Monday, December 13, 2010

Outrageous Statement of the Day

Michelle Obama on Child Nutrition: "We Can’t Just Leave It Up To The Parents". This is a great example of a real mindset problem. This mindset leads to the notion that government MUST be involved in just about everything because where parents may fail their children - government must step in. Where employers may fail their employees - government must step in. Where business may fail their consumer - government must step in. Where schools may fail their students - government must step in. That isn't just a slippery slope, it's pure ice.

6 comments:

  1. "Yes We Can!" (Just leave it up to the parents, that is!) Hahaha!

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  2. Listen to what Michelle said in this video. She praised parents for providing nutritious meals for their kids. She wants schools to do the same, since "many kids get up to half their daily calories from school meals."

    You intentionally want to see the worst in the Obamas, distorting what they say. If that's what being Catholic is about, you can have it.

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  3. Where in this video did Michelle Obama say, or even imply, that parents may be failing their children?

    You said, based on this video, that Michelle has a particular mindset. I quote you: "This mindset leads to the notion that government MUST be involved in just about everything because where parents may fail their children - government must step in."

    Again, where in this video did you hear Michelle say that parents are failing their children?

    This is not a rhetorical question. I want Al or Nick to answer it.

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  4. Being the careful reader that you are mauman, you no doubt noticed that what I said was that the MINDSET leads to the notion "that government MUST be involved in just about everything."

    I notice in your previous post that you say "You intentionally want to see the worst in the Obamas, distorting what they say." No, I don't see the worst in the Obamas. I didn't distort what she said at all. She said "We can't just leave it up to the parents."

    The fact that kids - according to her - get up to half their calories at school IS PART OF THE PROBLEM. It's govermnene dependence at its worst.

    The Catechism of the Catholic Church couldn't be more clear about the role of parents in their children's lives. To say it is primary is an understatement. If you don't think the Obama administration is interested in larger government that will displace parents, then I really can't help you.

    - Nick

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  5. I think what the First Lady is saying is that parents can't be the only ones responsible for child nutrition. It's a 'team effort.' But as her husband has said many times, "government can't turn off the TV."

    On a side note: In a perfect world, all parents would take more responsibility for raising their children. In the real world, many don't.

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  6. I agree with you, anonymous. I think Michelle actually went overboard in her praise of parents.

    Nick, I doubt that you would have misunderstood the meaning of "We can’t just leave it up to the parents" if it had been said in a different context. Consider this:

    Many Catholic parents do a good job of teaching their children the Catholic faith. But their children also spend a lot of time outside the home. For example, they may attend Catholic school. We need to make sure that Catholic schools teach orthodox Catholic doctrine. If the schools teach liberal fluff instead, then they would be undermining the good work of the parents. Hence, a bishop who properly oversees the Catholic schools in his diocese would say: "We can’t just leave it up to the parents. I think that parents have a right to expect that their efforts at home won’t be undone each day in the school classroom."

    You wouldn't have accused the bishop of having a mindset that blamed the parents for failing to properly teach the faith to their children. On the contrary, you would have applauded his efforts to ensure that Catholic schools in his diocese provide a good Catholic education.

    You can "get" the Obamas on many things, such as their liberal stance on abortion. I just ask that you not contrive a controversy where none exists. You got this one wrong. Unfortunately, your pride prevents you from admitting it.

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