Obama’s Speech Causing a Stir

(Community Matters) Michael Mitchell has sounded his opinion of the conservative uproar about the President of the United States of America speaking directly to school children. I have to agree, these people are losing it. He’s the President for god’s sake. He’s talking about persistence in school and excellence.

Don’t know why I let myself do so again, but I’ve been participating in a Facebook posting and comments originated on the topic by a Hyde Park Baptist High School graduate. The comments are not favorable, despite the acknowledgment of the President’s message.

This “FB conversation” originated by the same fellow who several weeks ago posted that he thinks we need to bring back school prayer. I asked to whom would we pray, and his response was “this country was built on a foundation ‘One nation under God’ . . . . if you try to please everyone, you end up with nothing.” [I did mention that the quoted phrase was added to the pledge mid century]

Most of his friends who post are also Hyde Park Baptist High School grads, adamantly against Obama and health care reform. They ridicule multiculturalism and come very close to white/Christian superiority comments.

These guys call themselves libertarians. One especially enlightening comment, “if you think that government is anything more than a sanctioned corrupt political gang then you might actually be mildly retarded or simply naive.” I’m wondering if it’s the ’87 HPB class, just these guys/group of friends or a more common thread among graduates of this high school.

The FB friend – a business colleague who I think struggles with the realization that a single culture will not dominate as we transition into a multicultural state. I like him in business and appreciate that he engages in the conversation even if we don’t come together in our views. We do agree common values and principles have a place in schools.