President Obama Encourages Student Responsibility in Controversial Back-to-School Speech
September 7, 2009 – At 12pm EST today, many students across the country will be watching President Obama’s back-to-school address. While the topic may seem harmless enough, the speech has been the target of harsh criticism from conservatives, who believe that the President is attempting to indoctrinate young students.
The President’s speech encourages students to stay in school, even when the going gets rough. Included in his speech will be memories of his own childhood and examples of other exemplary American students who have succeeded in school despite personal troubles. While millions of children are set to watch the speech live, many parents and educators are complaining that Obama is using the address push his own political agenda.
So, what do you think? Is President Obama’s speech too politically-charged or are some people just over-reacting?
Check out the comments to your fellow readers below, weigh in on the issue, and send this page along to a friend!
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Hello, everyone — how’s everybody doing today?
I’m here with students at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia. And we’ve got students tuning in from all across America, kindergarten through 12th grade. I’m glad you all could join us today.
I know that for many of you, today is the first day of school. And for those of you in kindergarten, or starting middle or high school, it’s your first day in a new school, so it’s understandable if you’re a little nervous. I imagine there are some seniors out there who are feeling pretty good right now, with just one more year to go. And no matter what grade you’re in, some of you are probably wishing it were still summer, and you could’ve stayed in bed just a little longer this morning.
I know that feeling. When I was young, my family lived in Indonesia for a few years, and my mother didn’t have the money to send me where all the American kids went to school. So she decided to teach me extra lessons herself, Monday through Friday — at 4:30 in the morning.
Now I wasn’t too happy about getting up that early. A lot of times, I’d fall asleep right there at the kitchen table. But whenever I’d complain, my mother would just give me one of those looks and say, “This is no picnic for me either, buster.”
So I know some of you are still adjusting to being back at school. But I’m here today because I have something important to discuss with you. I’m here because I want to talk with you about your education and what’s expected of all of you in this new school year.
Now I’ve given a lot of speeches about education. And I’ve talked a lot about responsibility.
I’ve talked about your teachers’ responsibility for inspiring you, and pushing you to learn.
I’ve talked about your parents’ responsibility for making sure you stay on track, and get your homework done, and don’t spend every waking hour in front of the TV or with that Xbox.
I’ve talked a lot about your government’s responsibility for setting high standards, supporting teachers and principals, and turning around schools that aren’t working where students aren’t getting the opportunities they deserve.
But at the end of the day, we can have the most dedicated teachers, the most supportive parents, and the best schools in the world and none of it will matter unless all of you fulfill your responsibilities. Unless you show up to those schools; pay attention to those teachers; listen to your parents, grandparents and other adults; and put in the hard work it takes to succeed.
And that’s what I want to focus on today: the responsibility each of you has for your education. I want to start with the responsibility you have to yourself.
Every single one of you has something you’re good at. Every single one of you has something to offer. And you have a responsibility to yourself to discover what that is. That’s the opportunity an education can provide.
Maybe you could be a good writer — maybe even good enough to write a book or articles in a newspaper — but you might not know it until you write a paper for your English class. Maybe you could be an innovator or an inventor — maybe even good enough to come up with the next iPhone or a new medicine or vaccine — but you might not know it until you do a project for your science class. Maybe you could be a mayor or a senator or a Supreme Court justice, but you might not know that until you join student government or the debate team.
And no matter what you want to do with your life — I guarantee that you’ll need an education to do it. You want to be a doctor, or a teacher, or a police officer? You want to be a nurse or an architect, a lawyer or a member of our military? You’re going to need a good education for every single one of those careers. You can’t drop out of school and just drop into a good job. You’ve got to work for it and train for it and learn for it.
And this isn’t just important for your own life and your own future. What you make of your education will decide nothing less than the future of this country. What you’re learning in school today will determine whether we as a nation can meet our greatest challenges in the future.
You’ll need the knowledge and problem-solving skills you learn in science and math to cure diseases like cancer and AIDS, and to develop new energy technologies and protect our environment. You’ll need the insights and critical thinking skills you gain in history and social studies to fight poverty and homelessness, crime and discrimination, and make our nation more fair and more free. You’ll need the creativity and ingenuity you develop in all your classes to build new companies that will create new jobs and boost our economy.
We need every single one of you to develop your talents, skills and intellect so you can help solve our most difficult problems. If you don’t do that — if you quit on school — you’re not just quitting on yourself, you’re quitting on your country.
Now I know it’s not always easy to do well in school. I know a lot of you have challenges in your lives right now that can make it hard to focus on your schoolwork.
I get it. I know what that’s like. My father left my family when I was two years old, and I was raised by a single mother who struggled at times to pay the bills and wasn’t always able to give us things the other kids had. There were times when I missed having a father in my life. There were times when I was lonely and felt like I didn’t fit in.
So I wasn’t always as focused as I should have been. I did some things I’m not proud of, and got in more trouble than I should have. And my life could have easily taken a turn for the worse.
But I was fortunate. I got a lot of second chances and had the opportunity to go to college, and law school, and follow my dreams. My wife, our first lady Michelle Obama, has a similar story. Neither of her parents had gone to college, and they didn’t have much. But they worked hard, and she worked hard, so that she could go to the best schools in this country.
Some of you might not have those advantages. Maybe you don’t have adults in your life who give you the support that you need. Maybe someone in your family has lost their job, and there’s not enough money to go around. Maybe you live in a neighborhood where you don’t feel safe, or have friends who are pressuring you to do things you know aren’t right.
But at the end of the day, the circumstances of your life — what you look like, where you come from, how much money you have, what you’ve got going on at home — that’s no excuse for neglecting your homework or having a bad attitude. That’s no excuse for talking back to your teacher, or cutting class, or dropping out of school. That’s no excuse for not trying.
Where you are right now doesn’t have to determine where you’ll end up. No one’s written your destiny for you. Here in America, you write your own destiny. You make your own future.
That’s what young people like you are doing every day, all across America.
Young people like Jazmin Perez, from Roma, Texas. Jazmin didn’t speak English when she first started school. Hardly anyone in her hometown went to college, and neither of her parents had gone either. But she worked hard, earned good grades, got a scholarship to Brown University, and is now in graduate school, studying public health, on her way to being Dr. Jazmin Perez.
I’m thinking about Andoni Schultz, from Los Altos, California, who’s fought brain cancer since he was three. He’s endured all sorts of treatments and surgeries, one of which affected his memory, so it took him much longer — hundreds of extra hours — to do his schoolwork. But he never fell behind, and he’s headed to college this fall.
And then there’s Shantell Steve, from my hometown of Chicago, Illinois. Even when bouncing from foster home to foster home in the toughest neighborhoods, she managed to get a job at a local health center; start a program to keep young people out of gangs; and she’s on track to graduate high school with honors and go on to college.
Jazmin, Andoni and Shantell aren’t any different from any of you. They faced challenges in their lives just like you do. But they refused to give up. They chose to take responsibility for their education and set goals for themselves. And I expect all of you to do the same. That’s why today, I’m calling on each of you to set your own goals for your education — and to do everything you can to meet them. Your goal can be something as simple as doing all your homework, paying attention in class, or spending time each day reading a book. Maybe you’ll decide to get involved in an extracurricular activity, or volunteer in your community. Maybe you’ll decide to stand up for kids who are being teased or bullied because of who they are or how they look, because you believe, like I do, that all kids deserve a safe environment to study and learn. Maybe you’ll decide to take better care of yourself so you can be more ready to learn. And along those lines, I hope you’ll all wash your hands a lot, and stay home from school when you don’t feel well, so we can keep people from getting the flu this fall and winter.
Whatever you resolve to do, I want you to commit to it. I want you to really work at it.
I know that sometimes, you get the sense from TV that you can be rich and successful without any hard work — that your ticket to success is through rapping or basketball or being a reality TV star, when chances are, you’re not going to be any of those things.
But the truth is, being successful is hard. You won’t love every subject you study. You won’t click with every teacher. Not every homework assignment will seem completely relevant to your life right this minute. And you won’t necessarily succeed at everything the first time you try.
That’s OK. Some of the most successful people in the world are the ones who’ve had the most failures. JK Rowling’s first Harry Potter book was rejected twelve times before it was finally published. Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team, and he lost hundreds of games and missed thousands of shots during his career. But he once said, “I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”
These people succeeded because they understand that you can’t let your failures define you — you have to let them teach you. You have to let them show you what to do differently next time. If you get in trouble, that doesn’t mean you’re a troublemaker, it means you need to try harder to behave. If you get a bad grade, that doesn’t mean you’re stupid, it just means you need to spend more time studying.
No one’s born being good at things, you become good at things through hard work. You’re not a varsity athlete the first time you play a new sport. You don’t hit every note the first time you sing a song. You’ve got to practice. It’s the same with your schoolwork. You might have to do a math problem a few times before you get it right, or read something a few times before you understand it, or do a few drafts of a paper before it’s good enough to hand in.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. I do that every day. Asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness, it’s a sign of strength. It shows you have the courage to admit when you don’t know something, and to learn something new. So find an adult you trust — a parent, grandparent or teacher; a coach or counselor — and ask them to help you stay on track to meet your goals.
And even when you’re struggling, even when you’re discouraged, and you feel like other people have given up on you — don’t ever give up on yourself. Because when you give up on yourself, you give up on your country.
The story of America isn’t about people who quit when things got tough. It’s about people who kept going, who tried harder, who loved their country too much to do anything less than their best. It’s the story of students who sat where you sit 250 years ago, and went on to wage a revolution and found this nation. Students who sat where you sit 75 years ago who overcame a Depression and won a world war; who fought for civil rights and put a man on the moon. Students who sat where you sit 20 years ago who founded Google, Twitter and Facebook and changed the way we communicate with each other.
