Obama's Speech To Children

[anthony]

This just made me smile. We got here on the news how some parents wanted to vet what the president was going to say to their children, blah blah... honestly... what do you think he would say? The man is genuine.

The BBC News website asked one audience member - 11-year-old Claire O'Donnell - to write about the speech.

I was sitting in my fifth period class when I saw President Obama come on the screen.

As soon as we saw him the class started clapping. Not everyone, but almost everyone.

He started off smiling, which I think is the best way to start anything. I noticed that all eyes were glued to the screen and everyone was listening.

I liked it when he said: "Everyone has something they are good at." That is true. If it is math, art or sports - everyone has something they can do well.

He also talked about how you need an education to get a good job. I agree with him on that. When I grow up, I want to be a conservationist. To be a conservationist I have to be good at science and math. How do I get good at that? By working hard at school and getting a good education.

I liked the way he talked about previous generations and how our generation will affect the future.

When he concluded his speech we all clapped again, but this time it was louder. The few kids that had not clapped at the beginning were clapping.

Afterwards I talked to my friends. One of them thought that he was a bit too demanding in saying that you "had" to get an education and "had" to remain in school.

However, another friend appreciated that President Obama was directing this speech towards kids. I thought that he could have directed it even more towards kids. At times it seemed like a normal speech directed towards adults.

Overall, I think that it is great that the president of the United States wanted to talk to us. It shows that America depends on the young generation. He asked us how we would change the world.

At some point each of us will all answer that question. America believes in us and I'm not letting her down.

 

[Deleted member 541]

There has been such an uproar here for over a week now, about this speech. Some parents pulled their kids out of school yesterday, because they did not want their child listening to this speech....

It's been all over the news for the past week. They even had to remove certain points from his speech as to not offend parents.

It's just been a bit *over the top* as far as I'm concerned. I mean come on folks, he was giving a talk to kids about the importance of getting an education. It wasn't a speech on weapons of mass destruction, or instructions on how to build a bomb.......

 

[midi]

Priorities are all messed up. Peeps are attacking trivial things instead of elements that are actually destroying future generations (like pollution and war). Who wants to deal with pressing issues when it's much easier to lash out at a speech over wording.

 

[ISupportHer]

Too many special interest groups that reach a fanatic fervor. Too many who will not accept or allow any view other than their own. Just "I'm right and you're wrong" It's a pity. And getting worse.

 

[evergreen]

It cracks me up that parents are crying over indoctrination ...but yet are sending their kids to a PUBLIC school. What do they think the public school is for other than indoctrination? They support the pledge of allegiance, but are afraid to have the president talk to their kids. Crazy.

The speech was nice as far as pres speeches go. I like how he told kids it is hard to succeed..so it will take hard work. I like how he talked to them the way a father would talk to his kids.

Im more of a universalist as opposed to a nationalist so I am not into the crap about making the country stronger blah blah blah. Yeah shoot me for being unpatriotic, but it's sick IMO. What about making humanity stronger? I'd like to hear our kids taught that..but that's why I send my daugher to a charter school and not a public school.

 

[kayjay]

I'm not American, or a school kid, but I loved his speech. He seems to be a leader of genuine integrity. I wish we had some politicians of his character here in the UK.

As for all the 'indoctrination' thing....I don't understand enough about the politics in the US to have an opinion.

Although, I find the uproar a bit amusing. At a deeper level, behind all this uproar over the words, I definately think there's no such thing as an 'unbiased' education. How ever you educate a child, you are teaching them to see the world a certain way. It's inevitable, no-one is able to be completely unbiased! Even when presenting facts. I guess the added bit that makes it a 'good' education is teaching them to think for themselves and question everything.

Anyway, I like Obama. He's the first politician to give me a sense of optimism about politics in a long while.

 

[SunnyBrookFarm]

Honestly, I was shocked by the uproar it caused (and a bit ashamed of the citizens of my country). I wonder how many parents are now actually reflecting that perhaps they made a mistake by pulling their kids out of school after hearing the speech.

Where I live the parents had to sign a permission slip for the child to watch the "taped version" which will be aired tomorrow.

Our youth need to have more strong male role models. President Obama did a wonderful job of being one. I also liked how he spoke like a father. Do you know how many children in this society that are growing up without that influence? Without anyone pushing them to make good choices in life?

 

[Deleted member 541]

I too agree with you, and wonder if people views of role models a bit screwed up these days......Sport players, rappers, music icons, all seem to be who are young people are looking look up to. And yet, these people do drugs, break laws, act crazy, do steroids, carry weapons, and own dog fighting rings. Yeah, really great role models for our young!!!!! NOT!!!!!

Obama comes along, he is family first, intelligent, concerned about our youth, education, health, and the working people, and people instantly are paranoid that he has an agenda, or a hidden agenda. I just don't get it, and probably never will.....

 

[tgrl]

Sinse I'm teaching my child to get an education, and I'm the primary influence, why does this speech matter?

 

[Frankie]

There is something very wrong with a country that seems to have a problem with someone giving a speech to their children on the importance of getting an education and on how these same children will one day be the generation that can make a huge impact on the world. What makes this terrible wrong is that this person happens to be the President of your country.

What happened to the respect you should be feeling for the President of the USA ???

Is it so wrong to let these children know that they count ? is positive reinforcement wrong ? If this is wrong....makes me wonder what these same parents are teaching their own children !!

Or is it simply the fact that it is President Obama that is giving this speech and are afraid their children will be "wrongly" influenced ??

People should feel honoured that their President takes the time and energy to give a speech directed to their children.......and yes, maybe there is an agenda....a very simple and genuine one..."let our future adults of America become better citizens and make a better life for themselves"

Frankie

 

[Noone.]

Don't act like this is new, Bush was speaking to children during the 911 attacks and he got shit also.
Hey I will be honest I didn't vote for the man but now he's in and I will give him the respect
that the position deserves.
Teaching our children starts in the home, so parents get your head out of your arces and start to teach.
We are all smart enough to know one man can not be held responsible for
a nations short comings.
I say nation relax and before you do for yourself do for someone else it will make it real.
See ya.

Fire.

 

[kayjay]

But didn't Bush get shit because he continued to talk to kids during the 9/11 attacks, even once he'd been told though??