A Letter to Kay and All Other Barrack Obama Supporters

I wrote an article outlining my questions, concerns and conclusions about Barrack Obama as President of the United States. I received comments and have chosen to answer the following from Kay. It was the sadly the most civil.

Kay Says:

Ms. ______,

I don't wish to be disrespectful, but I am having a difficult time understanding your thinking or logic. I'm old, when something strikes me as inaccurate, I tend to be rather direct and possess little patience, but please hear me out. Your sources of information appear based on political rumors that have been in the news so much lately. You seem to link this Ayers man with Positive Behavior Support because he knows Obama. I have found absolutely NO connection between Ayers and Positive Behavior Supports. The news is filled with links about Obama and Ayers that seem to border on thinly disguised fear mongering. I don't care much about who this Ayers gentleman is-

That said, for starters, Please check out the United States Department of Education OSEP technical assistance center for more information:

http://www.pbis.org

Please, for your sake- for our country's sake- for the love of citizenship and the future of our democracy, regardless of politics- do more, THINK more, and LEARN more about what you write about before passing on unsubstantiated rumors (guilt by association) and bordering on (what I would consider) hate speech repeated from other folks' blogs. It makes me an angry American to read things like this. I don't like the politics of fear- after reading your story, I bet you can do better.

Sincerely

Kay Ak

Brenda Says:

Dear Kay, Thank you for stopping by my blog site. I so appreciate commenters who have something civil and constructive to say! Even when they disagree with me. I will attempt to answer you and hope I can lead you to understand my "thinking and logic".

Kay, I am "old" also (67). I am also a former educator and my MA was in Educational Psychology. In this capacity I became familiar with William Ayers views on education as I felt it my duty to keep up with what was being written no matter the source. I feel there are always a possibility of a gem being found even in the mud. I know what I am talking about when I connect William Ayers with the terms "positive behavior" as the phase is used often in his books. Is it just coincidence that a bill in Congress that Obama introduced just happens to have these words in the title and advocates the very same teaching philosophy that Ayers has made his hallmark?

I will quote for you just one portion of the bill to prove my point: "Amends the Department of Education Organization Act to establish, within the Department of Education, an Office of Specialized Instructional Support Services to oversee, implement, and ensure adequate evaluation of, the provision of specialized instructional support services in schools by school counselors, social workers, psychologists, and other qualified professionals." Make note especially of "the provision of specialized instructional support services in schools by school counselors, social workers, psychologist and other qualified professionals"

William Ayers believes strongly in using psychologist, social workers and other social engineering types of professionals to reshape a child's thinking and therefore their behavior. I must admit his writings seem logical and reasonable and even desirable until one reads between the lines and the socialist views become evident. That this bill would enable those with such views, or any views alien to what I as a parent would want my child exposed to, and with the full backing of the federal government, not only appalls me, but scares the beejeesus out of me.

Now one more quote from the bill: "early intervention services for all students. Includes among such services, school-wide positive behavior support, defined as a systematic approach to embed proven practices for early intervention services in order to achieve important social outcomes and increase student learning, while preventing problem behaviors." Please make special note of : "early intervention services for all students". Why all students? Why not those who are having difficulties adjusting to the school environment? And "embed"? Embed what? I am afraid I am very much opposed to some stranger "embedding" anything in my child's mind. Then there is "embed................to achieve important social outcomes...." What "social outcomes"? I don't feel any responsible parent can blindly assume the "social outcomes" that are being "embedded" are necessarily good for my child or my country. Do you?

As a parent I would be concerned as to just what my children are being taught about what to believe and how to behave. How their "thinking " is being "reshaped". I felt teaching my children how to interact in society was my place. I was responsible for teaching my children right and wrong. The church was the second teacher of social behaviors and moral beliefs. The schools were to teach reading,writing and arithmetic to children whom it is assumed have been taught at home the required social behaviors that would "increase student learning". In cases where the child has not acquired these behaviors at home then the schools are currently attempting with school counselors to help these children. And yes, I agree the schools are falling short in this their main responsibility, but is that any reason to now give them parenting and religious duties on top of all else? Or to crowd into already overwhelmingly busy schedules the special "reshaping" sessions?

But then perhaps you feel making a society of like thinking and like behaving individuals is to be desired. You know we had this in the South about a hundred and fifty years ago when the majority of the population believed Negros were less than human and slavery was the natural way. Their ministers even found and preached how the Bible approves of slavery. They believed so strongly in this that they were willing to go thru a bloody war for their beliefs. I use this as an example of having a society that has been taught a certain "behavior". You can also see this in the schools in Communist countries. China comes to mind. I feel bad every time I see groups of little Chinese children singing the songs that glorify their leaders and the Communist Party. They are being brainwashed. I don't want this for our children.

