The American Spectator

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Schooled in Politics

11.14.08 @ 6:01AM

SCHOOL'S OUT
Re: George Neumayr's A Reality Check:

Well, at least the liberals are consistent -- I remember their angry demands that George Bush send his own daughters to fight in Iraq, as a means of putting his money where his mouth was. No wonder this party supports abortion so staunchly: other peoples’ children simply do not enjoy the dignity of human beings in their eyes.
-- Anne T. Stinneford
Chicago, Illinois

Barack Obama, from what little we know about him, was reared in liberal white culture, and is the beneficiary of private education.

Michelle Obama, from what little I might presume about her, was reared in socially conservative black culture. If she is the product of public education, the system served her well, though her parents were probably the larger influence.

It might even be argued that it was her private, Ivy League experience, where she was ill-served, in that her race made her an outsider, and the insiders wielded race against her.

The Clinton's easy choice for Chelsea (their daughter not being a social experiment) was Sidwell Friends, but the Obamas face a dilemma. Chelsea Clinton did not add to the diversity of Sidwell Friends -- Sasha and Malia would.

But I wonder if Michelle has any concern that Georgetown Day, or Sidwell Friends, would be her Princeton experience redux? Michelle Obama lived it first-hand, so she knows, but probably would never dare say, that the purpose of diversity is to enhance the educational experience of the privileged white students. Would she see her daughters in that role?

On the other hand, it is obvious that the vast majority of students are ill-served by the D.C. public system. The Obamas could make a political statement by sending their children to a public school, but at what cost?  Furthermore, the public schools are overburdened as is. By sending the girls to public school, the Obamas would be adding distractions and complications that hinder that system's mission.

An interesting compromise, and I hope the Obamas consider it, would be to send the girls to Catholic school. Inner city Catholic schools are racially homogenous, fairly rigorous academically, and attended, primarily, by non-Catholics.

In any event, when the Obamas choose a school, their only consideration should be the best outcome for Sasha and Malia. That should go without saying, but when asked, I hope they are not shy in stating it.
-- Dan Martin
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

PUNT LIKE A LIBERAL
Re: R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr.'s Vitality in the Wilderness:

Pain is a most powerful teacher, but he charges a high price for every lesson. The American public is about to undergo a series of lesson from the Loony Left and their policies. Sadly, these are lessons that have been taught and paid for before. Anyone with eyes to see and intelligence to reason can count the cost paid in moral, ethical, economic and human capital. FDR's New Deal, Johnson's Great Society and every liberal and quasi-liberal program (e.g., Nixon and his economic policies) have taught and rewarded dependence on the government. No discernible reason can be found to believe that an Obama/Reid/Pelosi axis (Triumvirate?) will offer anything but  high taxation on the able body and innovative and payments to the lazy, unprincipled and greedy. Further, history teaches us that we can expect a battle to keep our freedoms: whenever a left of center administration either is voted in or takes power via other methods, rights are infringed and denied.

The American people have called down the thunder and now we must face the storm. In the words of Dylan (Bob, not Thomas), "A hard rain is gonna fall." But after a rain, God gives us rainbows. Yes, the next four years will be difficult, but small government types, economic conservative and Libertarians, can use this time to plan and build.  Many a Jeremiah has lamented the destruction of the party, but if true believers in small government hold their faith and principles, we can lead our Big Government brethren and Reagan Democrats out of their foolish desires for the flesh pots of government handouts (or bail outs) and to the promise land of true freedom: a balance  of rights and responsibilities.
-- Ira M. Kessel
Rochester, New York

In the next two years when Republicans are sure to lose a vote and it isn’t wise politically to vote No they should stand up and state, "In the audacious footsteps of President Obama, I vote Present."
-- Michael Tomlinson
Camp Habbaniyah, Iraq

LONELY TIMES FOR SOCIAL CONSERVATIVES
Re: Christopher Orlet's Refighting the Culture War:

Letter to the Editor