So today, I want to ask you, what’s your contribution going to be? What problems are you going to solve? What discoveries will you make? What will a president who comes here in twenty or fifty or one hundred years say about what all of you did for this country?
Your families, your teachers, and I are doing everything we can to make sure you have the education you need to answer these questions. I’m working hard to fix up your classrooms and get you the books, equipment and computers you need to learn. But you’ve got to do your part too. So I expect you to get serious this year. I expect you to put your best effort into everything you do. I expect great things from each of you. So don’t let us down — don’t let your family or your country or yourself down. Make us all proud. I know you can do it.
Thank you, God bless you, and God bless America.
Filed in: President Obama.
Very good speech and there are a lot of students who need to hear this message from President Obama!
I think the President is doing a wonderful JOB. I think it is silly for people to carry on the way they do. They should be ashamed of themselves. It is truly a shame this man can’t do anything without people losing their cool. He can’t even kill a fly. They didn’t say or do anything when BUSH was running this country into the ground. I feel sorry for the REPUBLICANS. They grab any chance they can to split this country down the middle. People just want to have someone to blame for what is going on in their lives. We are all fighting to get uphill in a down hill battle. Mr. OBAMA has made remarkable strides. Some people still can’t get pass the color of his skin. They still won’t look at the content of his character. I wish the best for MR. OBAMA and the AMERICA.
I really don’t know what all the fuss was about. I thought it was a very good speech and that it encouraged the children to take education and learning seriously.
It all sounds find and dandy but actions speak louder than words. He has to be an example, juar because a person has an education isn’t everything. Your character is more important. The people he surrounds himself with says a lot about his character. Also if education is so important to him why didn’t he make his top priority supplying the students with what they need. No, his top priority was abortion on demand.
Great Job! We teach about the President’s in school and have never had a President address and talk directly to our children. I think this is wonderful! This is a very Positive move and more Hope to a Better Tomorrow for our children.
Thank You very much Mr. President!
This is an excellent speech. I hope parents as well as student will listen.
Top-Colleges would just like to add that we are leaving these comments un-edited. We can neither support nor refute Alma Maddox’s statement on abortion, but would like to recognize that the comment has its own political agenda.
I for one was a bit skeptical of our President addressing the children of America. I am so glad I had an opportunity to read this speech. It was very good. Even so I am still glad there is an opportunity for tape delay and for parents to pull their children. I believe this country is big enough for freedom of choice.
Looks like a great speech. Please stop pushing for abortion on demand. That’s the reaso I did not vote for you!
I think that this is an excellent speech. I know that there are many students who need the encouragement that is so well expressed by the president.I am trying to understand what all the hype is about.
Beautiful speech and so necessary for our children to hear his inspiring words.It is hard to believe there is so much controversy over this.Those who are afraid need to be educated and listen before they talk.President Obama is our hope and not only for students now but all that are to come in future generations.God Bless him and God Bless America.
Dear Mr. President Obama,
Although, I am not a Democrat, your words, you have spoken to our Nations children have moved my heart. You have clarified, what I have been trying to relate, to my children, grand children, other family members children and friends children.
This speech, hits the nail on the head.
We, in our nation need to relate this type of speech, as often, as possible, as a reminder to our children of this Nation.
Thank you so much, It reminds me of my life. Now! I served in the US Army 26 yrs. retired as a First Sergeant, at the present time, I am with Homeland Security, as a Customs and Border Officer and will retire soon.
I have 13 Grandchildren of school age, which I will post a Copy of your speech in their rooms as a reminder.
This is Great
Thank you and GOD bless you and your Family
It seems that Taryn Hemingway must have been asleep during the previous administration, if she thinks that
people said or did nothing against President Bush. She also feels sorry for the Republicans who she says
take every opportunity to split the country. What does she think the Democrats have been doing?
Obama Rocks !!!
It is about time that the REPUBLICAN CONSERVATIVES stop bashing the president. They twist and distort everything he does and says. Criticism is fine… provided it is corrective and not destructive!
Good speech. Wonder who wrote it for President Obama.. ? It is very important to pick your friends and associates wisely, for they shall influence our future generations. Our president has done no such thing, and that is part of the reason his leadership has already begun to deteriorate. He mentions that you can become whatever you want to; i.e., doctor, lawyer, scientist. In his case, his best asset is being a good orator. As far as fulfilling the things he promised the American people during his campaign, he falls way short. So he speaks well, but is no “honest Abe.”
No matter how anyone feels about the President, ALL children should hear this speech! Whether you agree with him or not, he is OUR Presiddent and after reading this, I don’t understand why everyone doesn’t want their children to hear this. It could change your child’s lives.
Oh you people. The power of flattery and words. You democrats are so foolish that it is scary..If none of you ever criticized Bush then voice your comments. If you did criticize him don’t be a hypocrite.
This speech sounds nice and all, but this was not the original speech. That is what this article blatantly leaves out of the description. People were fussing over it because the original speech was going to speak to little children about healthcare and “What can you do to help the President?”. There was an uproar from parents and political figures across the country because this is a speech that schools are tuning into during school hours when children and supposed to be learning. Obviously, if they re-wrote the entire speech, they realized that maybe the original speech was inappropriate and could be viewed as “indoctrinating political views”. My question though, is when was it considered normal for the President of the United States to deliver a Back to School speech? Is this really necessary? I will admit that I do see the value in it given the popularity and influence of Barack Obama and it never hurts to put pressure on kids to succeed by someone that they may look up to. And in response to all the liberals who are whining about criticism of Obama, um, DUH, all democrats did the entire 8 yrs Bush was in office was bash him. When it goes both ways, you all can’t handle it. Grow up and realize that issues need to be discussed and viewed from both points of the table. It is not Democrat vs. Republican or vice versa!!!!
how silly of some people to criticize a man b/c he wants to encourage the children of the nation who are indeed our future. Most of our children dont have father figures in their lives that will tell them these things, so whats wrong with him taking the initiative? I am a hands on father and very pro-active and welcome this message being sent to my children…the more POSITIVE messages they hear the better. Grow up people and stop complaining about everything this forward thinking BLACK man is doing just b/c u dont like a BLACK man telling your kids whats right…..
and to follow up on paige and janice’s comments…how is he not fulfilling his promises? He can only do 12 thing at time..including fixing what Bush screwed up first….it takes time to fix a COUNTRY….its not like fixing a bike….and I wonder if Bush could have even read this speech correctly.
David please don’t play the race card. In my case his color has nothing to do with it. I don’t respect him for a lot of reasons, number one he is a baby killer
Dear Mr. President Obama,
I agree with Mr. R Guzman-Apointe view points. I am a Democrat, but that is not the issue. Your speech is very inspiring. I know it was meant for the school age children, but it has inspired me to do better and further my goals and dreams. I will not only give this speech to my son, but to my family, friends and neighbors kids (only if they allow me). Thanks!
God Bless you and your Family
Where in this speach, does he mention Politics ie……….Democrats verses Republicans librals etc…………
He is giving information the our Nations Children, or, as I say, (a Heads-up for the future ) those children that do not understand, it is the responsability of the Parents, Grand-Parents and other Family adult to convey this to the to them in an understandable language.
Those of you, who have hatetret in their minds, should be shamefull.
Whether he wrote it or not the speach conveide a message to our children and those Parents who love their children and want the best for them.
What a message, I read it, prior to hearing the speach, I LOVED IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am a REPUBLICAN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Former First Lady Laura Bush says that it’s okay for President Obama to address schoolchildren via a back-to-school speech. She comments that President Obama is “doing a good job,” and his wife Michelle is “doing great.” Watch her interview on CNN to find out more.
I absolutely loved your speech President Obama. I’m a single mother of two working full-time and attending college half-time. I’m taking a math class this semester which is pretty challenging for me and has kind of gotten me down these past couple of weeks. But after reading your speech I feel compelled to succeed, not only for myself but for my children, for my family and for my country!
God Bless you & your family!
Rhonda Potter
Laura Bush is either flat out lying or being two-faced. I can say I respect her either way that she can still be nice after the way her and her husband were treated during his term.
I will not comment anymore on this very biased site. Who did the you tube?
How could anyone find fault with this great communication to the youth of our country? This is what they need to hear. The president told it like it is: it can be hard work, your circumstances might be defeating you, but you try, you don’t give up. You might not like every part of school but you do it anyway. I was a teacher for 25 years and I absolutely love these words of wisdom and encouragement and truth.
I thought the speech was a good rah rah to the kids of all ages who are in school. I don’t remember anyone in my family encouraging me to do anything. It is a blessing to see someone tell it like it is. It isn’t always the schools, teachers, government and others who miss the mark. Many of the students try to slide by with minimum effort and then they wonder why they don’t succeed. Doing your best and then some is something to aspire to. Those of the students who cheat to get ahead need to re-organize their priorities. Those adults who pressure their kids to succeed at all costs are not letting them learn from their mistakes. No one gets a free ride. Even things that are supposed to be “free” always seem to have some kind of price tag.
Seeing he asked God for Blessing our Country and Children, all is well with this speech by Me.
Marvelous speech. Why all the angst?
i think our president speach is very inspiring for our childrens;.i will not just give this speach to my daughter but to others.i know that their is a lot of white (REPUBLICAN)haters out their so whatever president Obama say he willbe distructivelycritized.
KKK mentality is still alive and well judging by some of the comments. Observation are ok, not criticism.
That was one of the best speeches I have ever read. That speech really made me think about the things I need to accomplish. I was willing to give up myself because I did not have faith within myself, I am a college student with long term goals to go to law school. I have been very indecisive for the last week about my career, all I want to do is make a differnce in the world and help the ones who are struggling in society . Thanks Obama for making a difference in this world and giving people like me as well as children the talk the need to move on and believe in there self. I wish more doors could open up for minorities who is trying to get in the legal field and more jobs for students that has really never worked in the field. Alot of companies does not want to give a new graduate a chance to proove their skills is there a way to help.
