Quote:
Originally Posted by Nyororin
I find this whole ordeal almost laughable.
Do parents really think a short speech is going to have enough power to overwrite all the things they have taught their children up until this point? If it does - that parenting thing? You`re doing it wrong.
Personally, I would be ashamed if the influence I had upon my child was so incredibly weak that a short speech from someone they did not know in real life could completely overturn it. Seriously - if you`re an involved parent, you should have raised your child according to your beliefs and taught them to follow the same path. Parents have an incredible amount of power over their children.
But I guess if people want to live in a fantasy world where the worst possible influence to their child`s future is a single short speech possibly containing political views they don`t agree with, from a guy in a tv screen... Umm, yeah.
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Maybe try thinking of it this way, Nyororin. You said yourself that you are now rather distanced from US politics and such, so imagine that one of the leaders of the Uyoku dantai (those racists in the black vans) was going to give a speech at your child's school. The guy claims that the speech will be harmless, just "stay in school, work hard, etc", but he refuses to release the speech ahead of time. The homework assignment that goes with the speech originally says "How can I (your child) help the Uyoku dantai?", but when there's an uproar, they change it, claiming it was a "mistake".
Do you trust this guy to merely give a harmless message, despite his previous rhetoric and beliefs? Do you trust that, even if he should veer into ideological propaganda, you've taught your child well enough that it won't take hold even 1 iota, no matter how charismatic the guy may be? Or do you worry for your child and perhaps keep him home that day, because that is not the kind of role model you want telling your kids what to do?
Now, you are probably already saying "but Obama is nothing like the Uyoku dantai..." No, he's far more dangerous, because he has much more power and influence than they'll ever hope to have, and the willing obedience of most of the media and 92% of American teachers, and views that could well destroy this country...
Worrying about our kids falling under a bad influence is natural for parents, and shouldn't just be pish-poshed away.