Don't Take Away Our Children's Right to Think.

I don’t usually talk about politics here. I am a die-hard, bleeding heart liberal, but I respect everyone’s right to think differently than me—and I don’t presume to have all (or any of) the right answers.

But the latest Obama-related outrage? The one where parents didn’t want to let their children hear the speech he gave to schools today? I don’t get it. In fact, it makes me all kinds of angry.

Your children are in school to learn. To be exposed to differing viewpoints and opinions. By refusing to allow them access to Obama’s speech, you are denying them their right to make up their own minds about what they believe. You’re teaching them that there’s no point in listening to people they don’t agree with. You’re showing them (by your actions), that it’s okay to be ignorant. And that? Is not acceptable.

This is the United States of America, people. An absolute commitment to free speech (and free thought) is one of our founding principles. Why would you teach your children to believe in anything less?

Of course, all this is assuming that there was anything actually objectionable in the speech. Anything political. But to my mind, there wasn’t. If you haven’t read, seen or heard it yet, go do it now. Then come back.

What did you think? I, for one, think kids could benefit from hearing things like:

“We need every single one of you to develop your talents, skills and intellect so you can help solve our most difficult problems. If you don’t do that – if you quit on school – you’re not just quitting on yourself, you’re quitting on your country.”

And:

“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.”

And can someone please tell me how this statement, “even when you’re struggling, even when you’re discouraged, and you feel like other people have given up on you – don’t ever give up on yourself. Because when you give up on yourself, you give up on your country,” is an expression of socialism?

It sounds an awful lot like another famous quote we’ve all heard. You know the one. The one that goes, “ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.”

That's just my two cents.