Reading this speech should have touched so many people that you as a adult should want to get up and change your lifes as well theres nothing wrong with this speech but it is something wrong with the people who are reading it and having a problem with it. Our president have done or said anything discriminating in that speech, He’s encouraging and it’s just some of you never had that done so it sound funny the next time take your time and read it from the heart and maybe you will learn and it will help and bless you.
The speech was good, not matter who wrote it. Its doesn’t matter who your political party is. It was a motivational speech. We will never all agree on any one thing. We can agree to disagree. What I am not understanding is why we can’t allow our kids a chance to listen to their president give a speech that lets all the kids know that they are responsible for their own actions. As a good parent don’t you tell your child that when they get in trouble for listening to their “friend” at school do something and then they do it knowing it was wrong? So basically because you have tunnel vision for your future, you want to tunnel your kids vision as well? How will they every learn their freedom of choice if you are making it “for their own good?”
Great speech
Mr. President, your speech was OUTSTANDING. Semper Fi! I am retired twice over and will be attending college online full time in Oct. Your speech was most definitely motivated to me, even though it was for the school children.
The President’s speech is very relevant and touching, superb and encouraging. Not all students for today’s generation would benefit if they follow but also this should be read even by the next generation. Surely this would greatly help encourage students what is ought for them to do. I have the same experience. I have no father at age eleven and my mother is the only one who I can depend on including my other three siblings. She has no good job because she only finished third grade. I was even helping her those hard times for our daily living. For me to be able to finish since I’m the eldest I asked help from other people , jobs during daytime to be able to attend school at night until I finish college. It takes a lot of work and effort but it is very rewarding. It is our future that we are weaving when we are still students. When you graduate it’s a very good feeling that any wealth cannot compensate.
These sentiments need to be lovingly repeated to every student in America, every week they are in class, until they become internal precepts by which to live…for all of us, not just kids. THANK YOU, PRESIDENT OBAMA. THANK YOU, all devoted teachers and parents. THANK YOU to all the youth who respond to this message in the spirit in which it was delivered.
This, like many of the President’s speeches, was clear, direct and effective. I saw an angry parent on TV last night complaining that his child was “wasting an hour” of school just to hear the President. I hope his children have more sense than he does. It was time well spent and I hope the President’s message is not negated at home by parents who disagree with his political agenda. I wish that when I was in school, my president had given a speech like the one students heard today.
This speech couldn’t have come at a better time.
I have worked in education for years and due to the change in our students attitudes, no longer find my job meaningful. Many of the kids now seem to think they should pass classes without doing work, as if they’re entitled to a passing grade just for being in class. Many spend their time talking or even texting while the lesson is being taught and then wonder why they don’t understand the subject.
I’d like to thank President Obama for taking the time and being willing, despite the stupid backlash, to reach out to the kids of our nation in hopes of inspiring the greatness in all of them. I hope it makes a difference.
EXCELLENT SPEECH MR PRESIDENT OBAMA. No parent should have had a problem with a speech from you whether they were asked, not asked or had the opportunity to see it ahead. Drug dealers don’t ask parents when they begin targeting your children.
president Obama
You are one of the best.
Don’t listen to all those negative thoughts.
Keep up with the good work that you’re doing.
May God bless your family and all the families from 911.
President Obama!!!!
Tremendous speech. Hope Kanye or Jay-Z can shrink it down and put it to music.
Positively necessary!!!
His address was not only to encourage students to stay the course in school, but rather an address to the nation with hopes of most recieving this positive message and sharing it to a fellow classmate, someone in need of encouragement and/or to parents for them to educate themselves as well encourage their children.
Barrack Obama spoke as our president and possibly as a father figure to some who may not have the luxury of recieving such encouragement.
Freddie
I thought it was an excellent speech. Obama cares about our children because they are the future of this country. Education is one of his top priorities, among many others. I’m glad he took the time out to address our kids directly. It was very inspiring and motivating, if you were too narrow minded not to see how good it is, it’s really your loss.
Bush was a bum and worst leader we have had in some time. Papa Bush spoke to students using the same themes and approach Obama used. o outcry there or any where. Some people hate Obama so much they have to be against everything he says or does. These losers and cry-babies are nothing but a bitter and a sad motley-crew which is spoiling for a fight at all cost. Good speech and Kids need to know that their President loves them. Jeez, you haters, grow up!
I am really getting tired of the media, my co-workers and all of the prejudice people who refuse to acknowledge that Barack Obama is the President of the United States of America. They need to get OVER IT!!! This would not have been a problem if he was WHITE. That is the real issue here…..He is an Africian American MAN and these conseratives will not let it go. America should be ashame of putting the President through all of the unnecessary questions/explanations because he is BLACK. When there should have been questions about the last administration wanting ABSOLUTE power, no one said anything. I didn’t love/like all of the past Presidents of the United States but when the people spoke/voted it was a done deal. STOP THE HATE….Let’s move on….The United States has more pressing issues.
Excellent speech! I wish that all students would get this kind of encouragement all the time! Education is the only way to make changes in this world. Most of the people who were against Obama giving this talk to school children, don’t read and probably didn’t even listen to (or read) the speech!
I don’t think President Obama’s speech was politically-charged at all. I think it is an excellent speech and all children should have listened to it. I think conservatives disagree with everything the President does and says and I think that is the biggest problem in our country!
I hope those who railed against this speech have thte decency to say how silly they were. But I guess that is like hoping for snow in July.
Great speech Good for students, teacher and parents to hear. If anyone has a problem with this speech, they need help, lots of help.
If racism is dead in America tell me when it died cause it sure reared its’ ugly head in the last few days. When is telling kids to stay in school and to believe in themselves indoctrination? What’s wrong with people that they believe their children can be indoctrinated in a few minutes? What does that say about their children? For that matter what does that say about the people who raised the children!?
As a parent and a professional I am very proud of the President. This speech is completely appropriate. Students need to know and understand the importance of an education. They are only hurting themselves and ultimately their country when they don’t apply themselves in school. I have a teen-age son and 2 other toddlers and to have my president say the same things that I talk about at home is very gratifying.
THANK YOU SO MUCH PRESIDENT OBAMA FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND CARING FOR THE CHILDREN OF THIS NATION. MAY GOD BLESS ALL YOUR ENDEAVORS. WE WILL CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR YOU, YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR ADMINISTRATION. GOD BLESS AMERICA.
Well done, President Obama! It is about time someone spoke out to give our children, basically the future of our country, encouragement and power over their own future…Responsibility does not lie solely with the people around them…they too have a responsibility for their success…they too can achieve that success if they get an education…that was always the motto in our home…Mom and Dad have a job and you, my child, have a job too…going to school and doing the best you can while there is your job!
Why would anyone would object to your message?
I read the speech and found it very motivating. Whenever you can get the students attention and bring forth a universal message you should. I think all this fuss was alot to do about nothing. The President had alot of things on his plate right now and the fact that he took the time to tape this for Our Students says alot for him, politics aside after all he is a father too. Give the man some credit and the respect her deserves as Our President.Give him some time too, he can’t do everything overnight. God bless OurPresident and his family they have a long road ahead, Before you fuss would you like to be in his shoes,he can’t please everyone…..Good Luck Mr. President….a hardworking Grandma who wants the best for her grandchildren and others. Thanks
To make this speech out to be something that may discourage people or a bad speech is clearly another way to set out a bad vibe against Obama. Every little thing he say or do is captured and ridiculed into a negative image. For one, what this country need is someone who has had real life experiences and wasn’t born into success to display the hardships of many individuals who is trying to succeed with little or no support. I am behind this speech 100%. I have family who keeps pushing me to stay in school and a mother who struggles just to keep me in school. I am now in graduate school and it isn’t easy. Yes, there are times I feel like giving up but just like He said “SUCCESS COMES WITH HARD WORK”! So, to all the people who are badgering Obama for every little thing and making this great speech out to something that were not in is intentions to be, get over it! The man is not even looked upon as a President when he talks to the nation with speeches such as this one, he is simply coming forth as an individual who may not get the message out to every single person but their are many individuals who will do a 360; just off of this message alone. I say leave him alone, nothing happens over night, he isn’t God…he is only Human! Let him do his work but I am positive for every negative word, blog, speech, headline, picture, website, etc., about Obama will only make him keep striving for greatness!
Great Speech, a lot of students needed to hear it. I am glad my daughters got to hear it in school.
Thank you, Thank you President Obama!!!!! You and your wife are prefect examples of your speech. I am hoping that your speech will inspire my son to be more proactive in his education.
President Obama”s speech was great!
What is wrong with telling kids to work hard and learn.
Main reason the “idiots” of America are bashing our president is because he is black.
Remember, he’s IRISH ALSO. WE ARE ALL MIXED UP . Some people do Not know what the hell they are.
As a child, we were the first Italian family that moved into a “Dick and Jane” type of neighborhood. Some of
the teachers did NOT want us there. Mama always said, ” Go to school, get good grades. Make your family
proud of you” All seven of us, did just that. I would tell myself as a child, when we grow up , the bigotry would
be gone. Is it? President Obama’s speech did just what Mama use to tell us. Work hard, get good grades, make your family proud of you. In this case also make your COUNTRY proud of you too.
Thank God we have an intelligent president in the Whitehouse today.
JJ
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For those with blinders and can only see a Democrat having the opportunity to give a positive speech I can only respond by saying that i sometimes think the world came to an end and they forgot to tell me. It’s time for the sore losers to row up already . UNited we stand, divided we fall. Enough divisiveness!
The original article about President Barack H. Obama’s speech appeared on YAHOO news story. The parent’s in Utah reacted because they were UN-aware of the “I PLEDGE TO SERVE” VIDEO that was shown as part of the school activity involving the children’s questionaire’s.
