By you know you've heard all about the controversy over President Obama's speech to the nation's schools today; maybe you've even read the text. What I'd like to know this morning is what YOU would say to America's schoolchildren, if you had the chance.
I'd prefer that this doesn't turn into an argument over the president's policies -- if you're interested in that, the conversation on my Sunday column has been going on for a couple of days now. Take this time to think about what the children of this country ought to hear. And although President Obama is taking a lot more words, you have to do it in 100 words or less.
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
100 Words Or Less: What would YOU say to schoolkids?
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Do your best. Respect your teachers. Never give up. Ask for help when you need it. Have fun. Be polite. Be happy. Always have a good attitude. Dream. Set goals. Challenge yourself. Play. Exercise your body and your brain. Make friends. Help those in need. Be a positive role model.
Let adults worry about the politics. Realize a score on a standardized test is trivial in terms of your intelligence or future quality of life. . Don't believe anything newspapers say about how dumb you are or how bad your school or school district is. Don't make excuses. Make YOUR school the best it can be.
Don't listen to your damn republican, Bush loving parents. They will lie to you, keep you from hearing the truth, and instill all manner of hate and bigotry in you. Love your President and don't be poisoned by your Fox News/Ballantyne-loving family.
For the parents who kept their kids at home today because of the President's speech: Remember that the world needs ditch diggers too. And your kids will make great ones!
I'd say...'never vote a "Afro-American" into office.' If they're too good to simply be an "American" then they have no right as president or holding any public office that our taxes pay their wages with!!!
Anonymous @ 1:21 PM...
Please don't post from your job at the Walmart. We know who you are. Now get back to work!
“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 – none of that is an excuse for neglecting your homework or having a bad attitude,’’ the president said. “That’s no excuse for talking back to your teacher, or cutting class, or dropping out of school. There is no excuse for not trying.’’
Excellent points Mr. President! Thank-you for caring enough to give this speech. To the disgruntled parents on this blog, YOU have created failures of yourselves. Don't force your kids into failure.
The Bush loving eletist bastards should be ashamed under God after President Obama gave such a great speech! All that trashy Glen Beck talk from a bunch of right wing Charlotte bigots. I guess Fox News is reporting some trashy lies that are even more outlandishly unbelievable! God have mercy on your damn souls.
work hard, study, respect yourself, your classmates, and your teachers
remember manufacturing jobs are mostly gone, technology & finance not far behing, and the illegals are taking all the low paying jobs and for this you can thank politicians on both sides of the isle
Eat your wheaties, take your vitamins, and get ready to pay taxes out the wazoo.
When you grow up, vote for an American for president, not a Kenyan muslim.
If you aren't currently living Ballantyne, work really hard or try and marry someone that will live there.
Well, THIS went well. Sigh.
sorry tommy,
these posters need to grow up.
the first one is good....
More racist whores from South Charlotte questioning our President's birth. You people are bound for hell fire with these lies. Even the pathetic Ballantyne soccer mom chirps in to show her racism and hatred of those in east Charlotte. Shame on you.
the only problem with east charlotte is that it is full of eastern charloteans.
soccer mom
Read the Constitution. Study it. ReRead it. Study it some more. Acknowledge and promote what the founding fathers desired for this country and realize that the direction this country is heading is definitely not it.
Another soccer mom from Ballantyne posting her trash. Hopefully your SUV will take you right to hell. Come on over to the east side. We have a gift for you.
what would i say?
All you kids need to pull up your dang pants.
u have a gift for me? how bout you take care of your kids and not worry about me.
get a job.
Be faithful. Put the Lord 1st. Follow The 10. Be kind. Be forgiving of your parents. Give second chances.
Study hard. Don't get hung up on grades. Read. Pray more. Learn business skills even if you are a dancer. Take time to dream and explore- but don't have sex before you are ready to accept responsibility. You will survive a broken heart, a failing grade, and your first hangover. You will likely live a happier and longer life than you imagine and rarely think of high school drama. Give more than you get. Never, ever give up hope.
When our society fosters the type of comments shown here, it is no wonder that our children fail.
Don't let the naysayers rule your life...no matter what your circumstances....education is the first step to success. Look and you will find those to help you in your quest. But most of all seek diverse friends to broaden your knowledge of the world around you.
A lot longer than 100 words, but on topic...
