ick
September 3, 2009
I have been unabashedly over the top about loving where I live. I love Suncrest. I love living in Utah, which has pretty much everything I love to do, pretty much directly at the end of my driveway.
But sometimes, not very often, almost never without a caveat, usually with a sad shake of my head, I hate where I live.
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=7786052
School districts cautious ahead of Obama speech to students
September 3rd, 2009 @ 9:04am
By Andrew Adams
NORTHERN UTAH — School districts across Northern Utah are taking precautions ahead of a speech from President Obama to students next Tuesday.
Some parents are concerned what will be said may be offensive or too liberal for their children – and are even vowing to keep their kids away.
It’s not the plague. Not the swine flu. Not even socialism (crossing myself). It’s a speech where the President of the United States of America will “challenge students to work hard, set education goals, and take responsibility for their learning.”
I’m sure tomorrow I’ll be fine. But today? Today I’m sad. And not a little disgusted.
dug 
September 3, 2009 at 10:30 am
WTF is just the right place to file this one. Think about this – the school is offering the opportunity for parents to “opt out” so their kids won’t have to hear THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES speak about the importance of EDUCATION. I didn’t vote for the guy, but he IS the President. Nobody says you have to line up behind him and buy into his political viewpoint – feel free to think for yourself – but isn’t that what we want our high school students to learn to do anyway?
Love your blog, by the way, Dug.
September 3, 2009 at 10:42 am
It really is sad. And embarrassing – for the state. I need to get out to the mountains to remember the really good part about living here.
September 3, 2009 at 10:47 am
sigh, with a tear running down my cheek.
September 3, 2009 at 10:50 am
Amen. I take some solace in the fact that people in other states are acting just as idiotic, but that is only because it lessens my embarrassment. Ick indeed.
September 3, 2009 at 10:53 am
Well said, dug, as usual.
Take the good with the bad, but why does THIS have to be Utah’s bad? It seems a few times a year I have to endure some home-grown-in-Utah embarrassment like this.
Of course the news wouldn’t be trumping this up. No, certainly not.
I am sick of the shrillness and pettiness of extreme (left or right) politics. Why must everything be so polar? It’s ludicrous to immediately assume that because Obama is a democrat his speech will be liberal. My guess is Obama will simply encourage the kids to work hard in school.
Can I opt-out of Utah Tuesday?
September 3, 2009 at 11:57 am
be very grateful you don’t live in florida. being an independent it’s like living in a bad tennis match. extreme is a way of life in this state.
don’t even get me started on…no, in respect for everyone, i won’t go there.
September 3, 2009 at 11:02 am
Umm, yeah. WTF says it all. The President of our country wants to speak on the importance of education (yeah, such a controversial subject) but just b/c the President is from the “other party”, people don’t want to “subject” their kids to such “extremism”? Funny how the concept of patriotism and listening to our leader (even if you disagree with his politic position) disappeared so quickly after the last election. Somehow, I think this type of (over)reaction is contrary to civil discourse and the ability to debate ideas.
September 3, 2009 at 1:56 pm
Amen. If you ask these extremists if they want fascism they’ll likely say “no”, but isn’t that what they’re asking for? Grrr.
September 3, 2009 at 11:02 am
With an ear to the ground on what the “Real People of Northern Utah County” are saying then I have not seen nor heard any of the hysteria mentioned.
I don’t even know a single lunatic who would think of pulling his/her kids out of school over this.
Sounds like a bunch of crap to me.
Some little guy trying to write something sensational to cause a stir.
September 3, 2009 at 1:48 pm
My take is: hypersensitive school officials, perhaps from isolated complaints, decided they better offer options to parents, then the news amplified it into a controversy. Mountains from molehills.
But if the polls are accurate and really split like that, maybe I’m wrong. I really hope I’m not wrong.
September 3, 2009 at 11:03 am
Oh, it said Northern Utah (not county)
Yeah, those guys are whacked!!!!
September 3, 2009 at 11:08 am
I am just wondering if these are the same parents that let their kids sit in front of the TV alone, allowing them to see all the crap that is on there completely unfiltered.
Thanks for sharing.
I follow you blog for a little while already clicking on a link on fatcyclist and I really enjoy it. THANKS!
September 3, 2009 at 11:37 am
I’m still laughing about this. I can’t believe that this is a concern for parents in Utah. Now if the Nazi party were giving a speech then I would be concerned.
When we visited the in-laws in Utah this summer my son wore his Obama shirt to get a rise out of them. I could tell they were all squirming but they all held their tongues.
Maybe they should all practice this kind of restraint.
Guess, I’d be embarrassed by my state too.
September 3, 2009 at 11:38 am
I’m not a fan of Obama or politics in general but I completely feel you on this. That being said, it is a two way street; George W. Bush couldn’t take a piss without some type of uproar.
September 3, 2009 at 12:02 pm
Sorry – I disagree. George W. Bush had fairly high approval ratings for much of his two terms and his press coverage by the so-called Liberal Media (overwhelminly owned and directed by corporate America) struck many of us on the left coast as embarrassingly fawning. There may have been uproar on the part of many people in the Hollywood establishment – yes many are liberal, and they’re famous, so they get coverage, but for the most part George W. went about his business while the rest of us felt patriotic by calling our potatos “Freedom Fries”.
Now if you’d said George W. Bush couldn’t take a piss on the U.S. Constitution without some type of uproar, I’d agree with you – except he did, and there wasn’t much uproar then either.
Sorry.
