Back To Basics With Obama

A recent CNN article entitled Obama pushes kids to work hard in back-to-school speech, talks about the Presidents speech encouraging American students to work for the life that they want. He spoke honestly about the need for education being more important than ever right now, and told students that only they can create the life they want. He said that it wouldn't be easy, and that at times they will feel like giving up, but hard work and dedication pays off in the end. I liked the part of his speech where he spoke about the time he was slacking in school and had to be reprimanded by his mother to get back into motion and try harder. It helped students see him as an actual human and not some perfect person just because he is the President. But don't think that a simple do-good message would always go without controversy. Before last years speech, conservatives complained the President would try to force his political agenda on students, and also criticized a lesson plan that included writing letters about how students could help the president. While this years speech went almost unnoticed, there was still some speculation about whether teachers should show it in class, which many did around the nation.
I think that this is a good article to read because it seems like we are all wrapped up in political controversy and drama right now. This article is the opposite of all that, simply taking it back to basics. The President is admitting to students that in hard times, such as these, we need to work a little harder and stay focused on the life that we want for ourselves. Also, I like that he told students, that most of the jobs they want require an education, and they can't just "drop out and drop into a good job." I think a lot of people today have forgotten about this simple message, finding it too easy to roll over and blame others for their problems (mainly the President).  

"The story of America," Obama said, "isn't about people who quit when things got tough. It's about people who kept going, who tried harder, who loved their country too much to do anything less than their best."