Tuesday, September 08, 2009

Mobocracy at its worst...

Several weeks ago I was listening to "Talk of the Nation" on NPR radio, and I heard a most appropriate quote as it pertained to the ridiculous rabble-rousers that rudely disrupted town hall meetings on health care:

"The price of democracy is to have to suffer fools."

In large part, the conservative far 'Right' in the United States has been nothing but one big fool, and if you're in that ilk I offer no apologies. Coming back from Atlanta last week I had a choice of national syndicated radio talk shows covering political fodder, and I heard nothing but a conflagration of baseless fear that was purposefully stoked by the show host and callers, almost all of it shooting down our President.

The issue of today's school speech by President Obama should have received an "It's about TIME a president spoke directly to our youth and talk about the value of an education and hard work." But noooooooooooo, it seems like we have a plethora of morons in this country that just have to twist it into something political and decidedly 'other' than what it is, among other things accusing the speech of holding a socialist agenda....

Uh, let's see....stay in school, give it your best effort, know you'll have hardships, but know that with knowledge you are empowered to potentially change the world...if that's socialism then I'm a socialist.

Some parents are keeping their kids out of school today. Some schools are refusing to air the speech. Uproars decry 'hidden' political agendas and White House manipulation. Thanks to the overriding factor that the average citizen not can't but WON'T exercise their own brain to make their own decisions, many have simply jumped on the conservative bandwagon with their torch and pitchfork posses that quickly used fear-mongering to spread lies...boldfaced lies, at that.

Read the upcoming speech HERE (click on the word). I read it. YOU read it and tell me one single thing inappropriate about the speech. Anything. Fact is, it's a wonderful and well-written message, and inspiring, to boot.

It's a crying shame so many citizens choose to do ANYthing to attack President Obama. The conservative "Right" is getting more and more obnoxious and zealous, and I imagine sooner as opposed to later more of us will stand up to it and shout 'ENOUGH ALREADY!' and let the President do his job. To me their behavior is disgusting, and if I didn't know any better (or maybe do?), there is a large silent group that refuses to accept we have a black President.

Harsh words? Just my truth as I've personally witnessed it time and time and time again. Today's school speech is an elixir, but don't we all know there are some grown-up 'children' who refuse to take their medicine.

6 comments:

Suzy said...

AMEN!!!!

I'm listening to local TV / radio commentary ... will have a comment of my own later. "Mobocracy" is a VERY good word for it. More to come ...

Suzy :)

Suzy said...

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with Obama’s speech!! I guarantee, if such words had originated with Captain Kangaroo, Mr. Rogers, or Art Linkletter, that speech would be shouted from the rooftops every day, all day long … and I’m sure that these 3 individuals / personifications would AGREE WITH President Obama’s words to school children today!

Not only is racism ‘alive and well’ (major ugh!) in the U.S. today; but the ultra-conservative, far-right, so-called “moral majority” (moral??!! I won’t even begin to go there today!) seems to be the incessant fuel for the racism fire.

I was listening to local TV and radio news this a.m., then surfing online headlines here at work … seems that the far-right population (religious or not) worships an ultra-conservative named James Dobson, much the same way that catholics worship the pope … in their minds, what this guy says, goes. Ugh.
All sorts of “anti-Obama” venom on Dobson’s websites and in his writings, and from his “loyal followers” … and yet he’s supposedly a proponent of family, children, schools, etc … and yet his network of websites are actually supporting parents in their decisions to keep their kids home from school today because of the President’s speech to school children??? Huh??? What kind of double-standard is that? What kind of mixed message does that send? But oh wait, the vast majority of our population can’t and won’t think for themselves anyway … they’re just going to follow their assumed leader, whoever that person may be!! Grrrr …

And I have no farther to look and listen than the ‘four walls of my workplace’ to witness a similar double-standard in parenting mentality. There are the parents who allowed their 11 and 12 year old daughters to go to a “Hannah Montana” concert by themselves … and kept them home from school today … apparently an arena of 12,000 strangers is much safer than hearing the President speak in school. And the parents who allowed their 10-year-old to stay home by himself all summer while they were at work and school was out … and they kept him home from school today … apparently staying by home by yourself at the age of 10 for 2+ months is much safer than hearing the President speak in school. And the parents whose church’s youth pastor is a ‘former’ (really???) pedophile and is on the sex offender registry … and they pulled their kids out of school today … apparently their vacation bible school and youth group activities are much safer than hearing the President speak in school. OMG.

Suzy

Bob Child said...

So, tell us, Suzy, how do you REALLY feel? HA! All I can say is there is a reason someone came up with the bumper sticker that says, "Dear God, save me from your people"!

Bill C. said...

You know what kills me the most about the religious right? If they would read their Bibles they'd learn that God's kingdom is a socialist dictatorship! When did God become a capitalistic American??? That's not scriptural. I'm a Christian and I LOVE our President! I cheered when he won the election. I pray for him.
I long to live in a place where all people are equal and love and grace abound!
PS - I want a govt option in health care too!

Bob Child said...

Amen, Bill! I think we REALLY need a gov't health care option, as well. The insurance industry is almost too powerful to whip, and that should scare every one of us. Big oil is even scarier, but I digress, as always!

Bob Child said...
This comment has been removed by the author.