Deseret News | President speaks, (horrors!) kids listen

Reader comments
Lee Benson: President speaks, (horrors!) kids listen

There is no evidence | 1:15 a.m. Sept. 9, 2009

Okay so the speech wasn't political, but what evidence is there that Obama didn't direct the CIA or NSA to encode subliminal suggestions or messages in this speech to promote socialism or a one world order?

To Obama | 2:40 a.m. Sept. 9, 2009

I totally agree with everything you said in the speech. I just don't want my kids to think that a person like yourself who supports abortion and redifining marraige is someone they should look up to let alone find inspirational.

Anonymous | 5:51 a.m. Sept. 9, 2009

Only facist Nebo banned the American President? I guess that is progress in Utah.

Comments continue below

LOL | 6:00 a.m. Sept. 9, 2009

Thank you, "No evidence," for the funniest comment I've seen on here in a while.

@there is no evidence | 6:16 a.m. Sept. 9, 2009

thats funny, I really hope you are kidding. You are kidding right? I would hate to think anyone is really that paranoid but in Utah you never know for sure.

Big Protest about Nothing | 6:34 a.m. Sept. 9, 2009

My kids seem no worse for wear from having heard Obama's speech. I don't think it hurt them for someone besides me to tell them to take their studies seriously.

I appreciate Obama doing this, I think those parents who refused to let their kids hear his speech missed an opportunity.

Think first Act Second | 6:38 a.m. Sept. 9, 2009

I think people would take conservatives more seriously if they would think things through before they protest.

First it was complaints about the speech, but when people pointed out how benign the speech was there were still complaints but "not about the speech" yet complaints continued and they kept their kids from watching it.

Doug G | 6:47 a.m. Sept. 9, 2009

Obama is passionate about education, personal responsibility, parenting, and the ability to succeed despite your circumstances. He has spoken to many groups along these themes. We need to embrace and encourage this sort of message.

Anonymous | 6:55 a.m. Sept. 9, 2009

A conservative message. And the conservatives cut themselves off from being part of this experience. Pity. I thought being hateful was un-Christian.

What? | 7:13 a.m. Sept. 9, 2009

I thought for sure he was going to teach our kids about fiscal responsibility. When did that get axed from the speech? Maybe his buddy GW could help him out...

Other Hand! | 7:31 a.m. Sept. 9, 2009

Everybody missed the point. It was not about the President, it was about the agenda for teacher preparation, that was the issue!

They had questions about how important it was to listen to our elected leaders, goals that could help our teachers & parents to support our president.

But when this was brought to light, it was removed & they said 'We mis-spoke!'

Also, just because you put icing & candles on a cow-pie, that does not make it a birthday cake!

stumblefall | 7:33 a.m. Sept. 9, 2009

I was against my children watching the speech until I read the transcript. The White House could have avoided most of the controversy by (a) releasing the entire text of the speech when they first put the plan into place; and (b) having not released the first accompanying lesson plan (How can I help the President?) that even the SecEd now admits was a mistake. As a parent, I think I should have the right to be aware of what my children are learning in school without being ridiculed. Obama has not earned my trust that when he opens his mouth it isn't going to be overly political, and since I fundamentally disagree with almost his entire agenda, I would rather that my children don't have to listen to him. But I read the transcript on Monday, didn't have a problem with it, and left it at that.

I have no problem with my children finding inspiration in Obama's story. I don't expect their role models to be perfect--I'm far from it, but hope they look up to me--but instead want them to find good wherever they see it.

@ Anonymous 6:55a.m. | 7:45 a.m. Sept. 9, 2009

I didn't hear the President's speech to the kids. Sounds like it was positive and upbeat, maybe even right on target.
That said, I find it annoying that in your comment, without any basis, you managed to slide a school district into conservative into unchristian. Thtree assumptions without merit or fact just so you could slam conservatives as unchristian. Please tell me you're not a "liberal", because most of my liberal friends are not that bigoted or ignorant. For once I'm glad you're anonymous.Please stay that way.

Vote for Equality | 7:59 a.m. Sept. 9, 2009

So an American president has spoken to our school children. Now it's time to get on the phone to Utah's Congressional delegation and demand equal treatment. After all, when another president spoke to the students in 1991, Congress held hearings into this so-called abuse of office. By the way, the president was Republican......
You object to hearings? What about equality? Are the rules different because your guy is in power now? If so, you're nothing but a two-faced hypocrite.
Go back to school and re-learn your history.

