A Reliable
Voice in the
Community
Volume 6
Issue 26
Sept. 9 - 15, 2009
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A Reliable Volume 6 |
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Breaking News
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Yeah ... we gotta watch ‘that one’
By all accounts, this should have been a non-event: President Barack Obama wanting to reach out to our youth to give so many who lack it some hope and support during the next nine months. Unfortunately, an alarming number of conservative individuals and those who are just distrusting of our government threw their hands up in dismay and rallied the political correctness troops to the front line. This was not some mandated by law speech, so why all the alarm? Some were afraid of Obama’s “agenda,” but doesn’t every president have some form of agenda? And where was the noise when past leaders gave similar “welcome back to school” speeches? The controversy was heard loud and reached all areas of the country. I even witnessed one woman who gave an Academy Award-winning “performance” as to why she would do almost anything to avoid her kids being subjected to such kindness and inspiration from our commander-in-chief (check it out here). The ignorance of people continues to amaze me. I’m not sure what people think Obama is going to do if we “give him too much rein.” This is a democracy — not a dictatorship — so much of what he does and says is done with the approval and blessing of others in high places. Did they think Obama would let emotion overrule logic, causing him to yell something obscene out to the masses? Oh wait … that is the job of South Carolina Republican Rep. Joe Wilson who shouted “You lie!” after Obama talked about illegal immigrants not receiving health care during his speech to Congress — and the country — on Wednesday. It is about time someone in the White House address our youth like they matter — giving them the hope and encouragement many lack at home and instilling a pride in them that so many former youth lost during the last two terms. I think what stood out most for me in Obama’s speech was the following: “… 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. … ” Yeah … we gotta keep an eye on that Obama. Who knows what he’ll say next. Michelle Fitzhugh-Craig is an award-winning journalist who resides in Oakland. If you have an individual, organization, issue or other topic that may be of interest to the Globe’s readers, contact her at talk2mfc@yahoo.com. Visit her blog at www.stpminute.blogspot.com |
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On Tuesday, millions of school children around the country sat at their desks and watched via Internet as their president gave a speech welcoming them back to school and offering them advice on making the most of their education.