Well, some parents had good reason to fear Obama's education speech. They were right to try to shield their darlin's ears from what the President might say. Listen to these reactions from students:"I didn't know [about] his dad. My dad died; it's kind of weird to have that personal connection."
"There was no hidden agenda."
"It just surprised me that he's human, you know."
The last thing reactionary parents wanted was for their children to see a president who stood in stark contrast to the strawman they have been building in their children's minds. What do you do when you have made the president out to be a madman and a demon.... and he turns out not to be??
This is why we hear so many stories of children who have radically different beliefs and politics than their parents when they move out on their own. Some of it, I believe, is a genuine difference of opinion; but often I think there is a swing reaction to discovering that your parents presented a very skewed view of reality. In their enthusiasm to "protect", parents often cross the line into exaggeration, misrepresentation, and flat out lies.
If you really desire your children to follow in your footsteps, I suggest you make those steps humble ones.
3 comments:
right on! good thoughts
where'd you get those student reaction quotes from?
Those came from the Salt Lake Tribune. They did a follow up story on the event.
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