The point is absolutely lost. This isn’t about Democrat’s, Republican’s or any given party. The point was “the parent’s were un-aware. The principal apologized for not sending home leaflet’s of information to parent’s.
As the questionaire’s from Washington DC were re-constructed and re-worded because of parent’s input.
And in the “I PLEDGE TO SERVE” VIDEO” some parent’s complained about about language that is in their belief, UN-constitutional:
“I pledge to serve my President” instead of “my country” Since our President serves “we the people” not the other way around; therefore, he is “citizen executive” drawn to statesmanship “by election.”
This is what I acknowledge. I reviewed the “I PLEDGE TO SERVE VIDEO” if I am wrong correct me, but I thought I heard this verbage “I PLEDGE TO SERVE MY PRESIDENT.”
There is nothing wrong with our President Barack H. Obama speaking to the school children. The mis-step’s taken by our government?? Is an in your face approach. Parent’s should have been made aware of the
“I PLEDGE TO SERVIE VIDEO” Believe me, if the President was a Republican would Hollywood make a video pledging full support to a Republican President.. if you say, YES.. not everyone loves Hollywood celebrity poliitics nor should their children get the “in your face” propaganda video’s.
I think the President’s comments were clear, well organized and designed to encourge childrem to understand the importance of their education at this point of time in their lives. Hopefully, parents will provide the leadership. support and disipline needed to focus this important message not only today, but everyday.
I didn’t detect any political overtones. What was said was said for the benefit of the children, not the politician.
This was an excellent speech but it does not change my feelings about Obama wanting to make America a socialist country. The speech sounded like it was coming from a conservative.
Our school system did not televise the speech, but in our house tonight, it will be a REQUIRED READING. The speech was inspirational and very encouraging.
Thank you Mr. President for setting a positive path for all the children of our country.
GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR WONDERFUL FAMILY!!!!
The president’s speech was amazing. He demonstrates real feelings with a real care in his heart. He wants our children to know that they can be anything they want with the perserverance of education.
So it’s true that President Obama isn’t an American citizen; so how can he be president if he was born in Indonesia? I’m only reading this because I wanted to see how you were planning to brainwash students across our great country and I wanted to see if you outlined any plans like turning our health insurance into a single payor plan while turning the USA into a socialist country.
Afterall isn’t that what CHANGE you had in mind when you ran for office? Mr. President are you the puppet and Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid the puppetiers? If not, who is pulling your strings?
I really dont understand the reason for some people, that dont deserve to be mentioned, to criticize this great speech from President Obama regarding the importance of an education. This speech, not only encourages all students to pursue an education regardless of any obstacles encountered, but it also injects the reader with such a positive and hopeful view of an education. President Obama’s speech is the closest to a perfect formula to endown any student to regard his/her education a vital part of existence.
If some people have chosen to remain blind to the great truths of this speech…then so be it. It takes a great mind to recognize great speeches.
What’s all the fuss about?? Whatever the original version of this speech was, as presented here it’s an eloquent plea for kids to do their best……..nothing more. Parents who didn’t want their kids to hear it are Chicken Littles: “the sky is falling!!”. Whether you agree with Obama’s politics and actions or not, you have to say this was a good pull-yourself-up-by-your-own-bootstraps speech, admirably suited to children. Give credit where credit is due.
From the look of many of these comments, it’s a shame that they didn’t have a concerned adult open their eyes to the benefits of original thinking, making decisions based on facts and not on political agendas, learning how to learn from another’s experience and keeping their private agendas private. Are we still being run by fear and illogic? I first heard about the boycotts and anti speech movements in Texas and other states about a week ago, and I was astonished about the fear of the “socialist movement” and the underlying horror that the red menace may still lurk around the corner. Could someone please explain to me what “SOCIAL SECURITY” is?People yell and scream that it won’t be around for another generation……but don’t those nay sayers realize that this is a very positive form of socialism…..has anyone found this kind of overall consideration from capitalism? What, take away from our profits. What’s missing in our country is nonjudgmental humanity. It’s very frightening to see the hate and anger in so many Amertican’s faces lately.
I know that I benefited from President Eisenhower’s focus on education back in the 50’s and I believe that President Obama is one of the strongest points of light (per Papa Bush) to lead this country back to a sense of civility, intellectual understanding and nationalistic pride. It’s about time America was a country for all its citizens.
I’ve known from the beginning, through Divine power, that this president, is humble and honest enough to seek dilligently what God would have him to say to this country, especially the children who are our future and hope. Keep speaking President Obama, as the Spirit leads you. Haters don’t matter.
It appears that those who so glowingly praise this speech do not follow the facts. I have a feeling that few, if any realize that he was going to make a speech imploring the children to help him and support him. He had to hastily change it because of the uproar from angry parents.
Someone said that he is keeping his campaign promises. What promises? All I ever heard was ‘change’. He’s doing that all right, but i’m sure that if he had delineated what he was going to change, he’d have lost the election!!
I applaud President Obama on a job well done! Too often people are frightened of the unknown, that is why so many criticized the President for wanting to address our Nation’s children & went overboard with speculation & negative comments! I think it is a great gesture that he addressed our children. He is showing us that he truly cares for our country, because he took the time for them! They are our future! Too often, society becomes too involved in the everyday hustle & bustle of work, bill paying, commuting, just living etc. that the children often get pushed aside or responsibilites are passed onto the teachers, care-givers etc. He’s made EDUCATION a top priority & he’s making everyone aware that we all have to do our part…including the children. Yes, we can all make excuses why things don’t work, but that just means we have to work harder, strive harder & that is the message our President is relaying to our children! Instead of knocking him, we should be supporting our President for inspiring our children & for caring! To Paige & others who seem to be psychic, how do you know what the contents of his speech were going to be about? How do you know that he was going to address our children about healthcare? As for the issue on abortion Ms. Maddox… it is clear to me that our President respects our right to be free and with that right comes the freedom of choice. This is after all a Democracy we live in & nobody has the right to infringe their will on another! That is why this is the AMERICA,we love! To have an abortion is a very personal decision and sometimes a necessity to save a woman’s life. Ms. Maddox, you called him a baby killer, how dare you insult our President? It’s obvious you have no respect, not for yourself, women or the leader of our Country. You need to educate yourself, learn to express yourself without offending others or name-calling! How many babies has he killed that you think you have a right to disrespect him or anyone else for that matter? To Ms. Cavalcante, Rome wasn’t built in a day! It takes time for change! It took many years & many Presidents for our country to be in the state that it is today. It’s obvious, they were no “Honest Abes!” To blame President Obama is not only unfair but also unrealistic. As far as keeping his promises, he just became our President in January, can he have the chance to try? All Presidents make promises & it is unrealistic to believe that every single one of them kept each and every promise they made! It will take years to undo the damage that it took years to do! I am proud to be an American & it is with this pride that I keep an open mind,stay positive & support my country & our President. God Bless our President. God Bless America!
President Obama gave a nonpolitical inspirational speech encouraging our children to stay to do well in school and stay in school. I not only approve of his speech but I appreciate it. Kids really need to hear it from different sources that education is critical to getting ahead as an adult. Why don’t we all try to be more selective in making harsh criticisms and look to build or add to good efforts.
If the man who holds the office of The President of The United States of America would stop trying to make this country over in to a soviet style country then he may be able to get other things done. Also it would be very nice of him to produce his birth certificate, I might start doing some of the things that he asks us to do. I know I wont while he is unless I see one. Why is he hiding so many things from us? And yes I sent my REAL email because I am a FREE American Citizen and you will never take any thing from me or my family or my friends with a fight. I was defending our country when this snot noised little community organizer was still in high school and in middle school. I can do a better job than he is doing right now in a faucets of the job and all I did was run a nuclear bomb squad as an E-5.
Well done, Mr President! We all need know why it is important to do things well. The sooner we learn, the more we learn, the longer it lasts. And the better off everyone is, because we truly are one family!
My name is Patience Zulu, I’m from Liberia West Africa. I’m very thanksful of the fact that you believe in education most of us from Liberia olon’t want to go to school because we think that we can survve without an education as long as we are America. This is not true and i’m thanksful that your making it known that education is good for us.
The President is saying what ALL parents and family members should be sayingl. DO NOT GIVE UP! Education is one of the most important things in life and without it one may not be able to support oneself and certainly not a family. Encourage kids to put an effort into succeeding so they may become their own person, earn a decent living and help their own children if they have any. They need the encouragement to stand up and be proud and be able to excel in life. We all need that encouragement and in these times when the road is rough and sticky it’s most important to encourage and help where you can. Thank you Mr. President!
President Obama is an inspiration to us all, or at least to those who care about our country’s future. The world is changing very rapidly and that means there are many countries developing in the stream of this rapidity. This President understands that, and if we are to compete in the next decades or two, our kids better be ready for the high stakes competition that they will face. I congratulate Mr. & Mrs, Obama for being so refreshingly genuine and forward thinking, our country has been lagging behind for too long. We are more than just a fighting machine, we are also a fierce competitor in all aspect of life. Let our children shine. Rock on Mr. President.
I believe this was an excellent speech. Mr. Obama motivates students to work hard for their future and the future of this country. The speech covers most aspects in education and the people responsible for them. He also clearly face our students with honestly into what they need to do in order to succeed. We, as community need to echo his words and unify our efforts to make our students reach their potential. Congratulations President Obama your words and your actions have proven to be what America needed for a long time. Continue the good work and you can count with my support.
I am stunned that anybody would object on Obama’s words. On the other hand those are the people who take no responsibility in the education of their children and, as a matter of fact do not know what responsibility is. They waste their time in front of a TV because follow up on the kids homework, for one thing, is not in their habit and an inconvenience. Obama’s words are hurting their guilty conscience so they protest hiding behind constitutional right but forgetting the rights of their own children who, without a proper education would end up unhappy and probably jobless.