There is a difference between Freedom and Liberty. You are not “free”, you have liberties that many people died trying to gain for their progeny (don't know that word, use a dictionary to look it up) Don’t waste the liberty you have trying to obtain more “freedom”. Everything you do affects others and you can’t always get what you want. Be glad you can get what you need.
We do not have, nor hope to have, a purely Capitalist society but neither are we on the road to Socialism. If a soldier receives a housing allowance or goes to sick call is he/she a socialist? Socialism is a system in which all resources are government controlled and equally distributed. We already have social programs that are widely accepted by both parties (social security, subsidies to farmers, etc.). A pure Capitalist economic system would have no community support and a pure Socialist system would have no independence. We belong somewhere in the middle.
Independence and Community are both vital for our nation. While Republicans stress independence and Democrats stress community , both sides must find a way define both concepts in a way that everyone can agree on.
We must work out our differences soon because we are living in interesting times. Global climate change will bring about more natural disasters resulting in shortages in resources (such as water and food), migration, and increased natural disasters. Our own relative economic decline does not put us in a good position for the future. The upcoming generation will have to recall and resurrect the grit and determination our forefathers gave to our nation in its founding. Cries for our rights and self-indulgences will not aide us in returning our country to the nation as it was intended.
Our goal for the U.S. should be that every individual has the ability to earn a decent living, be free from fear of aggression, maintain the right for self expression, and live well amongst each other and the land. It is up to the new generation to ensure that no one and no entity can curtail independence or community.
The part you have neglected to mention is that Reagan was criticized just as heavily - even to the point of a threatened Congressional investigation. Sauce for the goose, etc......
The issue is the cult of personality, he used an interation of the word "I" 56 times. Not asking what you can do for your country, but what can you do for Obama.
God only knows what the speech would have looked like of there had been no objections raised, but I will bet it was filled with leftist propaganda.
Yes, soccer mom, that's right. A big present for you from everyone in east Charlotte. I would slap your damn face until your nordstroms make up flew off. I pray that the devil accepts you and your eletist offspring in the pits of Hell.
I look forward to you slapping me with one hand as you have to use your other hand to hold up your sagg'n pants.
I doubt i'll be in your side of town much anyways.
Peace and Love,
Soccer Mom
I'd tell the kids to pay attention in English class. That way they won't make stupid grammatical and spelling errors when they write a sentence like this: "I would slap your damn face until your nordstroms make up flew off."
At least they'd have enough knowledge to write "I would slap your damn face until off it flew your Nordstroms makeup".
They might even be encouraged to get enough knowledge to escape their redneck surroundings and live in Ballantyne.
I wish the ground would open up and that GD Ballantyne would fall right into the crack. With people like you here, there's no wonder there's so much racism and hatred of latinos. Other comments attacking those who live in east Charlotte and uptown by calling them rednecks is desperate and racist. It's very good that you stay in your plastic bubble down in south Charlotte. Live your lie, breed your hate, and maybe one day reality will come knocking on your door.
Read! Read some more, and then more again. And then learn to read people as well as pages. Live by the golden rule – it really works. The world doesn’t have to be the ugly, hateful place it might look like from the comments on this page. Disagreement is not a synonym for hate. You might not be able to change many things in this world, but you have complete control over how you react to them – and a calm, thoughtful reaction may actually effect the change you desire. Take responsibility, for your thoughts, your actions, your choices, and their consequences. (And if you have time, found a new political party, and let the Democrat and Republican extremists fade away.) - Sarah/Morganton
First, nobody is going to hand you anything after you get out of school. Hate to break the bad news to ya, but the days of mommy and daddy spoon feeding you life are over. Not everybody is a winner, eventually you WILL lose, get over it. If you want something, you are going to have to work for it. It's going to be hard if you live in an area with a lot of "immigrants", because they will be taking the jobs so employers can get their minority count's up. If you need proof, go to any fast food restaurant (if you can afford it) and try to talk to some one who speaks English... The truth hurts,welcome to the real world...
I would like to say to the kids:
1.If you are able, get your heart beating hard once a day at mimimum. It will pump blood through your brain and improve your thinking as well as help you keep fit. Stay fit whether you are an athlete, an artist, a thinker.
2.No one thinks or expects you to have the wisdom of a smart 40-year old. Ask for help; don't pose as a know-it-all at any age.
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