So Inspirational | 8:09 a.m. Sept. 9, 2009

Thanks Lee. Yes, I too was inspired by Obama's speech. After all, we need an iconic and heroic figure like Obama to teach our kids about staying in school and doing what's right. They don't get that from parents or church. And I'm so inspired by Obama's personal story of rising from dysfunctional one parent household raised by white grandparents from Kansas, while his hippie mother cavorted all around the world and his foreign natioanl father was an absentee. Obviously, no fault of Obamas himself. And the fact that a person could rise from that background, to go to Harvard (with help of quotas) and have Saudi gov't pay for educational expenses, and then become the lawyer for ACORN. It is so inspirational to promote ACORN and voter fraud all across the nation. Just in time for the next census. I want my children to grow up and aspire to also promote ACORN and its shake-down objectives. Give me a break!

John Charity Spring | 8:15 a.m. Sept. 9, 2009

The actions of the Nebo School District are nothing short of disgraceful. There was a time in this Country when public schools taught children to respect the Office of the President of the United States. While many do not agree with much of what President Obama stands for, our children must be taught to honor the Office of President. It is beyond belief that a school district would actually think that the President would be foolish enough to say something harmful, or even controversial, in front of an audience of school children. With actions such as those of the Nebo School District taking place, it is no wonder that modern society is in such trouble.

xscribe | 8:29 a.m. Sept. 9, 2009

How do kids learn differing viewpoint without hearing them? Oh, that's right, you want to keep them reined in to that narrow-minded thought process that is intolerance. We're right, they're wrong, end of story. Brainwashing 101!

Question | 8:32 a.m. Sept. 9, 2009

So, after the President told the kids to work hard & stay in school so they can get high-paying jobs, did he tell them that he plans to take all the money they make at their high-paying jobs and give it to people who DID drop out of school and aren't working hard?

I bet the kids are feeling really motivated to succeed.....

You're missing the point | 8:33 a.m. Sept. 9, 2009

My daughter didn't want to watch the speech (because she thought it would be boring, not because of politics) and I told her it was important to listen to the speech because we respect the office of the President. I told her even though we disagree strongly with the President's stand on most issues we do owe him the respect to listen, if not agree.

My problem was never with the speech, it was the lesson plan that was political and manipulative. Instead of directing students and teachers to focus on how they can improve their community or the nation, the focus was how can we help the President, and that's a different emphasis entirely. No questions the White House screwed up on this one, because it was a good speech for youth. If they had made the situation less policial by releasing the text in advance and not trying to sway students to support a person rather than a country, this whole thing might have been a non-issue.

Luke from Oklahoma | 8:33 a.m. Sept. 9, 2009

My guess Lee, is that you would have initially supported the Kingmen in the Book of Mormon, and also that lovable little Austrian who just adored the German youth and sought and fanned their adulation. Remind us in 5 or 6 years if you still find the Kenyan's manipulation techniques harmless. Sometimes it pays to be a little more skeptical.

Hateful? | 8:40 a.m. Sept. 9, 2009

So, it's hateful to point out where elected official (even if it is "the President") is flawed and where his policies are wrong-headed? I'm so sick of being called racist, paranoid, or hateful when I simply disagree with this President. Or his objectives. Or his staff-people, like Van Jones, the self-avowed Marxist. Or his science advisor who advocates forced sterilization as legitimate government policy option for controlling the population. Oh no, don't dare criticize Obama. He's beyond reproach. True, don't need to be personal in attacks, but sure can, and should, point out where he's just wrong. That's as American as the American Revolution, apple pie, big hair, and traffic jams.

Anonymous | 8:49 a.m. Sept. 9, 2009

@ Other hand

There is this test I like to apply to see if something is dumb...the say it out loud test. Say this out loud and tell me where the protest is

"They had questions about how important it was to listen to our elected leaders, goals that could help our teachers & parents to support our president."

Isn't patriotism supporting our constitutionally elected leaders? Or is patriotism only found in fighting everything they say? Really, stop trying to find trouble where there is none

Parent at a poorer school | 9:27 a.m. Sept. 9, 2009

My kids didn't get to watch the speech because their school can't afford TVs for the classrooms. So, the poorer schools are loosing out again.

my slc | 9:31 a.m. Sept. 9, 2009

Thank you Mr. Benson. That was a good article.

Perfect Antidote | 10:10 a.m. Sept. 9, 2009

The President's speech was the perfect antidote to all the screaming meemies who thought the world would end if kids listened to a speech about education. And Lee Benson's article is the perfect antidote to Doug Robinson's goofball article yesterday.

Anonymous | 10:16 a.m. Sept. 9, 2009

The only reason the President didn't make this speech political was because people complained upfront, otherwise we all know it would have been.
At my daughters school they played the "I pledge" speech right after the education speech. This is where they wanted all the student to pledge to be "green" and "serve the President" among other things.
When then VP George H.W. Bush gave a similar (Education only not pledge) speech, the democrats in congress (Gephardt and gang) launched a congressional investigation to find out if it was an improper use of government funds. And several big liberal news papers blasted it as a blatant political behavior.
But now all the liberals are all OK with it. Hypocrisy show its head again from both parties but mainly by the left.