I believe the point our president was trying to make is that success in our society is a personal matter and that no one should rely on anyone but themselves to succeed. Whether you come from a one parent family or from one of great wealth, it is the individual who must work hard and study, it is the individual who must determine what their priorities will be, and it is always that individual who will determine what path they will take on their road to success or failure.
We as a nation have depended on excuses as to why we fail. I believe those same excuses should no longer be tolerated by a nation that strives to do better, that wants the best from it’s citizens and that can no longer afford to let the status quo say what is adequate and what can be tolerated in a society like the one we are now striving to build . America is being passed by countries that only a few years ago, were not even in the same league as this great country once was. Our president only asks that we take the responsibility for our success or failure and if failure is the course of action today, then tomorrow is another day and another opportunity to succeed. Let us build on the success of our today’s so that our tomorrows will better equip us for the new trials and opportunities that lie ahead.
The speech was encouraging children’s and parent’s as well. I do not see any political agenda, for those who were scared I am realy sorry fpr them. God Bless our President.
What an inspering, multivating and challaning speach to the students of this nation. I pray that the media will repeat this speach to the pertual hearing of the stuedents of this nation.
I wish students, teachers and parents will see this speach from the positive point of view, becouse it has nothing to do with politics.
I have heard so many negative reports from some of the media. I am happy to say I found his comments inspiring and hope the children were listening, the message is great.
I THINK THAT JUDGING OUR PRESIDENT BEFORE HE EVEN MAKES THE SPEECH IS CRAZY. IT IS WHITE AMERCIA’S, ANTI-CHRIST, & CLOSE MINDED PEOPLE’S WAY OF TRYING TO CONTROL A BLACK PRESIDENT. YOU SEE THEY ALREADY HAVE OPRAH WINFREY ON A STRING AND SHE CATERS TO THAT AMERICA. YET HER SOUL WILL BE LOST IF SHE DOES NOT REPENT…MONEY, FAME, POWER.. PROFITS WHAT???? BACK TO THE ISSUE AT HAND. IF THE PRESDIENT WANTS TO ENCOURAGE STUDENTS AND TELL THEM TO REMAIN IN SCHOOL IN SPITE OF TRIALS OR HARDS TIMES, ETC, AND USE HIS OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, AT THE END OF THE DAY IT’S TRUE, THEY SHOULD REMAIN IN SCHOOL…. WHY WOULD SOMEONE NOT WANT OUR STUDENTS TO BE ENCOURAGED. THAT’S IS WHAT’S WRONG NOW.. CHILDREN NEED GUIDANCE, WITHOUT IT AND LEFT TO THEMSELF THEY CME TO RUIN, SHOOT UP SCHOOLS, DROP OUT, ETC. I SAY GO OBAMA…GO.. BLACK AMERICA HAS YOUR BACK….
It was a good speech, but not necessary. It is a parent’s job to instill these words of wisdom and responsibility into their children..not our president’s job!. I feel this president steps over the boundaries time after time. Please stay out of our personal lives , Mr. President. Last time I checked we were still living in America and not Cuba or Venesuela, where their leaders indoctrinate and propagandize their citizens on the airwaves …..
Great Speech! It inspired me and I’m a 66 year old college graduate. Obama at his best! The outlandish objections and hate speech requires these Americans to consider some needed introspection.Their thinking is warped.
Very, Very Powerful and inspiring speech to students. I got a chance to learn his own story too.
We all are with you.God bless America.
I am not an Obama fan. Naturally I was anxious to see what all the fuss was about with this speech. I think it was just terrific! I am for the first time, impressed with something he did!!! It was just great of him to attempt to instill some resonsibility in our children. He did good!
I think the speach was great, but without the passing of the budget all of the students will suffer. There will be no educators and none of the federal funded programs will be used. This will hurt the future of these students and I hope it is fixed immediately.
Very good speech and there are a lot of students who need to hear this message from President Obama!. THANK GOD FOR GIVING US SUCH A WONDERFUL PRESIDENT WHO SHARES HIS CHILDHOOD HARDSHIP.
GOOD JOB MR PRESIDENT …. AMERICA IS VERY LUCKY TO HAVE YOU AS PRESIDENT …..
I think that President Obama speech was very good, and inspiring for our children, I feel sorry for those parents that are teaching their children not to listen to someone who is trying to help them not hurt them. The handfull of people that did not want their children to hear a encouraging speech from the highest office in the country need to listen to someone, keep up the good work and may God continue to bless you and your family.
It’s a shame that we have so much negativity and racism in our society. Our children needs all the positive encouragement that they can get. If the parents were more successful in encouraging their children and allowing others no matter what race, especially the President of the United States, to be a positive role model, then we would not have so much crime and drugs controlling the world today. They might act on and believe that education is a necessary survival tool in the world today
I respect the Obama, because he supports youth in pursuit of educational growth. My father did not consistantly support me in attaining my education. Fathers like Obama are a blessing…I pray for Barack Obama’s continued success.
I have to say, I did not vote for Mr. Obama, so I am not for everything that he stands for – but I found his speech to be very inspiring & I believe he may have hit home to many of the students listening to him… he talked about things they could relate to, he was very real and down to earth- he spoke on their level- using examples like Harry Potter author;etc. I agree with the things he said in his speech and think it was about time to hear a president speak to the young people of America the way he did today – God bless the children and God bless America
BULL BULL BULL, GET TO WORK AND HELP US PEOPLE. WE ARE LOSING JOBS AND HOMES
AND MOST OF ALL OUR HEALTH CARE. DO YOU REALLY THINK GOING TO SCHOOLS IS GOING
TO FEED ANYONE NOW OR PAY OUR HOUSE PAYMENTS OR GET US A JOB. BUT TRYING TO
KILL OFF GRANDMA WITH YOUR LOUSY HEALTH CARE IS A BIT TOO MUCH. TRY KILLING MY
MOTHER AND FATHER AND WHAT IS IN YOUR MIND I DO NOT KNOW. LEAVE US ALONE. GO BACK
WHERE YOU CAME FROM. YOU MAKE A MESS OUT OF THE NAME PRESIDENT. LEAVE OUR
HEALTH CARE ALONE. GET THESE ILLEGALS OUT OF HERE AND LET THE PEOPLE WHO WORK
HERE AND PAY SS GET THE HEALTH CARE THEY NEED. SOME JOKE PLAYING WITH THE KIDS TO
TRY AND GET US TO FORGET YOUR TRYING TO KILL US. YOUR A BIG FAKE.
I think the speech was excellent. I was really moved and impressed with everything he said. I fail to see how a motivational speech on striving for excellence in education can be misconstrued as political and as a way to indoctrinate students. This is absolutely absurd. Those causing this uproar should be ashamed of themselves. They will stop at nothing to oppose Pres. Obama and to promote their own agendas, divisions, hatred and fear. This country is looking more and more foolish to the rest of the world. How can we consider ourselves to be world leaders and examples for the rest of the world when we continually set such a poor examples to our own children.
PRESIDENT, PLEASE DONT GET DISCOURAGE KEEP THE FAITH, HOLD YOUR HEAD HIGH AND CONTINUE TO AIM HIGH, YOU ARE HUMAN ,YOU WILL MAKE MISSTAKES WHAT EVER THE SPEECH WAS GOING TO BE , IT WAS CORRECTED I THOUGHT IT WAS WONDERFUL SO DID MY KIDS AND NEIGHBORS, BUSCH AND CLINTON MADE SO MANY MISSTAKES AND WE ALL LIVE WITH THAT HOPE THAT SOMEDAY AT LEAST A THIRD OF THEM WILL GET CORRECTED, WE ALL HAVE TO DO A JOB IN AMERICA A LONG WITH YOU , NO MAN OR WOMAN CAN DO ANY OF THESE THINGS IN AMERICA ALONE STARTING WITHIN OUR HOMES FIRST LOVE SHOULD BE TAUGHT AND RESPECT FOR ALL MAN KIND, THEN WE THE PEOPLE CAN HELP OUR NEIGHBORS AND REBUILD OUR COMMUNITIES AND LOOK FOR CHANGE IN OUR BROKEN WORLD , I LOVE ALL OF OUR PRESIDENTS AND WISH THEM ALL MUCH SUCCESS.
Nice speech. It covered all the basics. Apparently this is not the speech he intended to write originally. News coverage indicated he intended to have students reflect on what they could do for him. This is what caused all the uproar. If I were cynical it might occur to me that his original direction was used to secure the limelight for his speech and then to back of the more offensive ideas making those that opposed him look reactionary or paranoid. I might also wonder if my luke warm analysis might get me reported to some government website as suggested by one of his appointed officials. But then, I’m not cynical.
As a teacher for 49 years, I simply do not understand all the uproar! Apparently, nobody knows their history! President Obama is not the first president to speak to all American students. In this day and age, I can speak from experience, students need all the encouragement they can possibly get from public figures. With the obstacles our President has climbed over to achieve what he has done should speak volumes to the general public. Unfortunately, to many people pre-judge (that’s what prejudice is) and try to pull down by any means, including ignorant statements, anyone that has succeeded where they or their peers have failed. I am so proud of the President-he is walking through a land mine with his head held high!!!
Bravo! Thank you for supporting EDUCATION!
I am a teacher that love her job. I have students and parents that ned to hear that education is still important. Reading is not optional, is necessary to improve vocabulary and learn.
Thank you for helping our children, our parents, our schools and our country.
Thank you!
I read the speech in advance and heard the President deliver the speech. I hope my grandchidren in NC were able to hear it. Now we know how hate and racial animosity stays alive. It is taught to them by the adults who are the example. Those school administrators and parents who objected were the examples. Teaching children to disrespect the President of the country they swear to love. The next generation no one will be able to teach. God Bless them.
I think it was great…. i dont see no probleming with the president’t speech…..he gave the best advise to our children…….
