On April 15, 1907, Republican president Theodore Roosevelt issued a strong "Message to School Children" addressing the need for conservation and the importance of our environment. At the end of his message, President Roosevelt asked the youngest citizens to go out and help the president - by planting trees. Here's an excerpt:
We of an older generation can get along with what we have, though with growing hardship; but in your full manhood and womanhood you will want what nature once so bountifully supplied and man so thoughtlessly destroyed; and because of that want you will reproach us, not for what we have used, but for what we have wasted... Source: New York Times Archives - Roosevelt to Children
Can you imagine what the right's reaction would be if President Obama said something even remotely similar? "He's turning our kids against our Constitutional right to consume at will!!!" "He's trying to make our kids green Commies!!!" Yeah, right.
On November 14, 1988, President Ronald Reagan addressed the nation's schoolkids. His address, including a 'Q & A', was pumped live, via CSPAN, into classrooms all around the country. Reagan grabbed this opportunity to push tax reform. Here's an excerpt:
Q. My name is Cameron Fitzhugh, and I'm from St. Agnes School in Alexandria, Virginia. I was wondering if you think that it's possible to decrease the national debt without raising the taxes of the public?
The President. I do. That's a big argument that's going on in government. And I definitely believe it is because one of the principal reasons that we were able to get the economy back on track and create those new jobs and all was we cut the taxes. We reduced them because, you see, the taxes can be such a penalty on people that there's no incentive for them to prosper and earn more and so forth because they have to give so much to the Government. And what we have found is that at the lower rates the Government gets more revenue. There are more people paying taxes because there are more people with jobs. And there are more people willing to earn more money because they get to keep a bigger share of it. Source: Reagan gave Obama-like speech to school children in 1988, Below the Beltway
And the Republican parents forcing truancy on their children that day? Probably none.
On October 1, 1991, on the eve of the 1992 campaign, President George HW Bush gave a speech at Alice Deal junior high school in DC. Bush specifically asked the students to "Let me know how you're doing. Write me a letter. I'm serious about this one. Write me a letter about ways you can help us achieve our goals." You can watch an excerpt by clicking here. And most famously, President George W. Bush was sitting in an elementary school classroom when he learned of the attacks on the World Trade Center.
I believe truth wins in the long run. I believe the best weapon against the mass amnesia afflicting so many on the right is accurate information; also known as fact. Please pass this information on to everyone who should know it.
I believe truth wins in the long run. I believe the best weapon against the mass amnesia afflicting so many on the right is accurate information; also known as fact. Please pass this information on to everyone who should know it.
Comments: (22)
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By: Fierce on 9/05/2009 12:27PM
I thought it was overtly clear to everyone that Repugnants are nothing but obnoxious morons. Why are we pretending that these recent protests have any merits? They just hate the idea of a Black Man being a Commander in Chief. There M.O. is to obstruct, get in the way, throw tantrums like a 2yr. old autistic child. What in the world can you do with that?
The rest of the sane world/country should just keep it moving and ignore these imbeciles, rather than give them any such credence as to hold the Nation hostage, there by hindering progress.
Why waste your time with facts & figures? When have they ever let that get in the way? Lol!
Ya can’t fix STUPID
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By: Uly on 9/05/2009 2:05PM
It's more than a little ironic that in criticizing their racism you feel you have to resort to ablist language.
It's also not cool. Don't sink to their level.
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By: Fierce on 9/05/2009 3:50PM
Did you mean "ableist?"
No offense intended, it's out of disdian that I speak. You're right though, NOT cool!
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By: Grayson on 9/06/2009 11:16AM
Very well said!!! and absolutely true!
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By: Fierce on 9/05/2009 12:39PM
Btw> I meant "Their" M.O.
I don't need the spelling czar on my tail, so hold your fire! lol!
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By: Eric on 9/05/2009 1:14PM
They're just going to have to deal. We dealt with Bush for 8yrs.
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By: Stanford J. Carter on 9/05/2009 1:14PM
Due to limited radio reception in this area, especially in rural areas, there are 3hrs of Rush, 3hrs of Sean 3hrs of local right wing nuts and 3hrs of Savage Nation. That's 12 hours through out most of the South 6 days a week!!! Going to Lake Charles I listen to Rush and on the return Sean. Their phone commentators show themselves as abject racist to impress the radio talk show host.
YES IT'S RACISM. THEY DON'T WANT THEIR CHILDREN RESPECTING AN ADDRESS BY A BLACK MAN WHO LEADS THIS COUNTRY. TO SOME THEY TRULY GET SICK AT THE THOUGHT OF A BLACK PRESIDENT. THEY WANT TO KEEP THEIR CHILDREN HOME TO INDUCE THEM WITH THE MOST VIAL FORM OF RACISM.
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By: lisa on 9/06/2009 3:23PM
Remember Stanford, it's the white vote that put this socialist in office
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By: Tish on 9/05/2009 4:57PM
Yes that is the problem, these people are 400 years behind the world. They will never understand that people don't care about the thoughts of them. The true republicans that believe in smaller government, are switching parties to be called the conservative Democrats. Republicans are a dying party who see color and not facts. No smart person will ever join in on that hate. They don't have a clue it takes people of all walks of life to be strong. Any person of color that would join that group either think they are white or just plain stupid.
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By: Sandra on 9/05/2009 8:04PM
It's funny you should say that. I am tuned into CNN right now, & guess who's on? Our own Lenny Mccalister, the BV's republican blogger, looking like a little rabbit waiting for his carrot! lol!
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