"Edugate"

Many who know me and my political ideology know that I prefer to have an individual opinion void of a complete partisan platform. That said, I find that the most current partisan games have passed the line of embarrassment and I feel the need to comment.

In recent months, we have seen many headlines informing us of the increasing polarizing debates revolving around President Obama's actions and politics. The most recent reaction on the political right to Obama's speech encouraging our nation's youth to stay in school, however, is downright laughable.

While, I am not one to name one party more correct than another due to the complication of our nations many worthwhile issues, I feel this most recent speech uproar to be a front to our nation's intellect and common sense. Critics of the speech have stated that the president is attempting to "indoctrinate" our nation's youth. Or better yet, they state he is attempting to "hijack" the parental role. It seems that while the democrats are attempting to achieve the impractical, republicans are busy serving up a punch of fear on the "NObama" bandwagon. Snap out of it, America!

First off parents, your kids are in school because YOU put them there. They learn and do their homework at home because YOU enforce it. If they're still in school, it's because YOU-the parent-did the indoctrinating long before the president said a word. The only children who are going to feel the encouragement of staying in school from this speech are going to be the ones who don't get it at home. As for the rest, the president is simply reinforcing a message they get at home anyway.

Second, regardless of the source, is it really that bad to encourage a child to stay in school? I can imagine people being up in arms about the president coming on the air and giving a speech stating that BJ's don't count as adultery, or condoning polygamy, but staying in school? Honestly, if people are so hell-bent to hate the president and his politics, there has to be something better out there than getting our knickers in a bunch over his attempt to lower America's drop-out rate.

In reaction to the airing of the speech, many in-laws were ready to pull their children out of school for the day. So let me get this straight: our parents, so fearful of the evil message of "stay in school", have PULLED their kids out of school for the day, essentially undermining the original message to begin with-regardless of its source. I guess I shouldn't be surprised this reaction is coming from a party which advocates the spread of peace through massive preemptive bombing.

America, we need to get back on track talking about the issues which will have a lasting effect on our youth, rather than those built upon a foundation of fear. We need to have more thoughtful discussions about what to do about our failing systems of health care and border patrol, in addition to education. Let's not waste our breath on such frivolous matters as this. Honestly, it's embarrassing.