A WONDERFUL SPREECH well done, You are the man you did something that no one else ever did you got to people hearts you are the best in my book, I know that you got to clean up the mess bush left you it might take a year or so you the man you can do no matter what no one says Y ou are our President and theirs wether they want it or not, you give a speech to them about education because they dont have any that’s why they don’t want you to tell the speech to their children, they dont want their kids to ask the question why haven’t you told me this before that’s why they didn’t want thier kids to hear it, I feel sorry for thier kids I really do, anyway you are our President, and we love you Obama keep up the good work. God Bless you and your familey I will keep you and your familey in my prayers love you God Bless you.
I have watched the president from the time before he ran for the office. What he thinks about children I find hard to believe. His stance on abortion even after the child survived an attempted abortion is to me far beyond horrible. Not to mention his quick change of mind and wavering resolve on almost every matter. I am not fickled and neither should be the president of the United States. a simple speech to children whom at a earlier period {just prior to their birth} he would have not even batted an eyelash after the killing off of thier helpless bodies. Where are THEY now? Why are they not being addresed by an american president on tv? Historically it is abortion first and euthanasia next. Yes a slippery slope indeed. Yes I must have forgotten he is a christian-one that doesn’t even acknowlege the national day of prayer, on the contrary, He devotes an entire month of June to the homosexuals of all types and varieties.If he, the president uses the bible as a refrence source what bible is he referring to? Time will coninue and so will it’s revelations. Slippery slopes are hard to climb. Aren’t they?
President OBama. THANK YOU FOR A WONDERFUL SPEECH AND ENCOURAGEMENT FOR THE NATION WE ALL NEEDED TO HEAR THAT SPEECH TO BE A BETTER PERSON AND TO MAKE GOOD JUDGEMENT.
GOD BLESS OUR PRESIDENT AND FAMILY AND OUR NATION.
Dear Mr.President,
A speech on Education, to the Children of todays world, need this more dearly than any of us need H2O to survive. Thank you, my son & my family read it to understand the depth and seriousness in which you have conveyed the message. We do advise our son, on a regular basis of what you have pretty much said today. I am so happy you have addressed the nation and called the attention of all children to understand that eucation is not a gift but an achievement. Your own personal story was very effective and touching.
I hope the parents don’t make Education into politics, its a social issue. Its only lack of Education can one call, your speech on education …”infusing Socialism”,”Brainwash”, and “indoctrination”. For such parents our empathy.
Education is a necessity,food for brain and thought, failing which a human seizes to exists. We are all dearly humbled by your excellent speech.
It’s an important and powerful message and one that needs to be repeated. It is a disgrace that this was politicized by Republicans for their own purpose of sabatoging this president–even at the expense of our children!!!!
Well, well, well. And what do the loonies who railed against this speech and kept their children home so they wouldn’t hear it have to say now? What an inspiring, kind, and supportive address to our nation’s children. President Obama allows me to feel the pride in this country that, for so long, was languishing in my distress for all of us. Those of you who responded with the same sour grapes you always put forth, I feel sorry for your inability to appreciate something and someone good. Thank you, President Obama; I hope our nation’s children have had a chance to hear you.
An inspired and inspiring speech. I was deeply moved. To say Obama furthered some personal agenda by this speech betrays a vested interest or bias in the accuser. This country has suffered greatly from a lack of ethics by the “haves” who have furthered their own interests at the expense of the “have-nots” and the middle class that they’re turning into “have-nots”. The president has reminded all of us that we can advance ourselves individually as well as collectively with knowledge and training. We need not be dependent on those who have only their own interests, usually excessive greed, as their motivation. And parroting the biases of the self-intersted does not make for intelligent debate.
I can’t remember when a President addressed school children directly, how refreshing.. how innovative and inspiring., leading by example ! Priceless !
I do not see what all the controversy was about. The speech was great and I’m glad he took time to speak with the children (students) just as he did with adults, they needed to hear it and maybe the dropout rate will decrease. I’ve never known for a president to speak directly to the children. With him being a parent of young children, I’m pretty sure his children get the same speech on a regular basis, so no, I don’t feel this speech had anything to do with politics, just a concerned parent and president. I appreciate him and think he is doing a great job. Thanks Mr. President!!!
This was a great speech, however this is a very different speech then what the president originally was going to deliver. It was the loud outcry from conservative parents and political figures that made them change it. I wouldn’t let my children ever hear a speech from President Obama that I have not heard first. He is a great speaker and can make some of the worst ideas and agendas sounds great to those who don’t listen with a discerning ear….obviously, that’s why he got elected. Anyways, hopefully people will look at how he handles this term and think twice before electing him again. With that being said, we should all respect and pray for our president, no matter whose’s in office; because it’s a tough and stressful job…and ultimately we, as a nation, decided who’s going to be the president.
Thank you Mr. President!!! Your words shall take root in the minds and hearts of our children for they are God given whether the writer (be it you or your staff) knows it or not! Our children are the future of this great country and definitely need positive reinforcements as to their place in it and most of all FOR IT. God Bless you and your family and please, GOD BLESS AMERICA!
I think it’s a magnificent speech, and that is neither knee jerk rhetoric nor hero worship. When I was going to junior high school, I excelled in science, literature and art, but flunked algebra. I tried, but simply could not understand how algebra would be of practical value when I was part of the adult workforce. I couldn’t find a motivation. I had the same problem with Latin, though I love languages. But I couldn’t see how Latin would help my career. Since then I have run into numerous occasions when better knowledge of mathematics, algebra and trigonometry would have helped me to excel. And don’t get me started about not knowing Latin. I really needed it to understand English, not to mention poetry. It is a great language of the soul. I suffered for lack of it time and time again.
Which leads me to President Obama’s speech. Firstly, it actually addresses the true concerns of real kids — “why do we have to learn this stuff”? Secondly, it is personal. From a President of the United States. Wow. I’d have been thoughtful for weeks about hearing such a speech when I was a student in grade school. My mother would have been weeping from relief. I think people should consider what their children really need to hear to INSPIRE them to do better in church and school and to carry a shield of the principles of ethics, service and decency into the workforce with them rather than the cutthroat one-upmanship, neglect, apartheid and subterfuge they’ve been learning. And I think the President knows that and it is reflected in his speech. I say critics should listen again from the point of view of a child who needs to hear it.
I think that Obama’s speech was a good one, however, I think that parts of his speech were a little bit over the younger children’s heads. That being said, I am in no way a Democrat. I am one of the Republican Conservatists most of the comments are aimed at. Like others who posted have said, the Democrats can dish it out, but they can’t take it”. We’ve been called right-wing terrorists, stupid, ignorant and a**holes by left-wing Democrats. But, God-forbid we should call you all anything but Democrats, you go nuts!! You can’t have it both ways. What ever happened to freedom of speech? As well, to the Admin, no one ever applauded Laura Bush’s involvement with our education system and her and President Bush’s “No Child Left Behind” agenda. She was and will always be the classiest First Lady I have ever met, and of course she’s not going to bad-mouth Obama. She has more class than that!!!
When I was in elementary school in Birmingham,Alabama. My family didn’t have much so I met a new Principal (Mr. Windham) he spoke some of the same words as President Obama. He inspired me because I saw a Black Man who was trying to inspire his poor black students. Because of him I attended College and ended up with a terrific familuy. RIGHT ON, MR. PRESIDENT. I’M AN OLD MAN NOW AND YOU’VE INSPIRED ME. I am GOING TO READ THIS SPEECH TO MY TWO YOUNG (6 AND 8 YEARS OLD),
Reading this speech I had a lot of things going through my mind all of which were positive. I am a 38 year old white femail who lives with a 52 year old black man who treats me and my children better than anyone we have ever been involved with before.my childrens father left us when my son was 3 and my baby was only 4 months old and when my baby was 3 this man came into our lives and tryed to help me teach my son that school was important. My son has been diagnosed as ADHD which means he is very smart with alot of energy that he has problems figuring out how to use the best way. so going to school for him he stayed in trouble and when he came home and used our past against us our children were taken from us by the state of Michigan.now the fight to get them back is very overcomming we could realy use some help from our president with situation. we now have our son understanding that the situation is messed up and now hes doing good in school but if he would have heard this speech in the beginning maybe we wouldnt be struggling the way we are now.it was all about my son and school.I don’t think anyone should look at this speech as a color thing or political thing because all I read in hear was encouragement for our future and I think it pertained to exactly what it was suppose to . for the record I’d like to say not only did I vote for all of Obama’s party I also talked my fiance into voting which this was the first election he had ever voted in and he voted for Obama too, we have great beliefe in what he can do and our proude to call him our President. I’d like to say good bless all who reads my message and our president and his family too.
Great speech! and I wouldn’t care who it was coming from – as long as we put our children first. I live in California and whenever there is a budget crisis –our Govenor – The Terminator – cuts from education…..so when there is positive encouragement to our children, I’m all for it. I’ve heard many people say, they don’t want the president encouraging their kids to stay in school and education is important because they already know this—Well good for them and thank God they have parents who are concerned about their education but there are a lot of kids in the world who never hear an encouraging word from anyone. So if your child doesn’t need the Presidents encouragement – Shut Up and let those who do, HEAR IT!! It took George Bush 8 years to screw up the country—Give Pres. Obama at least 4 to straighten it out!!!
I think Obama made an excellent speech as a kick off for students going back to school. It was positive and uplifting. I think the real problem that people have ( some white people) is that Obama like most blacks don’t fit their idea or concept of what a black person is supposed to be… And they have a problem with their children taking advice from a Black man.
I thought the President’s speech was wonderful. I think he truly cares for our country and all its young people.
God Bless Him and God Bless America.
I don’t agree with the President’s handling of the economy or the Health Care/Insurance Issue but I cannot see anything wrong with what he has said here. If anything this is something that should have been said long ago and in some way it was said by another President at his inauguration when President Kennedy said “Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country”.
