Today, I got the following email from the Hamilton County (Ohio) Democratic Party. I think it stands on its own. Enjoy.
Dear Craig,
There is controversy over President Obama's televised speech today to school students across the nation, a speech urging them to stay in school, to graduate, to work hard and emphasizing the value of a good education. Many schools have chosen not make use of the speech. One such case is worthy of particular attention.
The case of the Lakota School system in the northern area of metropolitan Cincinnati speaks volumes. The Lakota school system is one of those refusing to make use of the President's speech.
Source: http://www.lakotaonline.com/news.cfm?story=1999&location=8
Clearly, in doing so, they bow to the political pressure coming from parents and others in this largely Republican area.
But a bit of history puts this decision in perspective. In late September 2004, George Bush in the heat a close re-election campaign, came to that area for a campaign rally billed by the Republican Party as the"biggest of the year." They hoped for 50,000 people.
What did the Lakota School system do then? Did they remain non-partisan?
The record shows:
* They shut down the entire school system two hours early so people could attend.
* They canceled afternoon preschool and kindergarten.
* They packed the 500+ marching member marching band onto 19 school buses and sent them to entertain the crowd.
* They sent the school choir to sing the national anthem.Presumptively all this was justified as "showing respect the office," since using taxpayer dollars for partisan political purposes would be highly inappropriate.
From Cincinnati Enquirer press reports at the time:
"LakotaSchools are dismissing two hours early, and afternoon preschool andkindergarten classes are canceled, as are junior school sportingevents.Students at the International Academy of Cincinnati in WestChester and Mother Teresa School in Liberty Township also will headhome two hours early today. The Lakota district will fill 19 buses with565 members of the Lakota West and East high school marching bands andthe Lakota West chorus, and transport them to the rally."Source: http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2004/09/27/loc_loc1abush.html
"...in the hours before Bush's arrival, National Football League Hall of Famer Anthony Munoz helped lead off a series of speeches by local leaders. The former Cincinnati Bengal, who has been active in charitable efforts to benefit Greater Cincinnati youths, called himself "a big Bush fan."
"He's proven that he's a great leader and we need that leadership for the next four years," Munoz told the crowd that included many local students. Lakota Schools and some other nearby schools dismissed classes early today. Lakota school bands performed, and the Lakota West High School choir sang the national anthem."
Source: http://www.enquirer.com/midday/09/09282004_News_mday_bush28.html
So what "respect for the office" does the Lakota school system show now for President Obama? None.
Laid side by side, what message do these two decisions convey to students?
1. That one President is worthy of respect and another is not. This is clearly partisan, having nothing to do with "the office".
2. There is nothing wrong with being deceitful about what you are doing and why you do it.
Is this really the message we should be sending to our children?
Talk about a double standard. It just can't get much more blatant than that. Just who is indoctrinating who? This is not what our country is about.
Caleb Faux
Executive Director
Hamilton County Democratic Party
6109 Webbland Place
Cincinnati, OH 45213-1405
513.421.0495
www.hamiltoncountydems.org
