By now most everyone has seen or heard about the New Jersey school children singing praises to President Obama. If you haven't here's one of several that are on-line.
This video freaks me out to the point I am about lost for words. I remember growing up and seeing pictures of school children in communist countries singing songs to their leaders. This is the stuff of dictatorships and atheistic tyrannts. If these children were singing about Castro, or Stalin, or Saddam Hussien, I could see that happening. I would expect nothing less from these types of dictators. Yet here are American school children singing, "Mr. President, we honor you. Mr. President, you're number one."
Now I'm all for honoring our president regardless who it is. But when little children who have no choice are coerced into singing about how great a man the president is goes way beyond honoring the office.
What is our nation coming to when children can sing songs to the president to the tune of "Jesus Love the Little Children," and can't sing the original words to that same song because it speaks of Jesus? President Obama should speak out and say while he's honored by the gesture, we are one nation under God and not one nation under the president. Of course, that's not going to happen so this attack upon the freedom of thought which is central to our country's way of life will go unchallenged by anyone in a position of authority.
Yeah, freakin' out is certainly the word for it. We remember seeing such things in communist countries. It's horrifying to see it happening here!
"President Obama should speak out and say while he's honored by the gesture, we are one nation under God and not one nation under the president."
That's a great suggestion! If we had a president who thought that way, it would be forthcoming. But you know, I have a feeling he just drinks it all in. It's the way he thinks it should be.
Posted by: Gary Zimmerli | September 25, 2009 at 04:26 PM