The behavior displayed by the crowd in the video above brought me to tears. And people wonder why it’s so easy to taint the immigration debate with accusations of xenophobia. Why it’s so easy to assume many Obama haters are racists. No, it isn’t fair -- but it’s what happens, because of people who react to a bilingual man asking a question in Spanish, to another bilingual man in this disgusting manner.
Now I hate it when you call a place and they tell you to push 2 for English. That should be push two for Spanish dammit. English is our language, officially or no. I understand people wanting to be able to understand what the Bishop was saying -- of course I do. But to heckle him? To chant ENGLISH ENGLISH ENGLISH… wow. Just wow.
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This morning I specifically requested that Isabella be allowed to watch the Presidential address at school today. At her school they were leaving it up to the teachers. Her teacher said that she’d try to find out what time it was on and have the kids watch it. I’ll find out at the end of the day if she did, and if not, we’ll watch it when she gets home.
I find the people that have caused such an uproar about this to be completely irrational and stupid. There is not one -- NOT ONE -- logical reason behind not wanting The President of The United States -- one of the most shining examples of how a good education can catapult you beyond your wildest dreams -- to encourage our kids to do well in school. If it had been Bush, I would have still wanted her to listen, without a doubt. If it was McCain, same deal.
The White House released a copy of his prepared remarks and you can view it here. Nothing about healthcare or politics. No subliminal messages about becoming a part of his socialist army. Nothing except encouragement and good words that should and could come from any side of the political arena.
I posted this on Facebook: “If you are so stupid that you will (or would) not let your child attend school Tuesday because of the President’s address to our children about working hard and staying in school, kindly delete me from your friend’s list. No need to debate, or explain your opinion -- just go far, far away. Because you are an idiot. And I’m not being close minded -- I’m being intolerant of idiocy.”
And in a comment, Dawn made a great point: “The whole “you don’t have to listen to the authority figure b/c mommy and daddy disagree” may come back to bite them … with every teacher, administrator … etc.”
How true is that?
Sasha, who is a teacher, said: “I totally agree! We say the pledge everyday at my school. how damn UNAMERICAN not to let your kid listen to the president of the United States address them about education.”
Remember the people throwing a fit because Obama didn’t put his hand over his heart during the Pledge of Allegiance a while back? Same people that are pulling their children out of school to avoid this speech. Hypocritical, eh?
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Listening to: Rufus Wainwright -- Hallelujah
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