THANK YOU Mr. President Oh my Goodness I wish my grandmother was here to hear this. Fantastic This is a wake up everybody speech education is sooooo very important. Heal the world educate yourselves people. Get Your life right.
WAKE UP EVERYBODY NO MORE SLEEPING IN BED NO MORE BACKWARD THINKIN TIME FOR THINKING AHEAD…….. T. Pendergrass
Thank You Mr. President. I think that your speech today was very INSPIRING and it is exactly what children today need to hear.
As to those conservative “HATERS” It is time for you to accept him as the leader of our nation and stop raising controversies over just about everything that he tries to do. Obama has been in office for 6 months people!!! Let’s remember it took Bush 8 years to get us into this mess. Our problems will not go away in 6 months or in 4 years. Get a grip! Let’s work together as a United Nation so that our children can have a better future.
Frankly I don’t see what there’s a fuss about this speech, it’s really good and harmless in the contrary I think that student need to hear more speech like, I know that it Help me because tonight I was planing n ditching my homeworks again. But the speech gave me the little boost I was missing tonight.
I will support obama’s health care plane this is some thing necessary for our nations health care and economy
and I will support obama all the way to the end.
Thank God for a president who wishes to help us all, young old. Big business could help as well if they were less invested in making a profit, and more invested in meeting societies needs. Sometimes the more you give the more you’ll recieve. This president is obviously giving his all! Those of you who were against his speaking to the nations young should really re-evaluate what it is to be an AMERICAN. This is one nation. We did did not become one nation in order to tear one another apart, the goal is to share each others strengths, to help one another, and to nurture one another. What is in the past will always be part of the past but lets not repeat the mistakes of the past. He who does the same thing expecting different results is not a wise man. Lets let this nation grow into adulthood without experiencing the hard lessons learned the way we all learned them in the past. And those who did not learn those lessons …. watch and let the leaders lead….maybe then you to can learn something, and maybe then one day, you too can lead.
I have listened to president Obama’s speech many times. I really enjoy all of his speeches, because
he is smart and articulates his thoughts so well. He is the kind of person that you can trust more than any other politician.
I’m 54 and getting ready for the education I will need regardless of retirement. I thought that it was the right thing to say for children, educators, seniors, President Obama’s wife and children, and especially for me. The best thing about life at anyplace or anytime is to hear someone speak the truth. There is no adjective or synonym for this word. It is like a world on its own and means everything to all life on the planet. Thank-you President Obamma. Where were you when I was in 1st. grade? Oh yes, you were not yet born. I guess some people have all the luck. Like America now.
Mr. Obama’s speech is a great speech and there is nothing political about it. Personally, I do not see anything wrong about telling a child to stay in school because most people with common sense know that one could not possibly do anything without education nowadays. Hence, if someone thinks that advising a child to stay in school no matter what would hurt that child, then that person has a serious skin color issue. The speech makes so much sense that I and I believe that most intelligent people would not see any fault about it. It is just a pity that in a great country like this, there are still people who can just see pass a human skin color. Let no one foul you. According to history, other presidents had given speeches similar to Mr. Obama’s by addressing other social issues and no one criticized them like they doing to Mr. Obama. They are criticizing the speech not because it is political or because Mr. Obama is a democrat. They are criticizing the speech simply because Mr. Obama is black. Nothing is wrong about criticizing someone or something. However, if you do criticize, please do it intelligently.
I hope the best this country.
Mr President,your speech was not just inspiring to me, my twins ,and even people outside the country asking me to send am email attaching the speech so they can use for their school district in their countries both in Europe and Asian countries. We are proud to have you as a president. I voted republicans over and over, but am surprised the way they are persistently trying to divide this great nation!!! shame on them. I may not agree with all your views cos i dont even agree with my pastor all the time or my Dad,but i do know you are doing an awesome job in comparison to the state of the country when you came in.
Thanks Mr Obama
God bless you and bless America!!!
It was a good motivational speech for the students to hear.
Parents that requested that their children not hear the speech did so because they have realized that this man cannot be trusted to say and do what he originally states that he intends to do. It was a good speech but I can understand parents not wanting their kids to hear it before they had the chance to hear it themselves. Actions speak louder than words and his actions leave a lot to be desired. If he is so great why are his approval ratings so low?
This is a wonderful specch of encouragement to our youth. It is SAD that those who don’t like the President are trying so hard to disagree with everything he does. Our children are dropping in the world ranking in education and this speech was something EVERY student should have heard. Obama IS our President, let’s show him the resppect this Great Leader deserves.
I must add to my post..when it was originally announced that BO was going to address the children at school, his agenda also included a list of questions that the teachers were to ask the kids after the speech. It also include an assisnment program for the kids, i.e., writing letters to themselves on how they could help the president and setting goals for helping the president. BO has taken over the largest financial institutes and failed. He has taken over the auto industry and failed. He’s trying to take over the health industry and, no doubt, if he does he will fail. It sounded like he wanted to take over the education of our children. It sounded like a way to indoctrinate our children. Evidently, he changed what he originally intended to say and request of the kids. As I said in my previous post, this may cannon be trusted to say and do what he says he intends to do. I still have no respect for him.
I am not a supporter of Obama. I did not vote for him. But I read the speech and I like it. What wrong with encouraging school children to strive for their best? What’s the big deal?
Obama means well for this country and we the unbiased Americans see and acknowledge his good moves. His speech to wake up indulgent school pupils must not be politicized by vulnerables among us induced by dirty politics. When Repulican chooses to attack everything our president does, it make s itself a foolish party.
America will move to back seat of democracy with insessant witch hunting of any good thing Obama does by irate Republicans- A note of caution; do not throw democratic divident our country acquired over centuries to the wind because a man you least expected to be there got there by dinct of hard work. Americans do not destroy their best, they build them no matter their political leaning. That’s what makes us the world leader.
To Alma Maddox. To quote BarneyFrank, “What planet have you been living on?” Both liberals and conservatives legalized abortion. It is not a crime, for your information. It is a choice, and that is what makes this country great, the freedom to choose. If you think aborting your zigot is wrong, so be it. That is your moral choice. Engaging in hyperbole about how much better you are than those who believe in abortion is ignorant. You are no better than anyone else. I, personally, would have a hard time having an abortion because of my Catholic background, but I would never judge or condemn someone else who has one. It is their legal right. People who glam on to an issue like this with so much fervor don’t have much else going on in their life. Abortion is a legal right in this country. That’s it. Get over it.
I applaud his speech, alot of kids do need to hear this speech, i wish my children had heard this speech, I had a hard time trying to get my children to stay in school and finish and today i wish they had! They really dont realize what they are missing to better themselves and the world around them. At least until they have children and struggle the rest of their lives, then they wished they had listened, im not saying it is too late for my kids because im constantly pushing them to go finish what was started. It is hard to lecture my children about going back to school and make a good life for themselves because i only recieved a G.E.D and didnt do much with my education, but it is hard when you have to work hard just to put food on the table, but today there are more options to do both. I dont understand why anyone would be against this speech, it is to help our children and the future of everyone. So i commend you Mr President !!! Thank you for giving our children the inspiration they need
i have allways thought of Mrs bush as a very classey lady Once again she showed her class speaking out even if it offended many of those in her own party.If this country is to rise up to it great promise sanity and
reason must prevail Congratulations Mrs Bush for being a real american
Excellent speech….great words of wisdom and encouragement..wonderful examples…positive, powerful, down to earth advice. Any student reading this should feel motivated enough to make a change in their life. I know President Obama will touch many lives with this speech, job well done!! ……Students, wake up and take charge of your life and make a difference in this world…a positive and remarkable difference so that those after you can benefit from it and those around you can be encouraged and motivated by your positive example. If President Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, and the many others that President Obama mentioned in his speech can do it, so can you! Be a LEADER and not a follower….and, in everything you do, always remember to put the Lord first and always, always, remember to give him the praise and the honor regardless of what is going on in your life at the time. God’s blessings to you all throughout this school year!
I don’t see why people were making such a big deal about the President adressing education at our kids.Lord,knows we need all the help we can get with pushing kids especially our teens to get their education.Whats wrong America is’nt that what what every American parent wants.I know i do.I appreciate the encouragement given to my kids.I was a teen mother that did’nt get her education that had 4 terrific daughter.Believe me i pushed and pushed mine.3 adult daughters all educated even went to colledge and my youngest which is 16 is doing very well in her junior yr. I consider myself very lucky.I’m a very Proud American,and i’ve made it my lifes mission to raise my kids with respect,integredy,honesty,and hard workers.Education is the key to a succesfull life.So why would anybody have a problem with somebody talking to you’re kids about staying in school no matter how hard our struggles are or will get.America you want your kids to stay out of drugs,gangs and jail then we need to push our kids.And all those that come into this country illegally you should fix your freaking papers and get your kids educated so they don’t have to live off welfare.Its to easy for alot of people to get goverment assistance just because they won’t work Don’t let your kids grow up to be one of those.Respect,honesty,integrety and hard work is what our country is all about.Be Proud to be an American teach your kids strong American values.
okay, I don’t know what all the fuzz is about, it’s basically the same speech alot of parents tell their children. To stay in school, no matter what happens you have to stick it out. Now I don’t see anything wrong with saying something to the kids, maybe this time they will listen. Since it’s coming from the president and all. Anyways I just have to say ” that this was one good speech and i wished some other presidents would have done the same”. Why is everyone so mad at what he had to say, cause your kids decided to listen to someone other than you, well at least they are listening to some one. I have 3 beautiful daughters who say alot about all this political things and i myself am not political, but kids will grow up and change, and they might not be what you want them to be but at least they will be something rather than nothing and if they hear the ” Stay in school speech” from the president then so be it. Nothing to throw a big fuzz over, it’s not going to end the love your child has for you or make them drop out of school. It may actually encourage them to stay in school, go to college and just maybe, take care of you in the end. You never now where life is going to lead them but at least they have their education to fall back on.
