We have a controversial president. Considering he rode in on a popularity train unprecedented in recent years, it is odd that he has gotten so controversial so fast. Or maybe not. He is not strong enough to the whiny left, and the right has painted him as a Stalinist monster. But, he is our president. His election was an historical landmark that we should all be very proud of. His election reinforces clearly the dream that all American children have had since 1776. "I could be president one day."
Politics aside. He has from the beginning brought a message of hope and unity, Patriotism and inclusion in all of his speeches. Most arguments I have heard, from both the right and the left, have almost nothing to do with what this man says, people argue about what they think it means. Giving elderly people the option to discuss end of life options (NOT euthanasia, just living will type options) has become Death Panels. Discussing a compromised health bill, without a public option, is "selling out" to the callous right.
Politics aside. He has shown himself to be a family man, genuinely concerned about kids. His and others. A good Christian man (again controversy - but has HE done or said anything that refutes it)? And like every president before him he planned to talk to school children.
And some districts, because of some parents, said "NO."
What? Did we forget the part where he is THE PRESIDENT? Who in their right mind would deny their young children the opportunity to sit in a room with a president? And if a few parents - or even the majority feel this way - just keep your kids home that day. That is how we protest, boycott, passive boycott. Or, keep your kids out, drag them off to hold sandwich boards protesting his policies, but let him come and (OK, I wouldn't have to say this in any other time period in history), but if you are going to protest, please leave your guns at home. Or, best option yet, put him in the assembly hall, allow parents (and only parents) to come, as long as they model appropriate behavior and listen quietly, allow the children to ask the questions. When you get home, debrief your kids, teach them to think critically, place what was said into your value system for your kids, give them a framework to sort through the rhetoric. Or, if you trust your kids, and the strength of the values you have given them, send them off to school with a hug and a smile, and when they come home start the conversation with "How was your day, Honey?"
Freedom of Speech is not my favorite American value. It is attached to a deeper, implied value that is my favorite. Freedom of Thought. This is the value that truly gives us independence. The value that allows us, as a country, to grow despite all of the leftist crap and right-wing fear mongering (wait, 8 months ago it was left-wing fear mongering - I can't keep up). Thought is not free if we only hear one side of a story. And it is not truly free is we listen to opposing sound bytes that are emotionally based and pierce our values, as that forces us to dig in and cling to opinions that are not necessarily based in fact.
My Momma always taught me to go to the source. Especially with rumors or gossip. Everything you hear in the media is gossip. Every speech given by every politician to the public is rhetoric. Every sound byte presented in the media of that speech is spin. When we base our opinions on sound bytes and media schlock, we are not thinking critically about what was actually said, we are having an emotional reaction to something that either enforces or disrespects our values. Good for TV ratings! Bad for informed, critical thought. When we have a town hall meeting about health care, and the only media coverage is about the protesters - how the hell are we supposed to know what they are protesting? We haven't even heard the flippin' speech yet.
So do we teach our kids to listen politely, and think for themselves? Or do we not expose them to opposing views, so when they hit the rebellious teen age stage they believe the authority figure in the "sun colored" clothing and head to rural Oregon to join a cult? (sorry Rajneeshpuram reference - a lot of very conservative college kids got mixed up in that). Or - do we teach them to be disruptive and not listen at all? Or - teach them that protesting is possible, but others have a right to listen? Your kids look to you for values, let them experience everything they can, and guide them through the interpretation, this is how we foster Freedom of Thought.
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