I repeat: "Is it just coincidence that a bill in Congress that Obama introduced just happens to have these words (Positive Behavior) in the title and advocates the very same teaching philosophy that Ayers has made his hallmark?" And this in view of Obama's association with Ayers over the years in educational forums and organizations? Or are there no dots to connect here?

As for Obama's association with Ayers: I have to give you that the mainstream media (NY Times, CNN and other news organizations) have found no close ties. But this is from Wikipedia:

"Ayers and Dohrn hosted a gathering at their home in the Hyde Park section of Chicago, the neighborhood in which the Obamas lived,[5] at which then- state Senator Alice J. Palmer introduced Barack Obama as her choice for the 1996 Democratic primary.[5] Palmer denied that she organized the political affair for Obama, although she said she attended. Dr. Quentin Young, a longtime physician, who also attended, referred to the gathering as the political coming-out party for Obama. Young said it was a small group-maybe a dozen or so people-who were being introduced to the next senator from Chicago's South Side, and that money was raised for Obama at the event.[9] Although the exact date of the gathering is not known, it was sometime in the second half of 1995, according to Ben Smith, a reporter for The Politico.[4]

Obama served as president of the board of directors for the Chicago Annenberg Challenge, a large education-related nonprofit organization that Ayers was instrumental in starting.[5] The board disbursed grants to schools and raised private matching funds while Ayers worked with the operational arm of the effort. Both attended some board meetings in common starting in 1995, retreats, and at least one news conference together as the education program started. They continued to attend meetings together during the 1995-2001 period when the program was operating.[5]

Obama and Ayers served together for three years on the board of the Woods Fund of Chicago, an anti-poverty foundation established in 1941. Obama had joined the nine-member board in 1993, and had attended a dozen of the quarterly meetings together with Ayers in the three years up to 2002, when Obama left his position on the board,[1] which Ayers chaired for two years.[10] Laura S. Washington, chairwoman of the Woods Fund, said the small board had a collegial "friendly but businesslike" atmosphere, and met four times a year for a half-day, mostly to approve grants.[2] The two also appeared together on academic panel discussions, including a 1997 University of Chicago discussion on juvenile justice. They again appeared in 2002 at an academic panel co-sponsored by the Chicago Public Library.[1] One panel discussion in which they both appeared was organized by Obama's wife, Michelle.[11]"

I really don't know what would be considered an "association" between Obama and Ayers by these news organizations if the above doesn't qualify. Would you enlighten me? What and how have I misinterpreted this as being an association?

You wrote: "Please, for your sake- for our country's sake- for the love of citizenship and the future of our democracy, regardless of politics- do more, THINK more, and LEARN more about what you write about before passing on unsubstantiated rumors (guilt by association) and bordering on (what I would consider) hate speech repeated from other folks' blogs. It makes me an angry American to read things like this. I don't like the politics of fear- after reading your story, I bet you can do better."

Kay, I do not repeat what I read on other blogs. I promise you. Frankly I am too enamored of my own opinions to slurp up anyone else's. I base my opinions first on my own experiences gained over a long life time. Then I research newspapers, research statistics and public and government documents. What I pass on are not "unsubstantiated rumors".

Now as for "hate speech", well I am sorry you consider the truth as hate speech. I guess your mother was more successful in teaching you that if you can't say something nice then say nothing at all. My dear mother gave up finally when I reached my teens.

Kay, the truth isn't always pretty or nice because people are not pretty or nice or honest or kind. This man is running for the highest office in America and will have much influence on my life and the life of those I love now and into the future. I feel it is incumbent on me as a serious and intelligent person to learn as much as I can about his past activities and his character.

Yes, his character! What he says is all well and good, but you and I surely know how little what a presidential candidate says he will do actually gets done. He has Congress to contend with and convince on anything he might like to see done during his reign, and they don't always go along. So I must base my vote on this man's character. And his character is best determined by those he associates with. You have learned that old adage: birds of a feather flock together. It is probably one of the most profound things my Mom did get thru to me. Well, Barrack Obama's associated with an unrepentant terrorist for a number of years. He also attended the church of, and called a mentor, a man who preached hate for my country from his pulpit. Obama attended Jeremiah Wrights church for 20 years. These are just two of his associations that I must judge his character by. I find his character not to my liking. In fact I find his character "hateful". If he spent 20 years listening to a preacher preaching hate for the United States then I can only assume he agreed with what he was hearing every Sunday. Surely you have to agree with this assessment? Or, do you have another explanation? Perhaps he was one of those who went to church to catch up on his sleep. (My Grandpap did this in later years too. It was my job to poke him before he made any embarrassing noises.)

Kay, it makes me angry that people are ignoring the truth about Barrack Obama and that he just may be elected to the presidency. So I will ask you, in fact beg you with your own words: "Please, for your sake- for our country's sake- for the love of citizenship and the future of our democracy, regardless of politics- do more, THINK more, and LEARN."

Thank you again for visiting me. Please come back anytime you question what I have to say and I will try to explain to you why I feel as I do.