Im 47yrs old…this is the speech I needed when I was in school..great job Obama! you are the best President this country has had in a very long time .
Dear MR. PRESIDENT. That was a great speech but I have always wanted to write you a little letter from my heart. I am a single mom with two young boys and a baby on the way and all I want to do right now is get into housing but they dont except me because of my background that happened like 6 yrs ago. That is so wrong and they be putting people up in housing that dont even deserve it. So what I am asking of you is can you change the housing thing in OMAHA,NE? Thank you for your time. ANNA SHAW
It is incomprehensible that people who claim to be patriotic and love America, could find fault with the president of the United States encouraging our youth to never give up on themselves and make a contribution for their future and the future of our way of life. President Obama’s speech was completely apolitical in my view, unless you believe encouraging respect for yourself, your teachers, your parents, and your country is a left wing message. If it is, then my Republican party has a lot more to worry about than the losses in the last election. Thumbs up President Obama for addressing what is possibly the most critical issue in this country, educating our future citizens.
Dear Mr. President Obama,
Your speech was an excellent one. It is a sad commentary in this day and time that parents are still teaching their children blantant ignorant behavior. So what even if you did ask the children for their help, it could have only ben an objective of implementing “higher order thinking” which is a core objective in writing and analyzing a written text.
I cannot believe even some educators wolud not take this opportunity as a “teacheable moment”, but instead opted not to show the speech to their classes and by the way some “educators” didn’t dhow up for school!
What kind of message do you really think we as adults sent those kids on Tuesday? As educators/parents, we still would have had to explain “indoctrinate” to most of our children and maybe even some high school students as well as some parents. People heard that word and just caught it by the tail and ran with it.
They had no idea of what it meant…..having said that, wouldn’t it stand to reason that if there was anything in that speech that wasn’t conducive to what a parent wanted their children to hear, wouldn’t you as an intelligent family make notes and then after the speech, review with your children your belief systems and family values?
That would have truly been a teacheable moment. Then your child could have learn deductible reasoning and problem solving skills in a family setting. There is always a positive way to convey even a negative connotation of one sees the desire to do so…..but to send a message to your children at this junction to deny them the opportunity to hear the President of The United States is uncomprehensible. I am truly at a loss for words.
CJ/Houston
I believe President Obama is a very compassionate man including the 1st lady MIchelle. I don’t believe there is a self serving bone in his body. He has served the people well in the past. His record speaks for itself. It’s wonderful to see the first family act as normal people, not a bunch of stuffed shirts as in the past. My family and I are with you Mr. President! We love you and your family. You are always in my nightly prayer.
Respecfully,
Estervina Giacchina
Your speech was really good I dont know why alot of people around the us are all mad about what you have to say. my 1st grader doesnt know whats going on but he does know who you are. the speech was fine as a parent, presendt good lecture they need it. like you said if they dont have someone to look to maybe what you said can give them senses.
Great SPEECH!!. I only wish my daughter could have heard or read this speech. She is 19 and pregnant and living on the streets. She calls when she is able to borrow someone’s cell phone. She dropped out of school in the 9th grade despite all of the encouragement that me, her father, teachers, and counselors would give. I believe that if she could have heard this president’s speech, she might have stayed in school, because President Obama covered every area that she would always mention as a reason not to stay in school. Of course, she was abdopted and she did’nt have many friend, but we would always say that these were not good reasons to not do your best in school and receive your high school diploma, but she ditch classes, hang with the wrong friends, and fuss at anyone who tried to direct her in the right direction. Now, she has just turned 19, pregnant, has not had any prenatal care and homeless, living on the streets in Mississippi. Because of her attitude, she has burned down every bridge that has been offered to her. She cannot get a job because she is turned down because of lack of a high school diploma or G.E.D. as well as a permanent address. She calls me and states that she wish she had really listen and if she would have listen then her life would have turned out different. I tell her that her life can still be changed if she would only find a place and stay put and to get her high school diploma. If not for herself, but for the baby she is carrying. So, I applaude the President in his speech to encourage the children of America to stay in school and become a better citizen in America. Be one who builds up the country and not tear it down, be one that gives to the country and take from the country. Be as President Kennedy stated in his speech “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” GREAT SPEECH, PRESIDENT OBAMA, and may God continue to bless your presidency, your wife, and family as well as all those who are in your cabinet during his term as president.
MAY GOD BLESS AMERICA AND ALL OF ITS PEOPLE.
Wonderful speech, very encouraging, this is what students need to heard over and over again. I hope they let my son hear this at his middle school. I don’t understand what is the big FUZZ about this speech that I heard among other relegions, educators or what ever groups that you are in. At the end it is word of encouraging, the more the better specially in this society. Good Speech Mr. President.
I heard all the comments being made on radio about the speech the president of these here United States made
aimed at our young people. Could some of the negative commentators ever believe that there are scores of
young people out there who may not have a responsible adult that would take the time to tell them these things
to encourage them and set fire to their future endeavours. And most of all I would like to comment on all these
disrespect of addressing our president with none other than the title he has been appointed to and that is to me
president Obama and to you Mr. president Obama nothing less.
Thie Presidents speech was just fine. I thought he touched on all the important points that the children need to here. I did not see anything that was political at all. Hey folks, it’s that time of year, so you have to expect that no matter who the President is, they would have given the same speech as well. I mean, come on, the school year has begun. Those people who are always looking for a hidden agenda, GET OVER YOURSELF. Just be glad that we have a President that wants the best for our kids. Great speech writing, I wonder who wrote it?
This is a good speech. No orther president or president before him had time to have a real speech on education but the had time and money to spend on WARS for no good reason.The only people who are complaining are races.this is an insipring speech the childern loved it and so do I.
I wish everyone would separate their own political agenda’s and desires and focus only on the topic at hand, which is education. This isn’t a forum for everyone’s agenda.
This speech was inspiring and well written. He had a lot of valid points and is very motivating in his words. It is in the best interest of everyone and our country to get educated, problem is, it’s very expensive and for the general population who aren’t the scholarship winners to afford a College Degree. Therein lies the problem. You can motivate everyone as much as you can, but when push comes to shove… College is too expensive for many people in the United States, and those students who get financial aid, will be paying it off way into their forties. I hope somewhere in the future, Obama will focus on that aspect of Education as well.
I think he used to media to further himself. His message to school children was not “earthshaking” and lacked luster, and for kids of today he was too serious in his approach —- not the subject matter. I do think that children today want to hear what the President has to say to them.
I think it is a good thing that he is trying to reach out to the youth of the country. Really, he’s just trying to help things for this country in the long run.
Alma Maddox,you say that Obama is a baby killer.Well what do you think Bush is, a savior?! Bush has gotten many of citizens killed, all behind some hidden agenda. But he deserves praise, huh? Come to your humanities MAD-dox!!!
Yes, we are all entitled to our opinion. But he is the man with the upper-hand. He is the one in charge right now. Be grateful that he is concerned about our children, first. You all that are criticizing him seem to be a bit too concerned about how enhanced his speech was. Maybe less criticizing him and focus on your children and how the speech may have motivated them, Hmmm???!!!
I am SSSOOOO tired of everyone criticizing Obama for not being able to put the pieces of our crumbling country back together in just a few short months after EIGHT tedious years of Bush destroying it. You should be ASHAMED of yourself if you can’t understand where the fault lies in this continuous fight for correction that Obama is so challenged to fix. This man is telling these young children where they should focus their lives on, motivating them in the right direction for success, and all these ignorant Americans can do is complain about what he hasn’t done yet. Well it is time that America take some responsibility for their own actions and realize that they put an obstructer in the White House for eight gruesome long years that they can’t blame anyone else for doing but themselves. Obama has only begun his term as our new president. We should all be down on our knees thanking God that we finally have someone who is looking out for us, telling our kids to strive toward their dreams, instead of putting our economy in shambles and making it the hardest time in decades to live in this country. Get a clue Janice Cavalcante, J.L. Smith, ALMA MADDOX, and all you other criticizers who seem to have forgotten where the real blame lies here. Go back to school.Your eighth grade comments only interprets just how primitive you’ve allowed yourself to be. Maybe if we had more presidents like Obama teaching our children fact from fiction, we wouldn’t be in this crucial circumstance today. You’re confusing the importance of the speech with unnecessary judgments. I am looking forward to what Obama can do to reverse the ruins of our nation. I will encourage children to look up to him for inspiration. So far he has done more in ten months than the whole ridiculous eight years Bush was in office. Show some respect; he IS our president.
I am a lifelong Republican, I did not vote for Obama, I am livid about the amount of money spent on the “Stimulus Bill” (most of which will not stimulate the economy where jobs were lost), and I oppose the way the President wants to reform health care and spend another $1 trillion to do so (which WILL entail new taxes on middle and low income families that he promised not to raise).
HOWEVER, the hullabaloo over this speech is just DUMB! The President said nothing that could be offensive (work hard, stay in school, don’t let your family or your country down). Past Republican Presidents and Secretaries of Education have given such speeches and I can see nothing wrong with it. In fact, it makes me so angry when Conservatives in my party object to everything and make the party look so anti-Obama or anti-Democrat seemingly just for the sake of being contrary. In my mind, there are plenty of real issues to criticize the President about and this kind of petty criticism just detracts from the more serious issues at hand.
When i finish to hear your message i had nothing else to think than my fathers advises.I can say that he pass away but your message revive him.Your messaGE IS NOT ONLY FOR STUDENTS BUT ALSO FOR THE WORLD ENTIRE.oBAMA MY FATHER, I LOVE YOU.DO YOUR JOB gOD IS WITH YOU.