elected President. He is the leader of our country. I'm assuming he just wants to encourage our students to stay in school, work hard, live up to their potential, and make the most of their education. You can see more about it here.

What's the harm in that?

Am I missing something? Is there a hidden message or agenda somewhere there that I, in my imbecilic mind, can't see?

Not everyone likes Obama or his politics. That is fine. But he is our President and, because of that, I will continue to have respect for that office. Does it mean I have to agree with everything he says? No. Does it mean that I have lost a voice of my own of how I think things should be handled in this country? No. But just because my views may or may not always be in line with his, it does not discredit his position nor does it make him all bad or all good. HE IS OUR PRESIDENT. He is in a position of leadership. Our countries' freedom to vote put him there. So whether or not you like what he is doing every second of everyday, does not make him a saint nor the devil incarnate.

We've forgotten how to be fair in this country.

I remember when Pres. Reagan was shot, I was in 3rd grade. All the students in our school wrote "get well" cards to him and we sent him bags and bags of jelly beans - that being the presidential candied treat of his choice. We were so excited to have some type of small connection with our President. Though we'd never meet him face to face, we were aware of him and he was aware of us.

But were people all up in arms thinking there was some political propaganda that we were being put through in the form of telling the President we were sorry he got shot? I think not.

So, now we have a situation in 2009 in which our President wants to talk to our kids. Not about stimulus packages and health care reform, or clunkers for cash, or the housing market. He wants to take the time to talk to them about what they are ALL experiencing right now. A common thread - their schooling. He, of all people, should be the one to deliver such an address. As the first American elected as President without Caucasian coloring, he has PROVEN that if you work hard, don't let shut doors get in your way, and never give up, you can do anything. Anyone can have success if they are willing to work for it.

He wants to talk and encourage and uplift.

But we're not willing to let him do that?

Really? I guess we haven't come as far as I thought.