The editor of the Albany (Georgia) Herald newspaper made some good points yesterday on the silliness of twisting President Obama’s speech to students into an effort to indoctrinated the youth. Then, Thomas L. Friedman, my favorite economist, did the same thing on Meet the Press. To be fair, Obama Green Jobs guy was equally silly for siding in the past with those who thought President Bush knew about the 911 attacks in advance.
Speaking of 911, where was President Bush when he actually learned about those horrible events? He was sitting on a stage in a Florida elementary school reading the book “My Pet Goat” to kids. This silly season stuff is starting to get my goat.
Elected officials, bureaucrats and congressional staff should make themselves more available to speak to kids about the function and limited role of government because governmental decisions will affect their futures.
I have a friend who teaches high school government/history and he is always asking me when am I coming to “drop knowledge” on his students. I politely defer to the current congressional staffers who have that covered like a blanket but if I work in that capacity in the future, I would roll up my sleeves, loosen my tie and let them know that respectfully questioning and monitoring the government is vital and patriotic. If talking with the public about the federal government was the only thing I did for the rest of my life that would be a full life.
For example, some young cats in my community once asked why the congressmen and senators were always talking about agriculture when nobody cares about that around here. I told them that the only people who should care about agriculture were those people who want to eat safe food, drink clean water and breathe fresh air. The local school system is funded in large part by the taxes on farmland and farmers and their workers are a big part of who spends money shopping and dining in the larger regional hub city.
We are “involved” in the Middle East because we have become dependent on foreign oil but the ag industry is making advancements on renewable energy sources that can be grown here—our cousins can come back from the dangerous war zone because the farmers and producers are on their games.
On the other hand, speakers in schools must regulate what they really want/need to say: don’t have children before you can afford them and expect the government to provide for them—that simple is not right. Also, don’t lust for material things so much that you will commit crimes to get those unimportant things. Yes, those talks should come from home and church first.
As Thomas Friedman wrote his classic book “The World Is Flat,” school kids are fully focused and hungry for opportunity around the world while some American students are becoming weaker, softer, and more complacent. Somebody needs to talk with them other than MTV and BET because if they are reached early enough and wisdom sinks into their heads, we could save billions currently spent on nonsense.
I am still waiting for the Black moderate to conservative who will serve in congress and have no problems “getting on” the community about what we need to do to function better. Any sitting American president should make those “real talk” speeches without reservations.
Meet the Press segment
Project Logic Ga 
“I am still waiting for the Black moderate to conservative who will serve in congress and have no problems “getting on” the community about what we need to do to function better. Any sitting American president should make those “real talk” speeches without reservations. ”
Where do I send the check to your campaign?
Excellent post. Well said Slyram. Access to public documents has been in the news quite alot lately here in Augusta. So much so, that a Workshop, sponsored and supported by most of the local press (broadcast and print) and me, on Monday, September 21st 6:30 p.m. at the Richmond County Board of Education Board Room on Broad Street. The need for people to really get involved, civic engagement, is more critical than ever. Ask 10 people in any given city or municipality who their Congressman is, their Board of Education Trustee, their State Senator or Representative or County/City Commissioner, and you will find probably 7 that can’t correctly answer that question. We’re talking about grown folks. Not children in elementary, middle or high school. That is a concern.
And by the way, I read President Obama’s speech and I wonder how he is going to keep the attention of these kids for a speech that long. Generally you’re doing good if you can keep their attention for three to five minutes. That’s going to be interesting to see.
Icarus: Thanks…that was nice of you to say but I am a little too “real” to be a candidate for anything. I do have a feeling that the first African American GOP congressperson is someone whose name appears in on this blog’s blogroll and I will leave that at that but it is cooking on the back burner. I would support that person’s candidacy not in their capacity as a Republican but as a person who can help our state, region and nation by offering options and alternatives for my community. The playbook has already been written, the book “Come On People” by Bill Cosby and Dr. Alvin Poussiant; and “Letters to a Young Brother by CSI’s Hill Harper.
As a matter of fact, until that candidate finds the right district and situation, I support any congressperson’s or senator’s efforts in this regard—they don’t need to be of color. If someone wrote a paper about the history of Black congressional district staffers in Georgia, it would include a list of sage staffers who often spoke that very real way and the mixed groups of listeners ate it up. Readers of this blog would remember those are the Barbershop-type talks that older Black men give the young men. And the talks always end with “I believe you can do it…you can do anything if you keep your nose clean, work hard, and follow the Golden Rule.”
This morning, former First Lady Laura Bush was talking about the Obama school speech with a look on her face like “that is what a president and first lady are suppose to do on some level…what is the big deal.” Then I remembered Nancy Reagan simple statement “Just Say No to Drugs.” Period…don’t flex…don’t say it’s just weed… Just say no to drugs. Think about all the youth who never messed with drugs and cost themselves, their families and our nation drama off that one anti-drug campaign—saving billons in federal spending on prisons, rehab and everything else.
One or two Black GOP members would actually help the conservative movement from the standpoint of forcing (or allowing) southern CBC members to drift to the right—loosening the grip the urban liberals have on the CBC. Wow, what about a RMC…the Rural Minority Caucus with moderate and conservative Native Americans, Asians, Blacks and Latinos.
Helen: let the speech be long….these kids play Madden for hours but need to learn to focus when they don’t want to focus. Let’s see….where did we learn that type foucus back in the day—church, school, and the dinner table. You’ll better keep me off the mic and away from the keyboard because I will get those kids “told”…(as we say in the country)…for old and new.
When people who are “too real” feel disqualified from office, the system is broken and we have all already lost.
I would never advise anyone to run who didn’t really want it. But make sure you stay involved, and make sure your voice is heard.