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Obama is a bad word at some Mississippi schools
Filed under: In The News
For the past few days, everywhere I go I hear people talking about our new President-Elect Barack Obama. The overwhelming majority of these overheard conversations are between excited young people, thrilled with his victory and giddy with excitement over our country's future. I have also heard conversations between McCain supporters who are disappointed with the way things turned out and apprehensive about what will happen next.
However you feel about Obama's victory, it is good to know that here in America, we are free to celebrate or criticize to our heart's content. Well, most of us are. Some students in Mississippi have found that the mere mention of Obama's name can get them in trouble.
The ACLU has received complaints from students and parents in that state claiming they are being told not to say Barack Obama's name or wear shirts or other items expressing their support for the President-Elect. At Pearl Junior High School, two students were kicked off the bus for daring to utter Obama's name. Players for the girls' basketball team were told they would be suspended if they spoke Obama's name. And at Puckett Attendance Center, two students were informed that Barack Obama was only to be discussed in history class, not in other classes or in the halls.
Why would these so-called authority figures want to silence conversations about our soon-to-be president? I am going to resist the urge to speculate on that. Let me just quote, in part, from a memorandum sent to high school teachers in Magee, Mississippi: "Seeing history in the making and being a part of that process is a wonderful thing. Many of you are excited because of this. Others are not. It is absolutely critical that we not use this election as a divisive event."
Because haven't we had enough divisiveness?
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 63)
11-09-2008 @ 4:20PM
Bob Lieber said...well, it is mississippi.
Reply
11-09-2008 @ 6:34PM
MRS. KKG said...you is so right MISSISSIPPI IS A REDNECK STATE and they need to get over this this man has 4 years in office. Is these rednecks going to be mad the whole 4 years. GET OVER IT , IT'S TIME FOR A CHANGE.
11-09-2008 @ 9:19PM
LeeAnn said...DUH........Mississippi is majority Black!!!!! And guess who they along with another "Black" State (Alabama) voted for? MC CAIN!!!!!
11-09-2008 @ 9:46PM
Elentari Galad said...Sorry LeeAnn. According to the U.S. Census, Mississippi's population is 37.1% black and Alabama's is 26.3% black. I'd bet they DID vote for Obama. But nice attempt, trying to blame this on blacks.
11-09-2008 @ 9:52PM
Elentari Galad said...Sorry LeeAnn. Mississippi's population is 37.1% black and Alabama's is 26.3% black. Nice attempt though, trying to blame oppression on blacks. Even if they were the majority in those states, who has the power? Guess they'll just have to get over it.
11-09-2008 @ 10:20PM
Heartbears said...I get tired of hearing how black are so oppressed. Anyone, any color, can accomplish anything they want to, if they so desire. Where there is a will, there is a way. But it is so much easier for someone to sit on their butt and believe that the government owes them something. Obama has now PROVEN that a black person can become president. NO MORE COMPLAINING!
11-09-2008 @ 4:32PM
sue said...this crap
Reply
11-09-2008 @ 5:14PM
nvdesertdreamer said...Obama won Mississippi, What is wrong with those ignorant f***s down there????? This certainly cannot be legal.
Reply
11-09-2008 @ 9:27PM
LA said...OBAMA did NOT win Mississippi OR Alabama. You have a computer, check out which states voted for which candidate. It will give you something to do besides write stupid post.
11-09-2008 @ 10:13PM
Wayne Fowler said...The only Southern states obama won were colorado, new mexico, florida and north carolina
11-09-2008 @ 4:34PM
Ray said...I did not vote for the man but am still willing to give him the chance to prove himself. His skin color has nothing to do with how he can or can't govern this country. It is time for all Americans to realize that our country needs to be above all this petty crap.
Reply
11-09-2008 @ 10:26PM
deedee said...Race wasn't even a factor when I voted for him. I voted with knowledge of both party's choices, and chose the most intelligent person. Race only became a factor after the election with me, during Obama's speech, when he mentioned a preacher from Atlanta with a dream. It was at this time I realized what a dream had been fulfilled. Give change a chance...
11-09-2008 @ 10:31PM
camellia said...thank u ray,that is the most decent comment i've read so far!!
11-09-2008 @ 10:36PM
Ranttessa said...Ray is right. It's time we get our knickers out of a knot and get to work being Americans. We've got a lot of work to do to bail ourselves out of sinking ship some Wall Street greed mongers put us into.
And people, try to use punctuation, so we can understand what you mean.
Try to use good grammar, so we can understand what you mean.
Try to use good spelling, so we can understand what you mean.
EOR (End of Rant)
11-09-2008 @ 4:39PM
ONERN4TLC said...My son got a level III suspension or paddling for saying OBAMA...course,,they were watching slides of animals...an old goat was shown and a black kid in the room said "MCCAIN"... a monkey was shown and my kids yelled...YOU GUESSED IT.."OBAMA"... for some wild reason "no one" could say who the other kid was...My sons teacher called my son a racist and sent him to the office where he took his punishment from the new black female asst. principle...lawsuit is pending...my child was stupid..but the teacher was also..she labelled my child a racist, and then he got level III...this coincides with drug use, robbery, extortion, guns...GEEZE folks. get over it
Reply
11-09-2008 @ 8:15PM
Leaper said...Get used to it--- if you don't agree with the liberals-- you will be jailed. They have announced plans to throw Rush Limbaugh off the air. Book burning will be next.
11-09-2008 @ 10:23PM
amy said...That's terrible! How bout freedom of speech? I hope the school has to pay for your son's ENTIRE future education-he deserves it!
11-09-2008 @ 10:19PM
shall28093 said...That is because you son is a racist...just like you. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
11-09-2008 @ 11:22PM
Jen said...To continue off-topic...
How does connecting a monkey with a black man make any child worthy of a free education? Other than the fact that he obviously requires some severe educating...
Of course, the teacher should have calmly explained that his "reasoning" is one of the biggest problems our society faces today, and she should have used the opportunity to discuss race issues rather than resorting to name-calling. However, the fact remains that it was a racist comment, just like the McCain/goat comment was discriminatory based on age (for which she also should have scolded them). If the kid is going to insinuate that a black man is a monkey, it would be irresponsible as an educator not to inform him of how racist his comment was.
And, Amy, how about freedom of speech for the teacher to call it like she sees it? That isn't a one-way argument. We should all hold ourselves - and our children - to the same high moral standard (that doesn't involve comparing people to animals).
11-10-2008 @ 9:26AM
liberalMomma said...I don’t know where you are from, but if you think that comment your child said was not racist, then you truly are nuts. There is a huge difference between a Billy-goat and a Monkey, in terns of slang. An old goat has been used as a term referring to an old person. Monkey has been used as a racist term towards African Americans. Children should know right from wrong, unfortunately, what is heard at HOME is often repeated by children. Take a lesson from this experience, and watch the things you say & mostly think before you speak!
Not only suspension but a little soap in those dirty mouths should change what these kids are saying.
One Nation Under GOD! We are all created equal, when will people see beyond color and stop Breeding IGNORANCE!