September 3, 2009 at 2:01 pm
Noted
September 3, 2009 at 11:50 am
Fortunately the poll on the article is showing 56% in favor of letting kids see it. Unfortunately it is only 56% and the other 44% are pretty much split on “opting out” or “keeping kids home”. Definitely a head shaker in this day and age of “open dialogue” and trying to teach your kids to “love one another”.
September 3, 2009 at 12:20 pm
Who is Pandora and where did her box go?
September 3, 2009 at 12:50 pm
I can’t believe this is even a topic of discussion. Who are these people?!
September 3, 2009 at 12:56 pm
hey, maybe we can get nixon to endorse this. the closed-minded superintendents would never know our secret.
September 3, 2009 at 1:13 pm
In Canada you can only “opt out” of school if you are snowed in :o)
September 3, 2009 at 1:58 pm
“god bless amurica. next thing you know them damn democrats will be tellin’ us what kind of light bulbs to put in our houses. it’s my energy – it’s my god given right to use as much of it as I want.”
absolutely ridiculous. how awful would it be to possibly invoke a few abstract thoughts in our childrens brains. american idol would be far more beneficial for them.
here’s some kool-aid kids, drink it up.
September 3, 2009 at 2:26 pm
I agree with most of the opinions expressed here that it’s silly for parents to get their panties in a bunch about the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES coming to speak to their children about education. However, in reading many of the comments I was left with the impression that several commenters are walking the line of becoming exactly what they deride: someone who shows disdain for those with a different opinion on a particular issue.
September 3, 2009 at 2:39 pm
Anon strikes again! I see what you are saying though. Many of the “open minded” liberals are indeed very open to just about everything… except for what those “close minded” people on the right have to say.
September 3, 2009 at 2:46 pm
As bothered as you might be about the politics of this, many of us actually stop reading some blogs when they bother to be political. FWIW.
September 3, 2009 at 2:51 pm
damnit, doug, you just cost me $10. my money was on the “don’t you dare write something “political” or i’ll stop reading your blog” comment coming at 10 comments or fewer.
you made me wait all the way to comment number 25.
September 3, 2009 at 3:01 pm
oh, so we were all just a part of your grand/evil “Socio-Political-Lemmings-off-a-cliff-Mice-in-a-Maze” experiment. how’d we do? what was my score? can i go back to watching Oprah, now?
September 3, 2009 at 3:17 pm
Attaboy, I read your stuff for smartassness. Way to get your focus back.
3rd rail’s a bitch-tough ride to clean; looking forward to tomorrow’s take on religion. You got skills?
September 3, 2009 at 3:28 pm
i’ve done religion.
https://suncrestdug.wordpress.com/category/open-mic-day/
although, i wouldn’t say it means i got skills.
September 3, 2009 at 3:21 pm
Ironic I find these “threats” are excellent opportunities for discussion with my kids. Banning, outlawing, hiding the issue is not a solution.
September 3, 2009 at 3:27 pm
Nothing like politics to get em going eh, dug? If you write about sex, religion, or (gasp!) bathrooms and what goes on in there….you might not have any readers left!
Way to keep us entertained!
Jim
September 4, 2009 at 6:00 am
don’t be embarrassed. it’s not that different here in the suburbs of Utah’s polar opposite, DC; several northern virginia and suburban maryland schools are opting out in response to parents blogging about how horrible it would be for their kids to have to listen to the socialist POTUS.
i don’t think the polarization and end of ‘the election is over, let’s support our President’ attitude started with this past election.
September 4, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Yea, I was just reading CNN about it and it seems to be nationwide among more extreme conservatives. Unfortunately the schools are bowing to the minority.
September 4, 2009 at 2:03 pm
oh, i forgot to mention, the high school he’s speaking at is less than a mile up the street from my place.
September 4, 2009 at 7:26 am
Doug:
Dug and I have argued politics on occasion. I disagree with him but he’s no extremist and carries on a civil discourse at all times. When I lost a bet on the election he was gracious in victory (I still want a re-match Dug). Our disagreements have not caused me to leave his site or refuse to read what he writes. I respect him and his opinion and I’ve enjoyed our arguments.
He’s wrong but hey, no one’s perfect.
That said, yes I have concerns about this. It’s not the presidents address, it’s the discussion materiels the Dept. of Education was going to hand out for afterward that bothered me. Materiel they have since withdrawn by the way. Presidential address-absolutely. Attempts to steer the after address conversation by The DoE-not so much.
I’m just saying.
September 4, 2009 at 6:03 pm
I got letters, emails and phone calls from all three of my boys’ schools today reassuring me that they will have an alternative activity during the President’s back to school speech if I object to them being exposed to an intelligent black man who also happens to lead our nation. I’m too embarrassed and pissed off to engage in intelligent discourse right now. So let me say just this: the local school districts must be full of spineless, pandering, provincial, rednecked, racist, xenophobic (see the recent story about the double MA-degreed Indian man who was not allowed to substitute teach in Panguitch, Utah) and woefully uninformed chicken shits who aren’t worthy of the noble title of educator. God help the little lambs of Utah to NOT grow into the sheep their parents are.
September 8, 2009 at 1:51 pm
In my opinion, this partisan crap is all an act. No one believed he was going to poison the minds of our children, but…by pretending there was an “issue”, it helped create more angst in the minds of those who desperately want/need to believe the worst.
September 18, 2009 at 5:51 pm
I unfortunately had to deal with some of our Utah “brainwashing” worry-warts because of my job. Don’t Utah Mormons often fight the “brainwash” label because of all the teachings and activities that start from a young age. Now they are dishing out this label to the President??? WTF is RIGHT