Anonymous | 10:22 a.m. Sept. 9, 2009

I read the speech it was very conservative. Nothing at all like what President Obama wrote in his book about education.
It’s obvious to me that he was just speaking to speak, make himself look important, presidential, and more conservative than he really is. But he doesn’t believe any of it.

Re. On the Other Hand | 10:25 a.m. Sept. 9, 2009

"Also, just because you put icing & candles on a cow-pie, that does not make it a birthday cake!"

Well, yes, that's very true. But putting wings on a whale don't make it fly. So there!

K2 | 10:28 a.m. Sept. 9, 2009

I would applaud Nebo School District's seemingly strong emphasis on parental involvement in the education of their 26,000 students.
Being a former school student and now, considering myself a student of the world, I can see how (upon being denied the somewhat-restricted immediate opportunity) I would have easily accessed the president's encouraging messarge (now evident) and discussed it not only with parents, but friends and mentors, to name but a few.
I envision many American students twenty years from now citing a clarion moment that was had in 2009. I'll take it a step further - young people in many parts of the world will eventually know what an American president said, and these youngsters will grow into strong citizens of the world, in part because of what was spoken about in 2009 and for years afterwards.

There's only one perfect person | 10:33 a.m. Sept. 9, 2009

So you disagree with some of Pres. Obama's politics. So what? When have you ever agreed with all of anyone's viewpoints? Are you really going to criticize and protest every single thing he does and everything he tries to do for the next 3 1/2 years?

Whether you voted for him or not, he's the President and there's a lot of good he can and will do while in office.

I Smell a Rat | 10:44 a.m. Sept. 9, 2009

What, a school so poor it doesn't have a TV? Please, be brave and tell us all exactly which school in which location, so we can check it out. We all know that TVs are so expensive these days. Maybe Obama can include a line-item in his next so-called bloated Stimulus bill. Heck, when he's throwing $5 billion around just for ACORN, what's a few hundred dollars for a TV so he can promote himself?

Mc | 11:01 a.m. Sept. 9, 2009

@ Question | 8:32 a.m.

Best comment of the day. You nailed it.

I don't have kids in school, but would have let them hear the speech if I did. Then I would have pointed out how we disagree with many things the president is doing, but we respect him and the office he holds. The things he said are right and good, but that doesn't mean everything he's doing as president is. Kids need to understand that the proposals of today do indeed affect them as we mortgage their future.

No Perfect Person | 12:13 p.m. Sept. 9, 2009

I never said I expected Obama to be perfect. Unlike other people, I don't believe he embodies the Second Coming of the Messiah. Yes, there is a lot he can do to better our society. Fact is, I see very little evidence of that in his first 9 months in office. It's all about raising our national debt to unprecedented levels -$9 trillion. The Bloated Stimulus package he put forward was drafted, in part, by Marxist Van Jones, who just resigned only after Fox News was alone in exposing this extremist. I'm sorry, but I'm fairly shocked by the people, radicals, that Obama associates with and surrounds himself with. He bears watching! And if you're part of the Cult of Personality who worships Obama as an iconic figure, I am sorry to rain on your parade.

Reason | 1:37 p.m. Sept. 9, 2009

Come on, Lee Benson, you’re savvy enough to understand that the president made changes to his speech — and scrapped the supplemental material — because of big-time concern from parents across the country. These parents were concerned not because they are closed-minded, but because Obama has shown that he cannot be trusted.

Over these past months, when Americans have disagreed with his plans, he has shown no respect for them and has mocked their views. In light of this, as well as Obama’s inherent dislike for America and his plans to “remake” it, they rightfully felt that they could not trust him in this setting addressing their children.

Even with the text of the speech posted yesterday, parents did not know what video/audio background it would be presented in. Sure, it’s easy NOW to say, “See, what was the big deal? It was an uplifting, harmless speech!” But you can bet the rent money that if no concern had been raised beforehand, and Obama had gone ahead with his ORIGINAL speech, it would have contained a significant amount of political propaganda.

LDS | 4:12 p.m. Sept. 9, 2009

Anonymous wrote "I thought being hateful was un-Christian". Wrong! It's OK to hate the behavior as long as you love the person. Examples:
I hate the way Gays and Lesbians act but I love them.
I hate the way Democrats act but I love them.
I hate the way Obama acts but I love him.
I hate the way the Government acts but I love everyone in it.
I hate the way Hillary acts but I love her.

So, you see it is ok to HATE as long as you LOVE at the same time. It takes practice. And it's easy to get mixed up. Like "I hate the way my son is acting, but I love him". If you have that thought hundreds of times, it's easy to get mixed up and actually start hating him!!

I'm sure that's what Christ meant by pure Charity. He meant it's ok to hate, but just always say "it's the behavior I hate". That'll make it all ok to hate as much as you want.

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