Published Friday, September 11, 2009 in opinions of Southeast Valley community sections of the Arizona Republic as “Obama’s speech to kids reaffirms American values.” (note: the published version cut off the part starting with the Constitutional Convention reference)
“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. Because when you give up on yourself, you give up on your country.
The story of America isn’t about people who quit when things got tough. It’s about people who kept going, who tried harder, who loved their country too much to do anything less than their best.”
–President Barack Obama’s Tuesday, September 8th address to the nation’s school children.
When I first learned the President would be addressing the nation’s school children on what for many, though not in Arizona, was their first day of school, I was delighted.
I was rather surprised by the outcry from some conservative commentators and Southeast Valley parents. Our Republican State Superintendent of Public Instruction even weighed in to criticize and politicize the speech as well. Read the rest of this entry »