INAMINATION

I cannot for the life of me figure out why there is such an outcry about a planned speech to school children by the duly elected leader of our country; especially when this is not the first time that a president has address school dhildren. Teddy Roosevelt did it in 1907, Woodrow Wilson in 1917, Ronald Reagan in 1986 and Bush-41 in 1991. Bush-43 even produced a parent & teacher guide during his administration. In my opinion, this is the epitome of silly season, which is usually confined to election campaigns. It is now in full bloom and is in grave danger of becoming a year-round permanent part of our public discourse.
I understand the high octane fervor of debate regarding President Obama’s attempt to reform the American health care system—that is the American way. What I do not understand is the on-going attempt to portray this presidnet as a Boogey Man, destined to morph into some sort of Hitler-like Demagogue and have us all marching around in jack boots.

I have heard more than one talk show host say that he/she will not allow their children to see or hear the speech; invoking Hitler as a comparison. This is just plain rediculous and so-called parental responsibility run amok. The wise parent would watch the speech too and spend some time discussing the merits or problems of the speech.
Whatever happened to respect for the office of the President that the right side of the political wing so often champions? COME ON PEOPLE (to borrow a line from Bill Cosby), let’s wake up, stop calling each other names and allow our system of self-government work itself out!! Our system is comprised of elements from both the left and right side of the political spectrum and it is that blend of ideas that have allowed us to stand head and shoulders above the rest of the world. As one infamous California resident once said, “Can we all just get along?”