Salt Lake City Tribune recently reported this video was shown to elementary students in Eagle Bay. This is just one school reporting it, but you know it’s been shown elsewhere. With the recent news that Obama would be giving an internet-based school speech with talking points for teachers; this video is coming under more scrunity. This is some freaky Jonestown-eque stuff. Watch it here…but KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF THE KOOL-AID!
UPDATE: Obama aides announced this afternoon they were changing some language in the attached lesson plan given to teachers as a supplement to the speech. Here is one major change:
Among the activities initially suggested for pre-K to 6th grade students was to “write letters to themselves about what they can do to help the president.”
The suggestion about writing letters has since been changed to: “Write letters to themselves about how they can achieve their short-term and long-term education goals. These would be collected and redistributed at an appropriate later date by the teacher to make students accountable to their goals.”
3conservativebros
MacGregor
Johnny M
Timmy K
Didnt this come out during the election? At first i thought it was a joke. Do you think all of these celebs are leftys? I thought that Ashton was not?
The stuff they say, though much of it noble, is absolutely crazy. Crazy, whacko, radical nonsense. Get rid of your gas burning car? Drink lesss bottled water? Work to Serve Obama? Work to End slavery? WTF. ? Sometimes its hard to stay objective..
Add this to all the other crazy nonsense i.e. the appointment of his czars, the exposing of who these czars are, the civilian military force statements, the govt healthcare plan, the bailouts, the budgets far worse than Bush’s ever were, the increasing of soldiers in Afghan, the infiltration of the Sec of Ed actively trying to promote Obama’s policies to schoolchildren, etc etc, and they really wonder why people are a little worried?
Its clear with the current job approval poll numbers dropping like stones, mainly due to fledgling independent voter support, but when do you suppose that the blinded left, the people who vote left and dont know why, are gonna start to worry?
Yes, sir this originally came out during the campaign. It got noticed on the web this week after the Utah school showed it in class.
I dont think all the celebs are to the left, but most probably are. Yes, Ashton is a fiscal conservative, social liberal — but if your wife is Demi and she wants to make this video, are you telling her, no? haha.
OMG! Had Bush done this the Obamanite media and left would have raised hell! Obama is trying to brainwash our children. Any way to get their parents to see his socialist way. The rock star mentality is sickening! Are we in China? Do we have a black Moa Zedong president? I thought I lived in the USA?
How is drinking less bottled water? or working to end slavery radical nonsense? Those are probably the only two things I agree with Obama on! I’m as conservative as the next guy, but seriously, I don’t think this address is really all that much different from the videos I was shown in public elementary school of Reagan and Bush Sr. asking the youth to help them and the country by being physically fit, saying no to drugs, etc. At least Obama had the good taste not to actually appear in the commercial. Seeing his black face talking straight to the kids might have really scared people.
Black Face, Really?
Second, what slavery are they talking about?
Third, comparing a conservative asking people to get healthy, say no to drugs and help the youth is in no way comparable to the littany of liberal ideas this thing spouted. Did Reagan/Bush ask people to serve them?
Not to mention the further left you go, the less giving you generally become. So their ideas are simply fantasy to begin with.
I know that I cannot help but be reminded of the simple facts of the negro race’s propensity towards violence and anti-social behavior when I see Obama speak. I assume that most people would agree if they are honest with themselves. It would also be dishonest not to admit that human trafficking is a significant problem, if for no other reason than it removes 30 million possible productive individuals from contributing to the world economy.
-There are at least 30 million victims of modern day slavery in the world today (US Trafficking in Persons Report).
-Each year it is estimated that there are 1 million new victims of human trafficking (The US Department of State).
-Estimates as high as 80% of trafficking victims are women and over – 50% in slavery are children (US Government).
-Human Trafficking generates approximately $9.5 billion each year. It is second only to drug trafficking in international crime (US Trafficking in Persons Report).
I agree that some of the touchy feely liberal in that video is laughably ridiculous, but yes, Reagan and Bush did address me and my fellow classmates and ask me to help them make the country a better place by being physically fit, not doing drugs, etc. I think that there are just as many negative economic and moral consequences for destroying the environment with unnecessary plastic bottles as there are negative moral and economic consequences for not being able to ten chin ups.
I enjoy this blog. Keep up the good work.
etter from Secretary Condoleezza Rice
Trafficking in Persons Report
Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons
June 4, 2008
Dear Reader:
This year, millions of men, women, and children around the globe will have their lives ruined by human traffickers. This form of modern-day slavery shocks the conscience of every civilized nation, and the United States is committed to rallying the world to defeat human trafficking.
Covering 170 countries, the eighth annual Trafficking in Persons Report is the most comprehensive to date. The report brings to account each nation’s efforts to discover the perpetrators, prosecute the criminals, protect the victims, and ultimately abolish the egregious crime of human trafficking.
We are pleased that in the seven years since the creation of the Department of State’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, the United States and our friends and allies have made important strides in confronting the reality that human beings continue to be bought and sold in the twenty-first century. It has been gratifying to witness the determined governments, human rights and women’s groups, faith-based organizations, and many brave individuals who are dedicated to advancing human dignity worldwide. Trafficking and exploitation plague all nations, and no country, even ours, is immune.
The goal of this Report is to shine a light on recent accomplishments and encourage governments in their resolve to confront those who prey on the weakest and most vulnerable members of society. Together, we are confident that this modern, growing abolitionist movement will continue to rescue, rehabilitate, and restore the lives of those from whom so much has been taken.
Sincerely,
Condoleeza Rice
Steven,
“I know that I cannot help but be reminded of the simple facts of the negro race’s propensity towards violence and anti-social behavior when I see Obama speak. I assume that most people would agree if they are honest with themselves.”
