Should Obama Speak to Children in School?

There's bit a lot of dialog about this upcoming week's speech by Obama to kids in our public schools. I've heard both sides of the political aisle state their opinion on why he should be able to do this and why it's such a dangerous thing if he does.

Let me start off by saying that I didn't vote for Obama. I think that many of his economic and social policies are dangerous to the long-term viability of our country. I really don't like the way he struts.

But all that aside, a recurring theme from those against Obama speaking is the fear of our kids being "brainwashed" by his propaganda.

Really people? Come on.

Our kids hear messages all the time from advertisers, Disney, their teachers, parents, and others in authority over them. And you know what I do as a PARENT? I help them filter through what is truth, what is destructive, what is appropriate, and how to react in each circumstance. You know, teach them how to THINK based on what they hear. And, to quote a fellow blogger of mine, use discernment to filter what you hear.

Anyway, I think parents should be less concerned about this speech - given everything else they are exposed to that is likely much more toxic than anything Obama could say - and more concerned about their role as parents to teach their kids to process and react appropriately to all of the stimulus around them.