Rights and Wrongs

This discussion (debate?furor?nonsense?) over public school students listening to the president's (revised) speech is just plain silly, but it may go further.

1. Having a right doesn't mean you have to exercise that right every chance you get. I have free speech, but that doesn't mean I have to talk 24/7. Contrary to what some might think, we won't lose our rights from underuse; we'll use them when they are not defended wisely.

2. From a cultural war standpoint, if we don't pick our battles, our credibility suffers.

3. The speech was good, as such things go, and not subversive. But it was too long for little kids and really best for middle schooler and up.

4. Do I think President Obama is a narcissist? Yes, like most politicians, although he seems to be excelling at narcissistic behavior. He knows giving planned speeches is his best modus operandi, so he uses it every chance he gets. Case in point, tonight's speech on health reform. Why is it necessary? The president is supposed to reserve those occasions for the really, really big issues. He could do this in private council. And he's on TV again! good grief. To those who have studied the history of presidential rhetoric, it's unbelievable.

5. But back to the speech to schoolchildren. It's just plain foolish to exclude your child from listening to this speech. They are in public school, for goodness sake! Do these parents think their children don't see worse influences every day in the halls? Like it or not, he's the president, and if you think he's going to say something problematic, talk about it seriously with your children. That will mean much more than any blather they hear on a TV set.

I fear if conservatives don't start focusing on the issues that matter and get off these inane, looney minor points, they'll be back out of the debate.

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