Hmm. Seriously questioning your conservative credentials here. Most conservatives i know do not see the world this way. Black males do commit a disproportionate amount of violent crime, but i do not believe your view is one that most people hold, me included.
Also, comparing saving the environment from plastic bottles to a President being vilified for telling kids to stay healthy and say no to drugs is not one i would make.
But….
Steven to answer your other point.
I was not challenging your point on human trafficking, and i appreciate your research in showing how egregious this issue is. We agree.
But my question was what “slavery” were they referring to in this video?. Was the first comment about “working to make good on the 200 year promise to end slavery” referring to the United States? Even though that slavery was eradicated by the religious and republicans back then?
Also, could you even imagine if a Republican made a video asking people to pledge to “Serve” George Bush, or even to “Serve” God……… Liberal’s heads all over the country would spontaneously combust………
One of the many problems with the world today from the globe to the municipality is a cynical lack of tolerance toward differences while recognizing commanalities. I would give credence to these comments by responding, so I will simply say this. To spend time picking apart an extremely simple message of chipping in, lending a hand, and helping eachother while attempting to invent sinister undertones and/or alterior motives or agenda is just plain silly. It’s one of the reasons are government has become ineffective and unable to affect meaningful change that would positively impact anybody (quickly) Republican, Democrat, or Libertarian. I hope that somebody can dream up a meaningful issue to discuss. There is a difference between genuine disagreement and being an obstructionist. Anybody ever play football? There is something known as a pep talk!
Gabe,
lack of tolerance and obstructionism…. agreed hurts our society today on every level from our neighborhoods to our politics.
However this is not just about a pep talk. A pep talk about reading is good drugs are bad would be perfectly reasonable for k thru 6. This is a five minute video persuading children to do an array of things including “helping Obama”. This video is fine for campaigning and among supporters but has no business being in schools.
Timmy, Assuming it was shown at the mentioned school, what’s the problem? Are there left wing buzz phrases or strange wakeful hypnosis triggers that I’m missing. The absolute hypocrisy of many that are making this somewhat baseless argument is amazing. Kids, dadgummit! How dare you watch a few minutes of celebs talking about things you could do to improve your corner of the world, community, call it what you will… But feel free to watch whatever gobbletygook is showing at 11PM on the cable channel at home. Paranoia
Gabe,
I can assume you are may be referring more to the speech Obama made the other day on the first day of school. That was a good speech, and like i said, he is in a great and unique position to positively influence millions of children. On that we can agree. Looking to say Obama can do no good is harmful to our country.
As far as this I pledge video, can you imagine what its opposite would include? Would you be just as supportive of that being shown to kids? Not to mention if any video ever asked children to serve Bush we would never hear the end of it. A large portion of my animosity is due to the hypocrisy in the media coverage of similar topics.
left wing buzzwords… no
hypnosis triggers… no
baseless argument? no
I dont assume much and if i do i would let it be known. Here is the article
http://www.sltrib.co/news/ci_13249171?_requestid=5883011
kids, dadgummit… no reason for the administration to be showing this type of video to kids. Isn’t there more important things to be taking care of?
Like I said before the video is ok, just not in schools. Schools have enough of a problem getting kids to graduate and care about themselves without trying to convince them to care about the president and help him out.
With all that said it, is nothing to throw a tantrum over, it is petty to pick on the president in this way. But that doesn’t stop me from calling it like i see it.
Wrong. I’ve been an Army Recruiter for four years. Two questions that I ask prior to a prospective applicant taking the test are: What is half of seven and one half? and the second question is; How do you spell chaos. Lets not babble about how somehow schools are being dissuaded from their real goals about educating children, by a pep talk. Lets talk about how no child left behind, when it went underfunded was another “nothing answer” to improvement of the educational process. More than half of prospective Army applicant could not answer those two questions. Don’t pretend that a presidential address of any kind has anything to do with quality of education. If it offends you that the President wants to send a message to students, simply say so. Don’t pretend the message does anything more or anything less.
Right, I’m not pretending anything. I simply think there is no room for that stuff in schools. Enough said… way to much said.
I will gladly talk about NCLB anytime. One of the few great domestic things GW did. Unfortunately funding has fell through and the teachers union fights it tooth and nail. I believe Obama backs it so i think there is a chance at sustaining some type of teacher accountability. Back in the primaries, Obama also entertained the idea of vouchers. Again it will be tough to get through the unions but I think would be beneficial in many places in America.
But if the Dems want to truly carry the torch on education they must fund NCLB.
In my opinion the video wasn’t that bad. Some of us realize the video has a hidden agenda, but kids won’t notice that. I didn’t understand the part about pledging to end slavery. That part could be confusing to primary grades, especially those who have learned about the Emancipation Proclamation. I would have much rather hear the actors in the video talk about pledging to be nice to others, not being a bully, doing their homework, etc. Those are things that kids all over the country can relate to. I also don’t have a problem with kids writing letters to the President. As long as the child is free to write whatever he or she feels, then how can it hurt?
As far as my stance on NCLB, I think the act had good intentions and agree with Tim that it is blocked by teacher unions and school administrations across the country. One thing Tim didn’t mention was the fact that schools & teachers are required to “teach a test”. When states mandate these standardized tests (like Florida – the FCAT) then schools lose sight of what’s important and only teach this test. It causes many problems and children are left behind frequently while focus is given to the children who can pass the test and increase the school’s overall scores. Having lived in a county that has one of the worst school systems in America I can tell you that the problems lie in the school system itself, and not with the federal government. I could write a book about this but I’ll spare everyone all the details.