• Was taught extra lessons by his mother at 4:30 in the morning. Sounds like some typical admiration ploy. Early mornings are nothing new to a lot of school kids. I myself remember early morning dance rehearsals or theater rehearsals. Early mornings are often a part of the engaged student’s life.
• Obama has talked a lot about responsibility, huh? Talked and not done a whole lot to encourage responsibility. I still don’t see responsibility being shown in the trillions that will be spent on so-called stimulus. I don’t see responsibility being encouraged in those who are living on welfare. I don’t see responsibility in President Obama’s appointed cabinet or in the many radical associations he has with Jeremiah Wright or Bill Ayers. Like I said, he talks about responsibility, but what responsibility is there in his policies except to take it from others?
• Why aren’t students getting the opportunities they deserve? It can’t be because parental responsibilities are being thrust upon the shoulders of educators. It can’t be because discipline is becoming more and more a thing of the past in our public schools. It can’t be because exceptional students are being forced to not leave their slower-learning peers behind. It can’t be because physical activity and competition are being driven from our schools. It can’t be because there is a parental shift of blaming teachers for any teacher malfeasance rather than accepting their own responsibilities for their children’s actions. All of these things are not necessarily due to government intervention, but either way, there are a lot of concerns with the way the schools are being run.
• I do respect the inspirational stories of people who have overcome tremendous adversity to go on to do great things. That’s the inspiration of the American Dream; that you can overcome whatever obstacles may stand in your path to excellence. There isn’t anything that truly represses the aspirations of the individual other than the individual themselves.
• As a matter of curiosity, I wonder how familiar with Michael Jordan some of these kids are. Talking about Michal Jordan might be like talking about Larry Bird or Magic Johnson to me when I was in Elementary School. Michael retired in 1998, when those now seniors in high school were only 7 or perhaps 8 years old. Mike did play a few more seasons in 1999 and 2001 with the Washington Wizards, but the highlight of his career was certainly during his time with the Chicago Bulls and the six NBA titles that were secured during his tenure.
• Troublemakers are usually those who are in trouble. I’m not exactly sure what message is trying to be sent here, but trouble can be largely avoided if you have parents who teach you the virtues of treating well your fellow men and complying with the standards of society. You can’t abscond the responsibility of the individual to stay out of trouble by saying they are not trouble makers. And more time studying might not necessarily be the answer to sub-par grades. Perhaps the time being spent studying is ineffective due to poor study habits. Part of an education is learning how to learn, not just spending time in the pursuit of learning.
• People may not be born good at things, but there are certainly those who are born with innate abilities and talent. There are those who might work their hardest every day to be the best basketball player in the world, but never succeed. There are those who may aspire to make technological breakthroughs, but never find success. On the other hand, does this negate the feasibility of the attempt? Sometimes if you aim for the stars, you’ll at least end up on the moon. You might not achieve what you initially set out to do; but you may still achieve something great. Again, the American dream is to afford yourself every opportunity to make the most of yourself.
• I have a number of problems with the policies of the president; however, I don’t believe this speech is as great and terrible as many might believe. There is the hope of the American dream embodied in this speech. I wouldn’t say I wouldn’t let my unborn children hear or read this speech; though I would hope they question the man who said it and his ultimate political objectives.
