"The Price of Greatness is Responsibility"

Winston Churchill made the remark, "the price of greatness is responsibility." Barack Obama underscored that message today in his address to the school children of America.

Had you a problem with the idea of the President of the United States speaking to American school children? I hope you are feeling a little ashamed about that misguided protest.

His speech was "really inflammatory". . .ooh. .."take responsibility and stay in school". . .ooh. .."no excuses". ..yep, the kids are going to run home and smack down anyone who isn't a Democrat. The kids may not feel that way, but I am feeling that way towards all the people that made such a controversy over a message that all parents should be having with their kids.

The controversy actually started over the accompanying lesson plan developed by the Department of Education: write a letter to yourself on what you can do to help the President. While I don't see that being "over-the edge-political", I will acknowledge that it may be unsettling to some people. Fine. They changed the lesson plan and people still got caught up with the "speech". The "Right" does a really good job at confusing the issue at hand.

Obama told our youth that "being successful is hard." He told them that we depend upon them to find solutions for our future. He told them that there is "no excuse" to drop out of school, skip classes and not study. He told them that their "education was their future." Isn't all of this true? Right, Left or Middle of the Road - who can argue with this?

What does it stay of a nation that can not come together on a message to their youth? I believe that it says we will continue to make the same mistakes, deny the issues that threaten to envelop us and lead us further away from finding the solutions.

I hope that those of you who denied your children the right to hear this message will let them watch the replay or better yet, READ the speech and discuss over dinner. Which part don't you agree with?