Thoughts on the Presidents speech today..

[JudyB]

what are yours??

[JudyB]

I personally thought it was great and very inspiring

He really touched on a lot of key aspects of learning and education. I loved how he backed up the no bullying rule at one point, hope that those who have a problem with doing that listened to what he had to say.

[candypants]

I read his speech yesterday and thought it was great. He connected to the kids and spoke to them in a way that they would understand.

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

I loved this part. He's giving hope to this kids who may not have much left. He's telling them that they still have a chance, but they have to try. They have to work at it.

Some of the most successful people in the world are the ones who’ve had the most failures. JK Rowling’s first Harry Potter book was rejected twelve times before it was finally published. Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team, and he lost hundreds of games and missed thousands of shots during his career. But he once said, "I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."
Another favorite part. He used popular celebrities that kids can relate to and like. He shows these kids that even they had to work hard to get where they're at today.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. I do that every day. Asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness, it’s a sign of strength. It shows you have the courage to admit when you don’t know something, and to learn something new...And 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
This is by far my favorite part.

I think he did an amazing job and hope that everyone can see that. We need to stop ripping him to shreds for this speech and put what is really important first; our children and their education.

[Ghedi]

My thoughts... Great speech. I wish I had heard a speech like that when I was younger.

I think that Obama and future presidents should make a tradition out of it. Give a completely non-political talk to inspire our nation's students.

On a related thought... since there are all of these anti-intellectuals out there protesting the president's speech, I'm thinking of starting a name of a political viewpoint. Just as pro-life and pro-choice are polar opposites on the same issue, and it doesn't matter what political party a person is, they can still hold different political viewpoints, I think I'm going to start a polar opposite to anti-intellectuals.

I'm calling my viewpoint anti-stupid.

Anyone can be anti-stupid, regardless of their other political affiliations; I welcome Democrats, Republicans, Greenies, Nader-ites, pot-smokers ...err... I mean Bill Maher's party... what was it again... oh yeah, Libertarians... Everyone who doesn't think that stupid people should have free reign over our government.

Now, I'm not saying that a person needs to have a doctorate in politics just to run for city council... However, I do think that those people who go out, get an education, and who actually prepare themselves before launching their political career should not be vilified. I believe that, just because a person has the presence of mind to prepare a speech, the literacy to read aloud from a teleprompter, the wisdom to stick with the outline, the wit to answer questions without pre-screening the audience, the awareness to choose his backdrop, and the courage to resist making up nonsense words when they have a brain-fart, that they should not be laughed at by Fox Skews.

Anyways, that's just my 1/50'th of a dollar.

[Jill]

So anyone does not support the speech is "pro" stupid?

Just asking

[Ghedi]

Originally Posted by Jill So anyone does not support the speech is "pro" stupid? Just asking

Nope.

Anyone who refuses to do research, who will just listen to talking heads (again, I don't care which talking heads; could be Fox Skews, could be PMS NBC, could even be John Stewart and Steven Colbert) or any other single source of information and base all of their opinions on that one viewpoint without even being willing to hear what any other sides say... now they're anti-intellectual.

But, not supporting a speech is a right of the anti-stupids, because we need debate, research, and an understanding of the viewpoints that conflict with ours, in order to keep from being anti-intellectual.

[Germanchick]

Originally Posted by Jill So anyone does not support the speech is "pro" stupid? Just asking

Leaving aside who GAVE the speech what in it is a part that you feel is negative? Which part of it do you not support?

[mushortgurl03]

Originally Posted by candypants I read his speech yesterday and thought it was great. He connected to the kids and spoke to them in a way that they would understand. 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 I loved this part. He's giving hope to this kids who may not have much left. He's telling them that they still have a chance, but they have to try. They have to work at it. Some of the most successful people in the world are the ones who’ve had the most failures. JK Rowling’s first Harry Potter book was rejected twelve times before it was finally published. Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team, and he lost hundreds of games and missed thousands of shots during his career. But he once said, "I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed." Another favorite part. He used popular celebrities that kids can relate to and like. He shows these kids that even they had to work hard to get where they're at today. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. I do that every day. Asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness, it’s a sign of strength. It shows you have the courage to admit when you don’t know something, and to learn something new...And 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 This is by far my favorite part. I think he did an amazing job and hope that everyone can see that. We need to stop ripping him to shreds for this speech and put what is really important first; our children and their education.

You got all of the important parts right here.

[danyell]

to be honest it kind of made me teary eyed. I don't know why- I'm not really political. Maybe it was the Harry Potter reference.

My favorite part was the insert of the hand-washing for flu season

[Jill]

Originally Posted by Germanchick Leaving aside who GAVE the speech what in it is a part that you feel is negative? Which part of it do you not support?

I did not say if I neither support or dont support the speech. I stay away from all political debates on here. Just wondering if the people who dont support nor agree with Obama is stupid?