IS THIS MY COUNTRY?

What the hell is going on in America since I left in late June? The Republican Party, who is currently making me ashamed that I ever associated myself with the G.O.P., has turned into a bunch of whiners and screamers, sniveling away at their loss of freedom and trampled rights. Now I read they are bitching about the idea of the President of the United States making a televised speech to the school children of America, which, they claim is "Big Brotherhood" with this looming sinister figure of the despot President interfering with their inalienable rights.

Let's get real, G.O.P. ultra-conservatives, what is so evil and criminal about the leader of our country talking to kids, as the President of the United States, about the opportunites education presents to them for their betterment and to contribute to the world? Is that sedition, for God's sake? And, as an Afro-American who worked hard for everything he has accomplished, isn't he uniquely qualified to talk to our kids on this important subject?

One of our major educational concerns in America has been the "dumbing down" of educational standards and the loss of quality in our schools. (The same problems are applicable here in U.K., I might add.) We should be delighted that the President of the United States of America has the interest and the concern to want to encourage the nurturing of education among our future citizens.

I am ashamed to learn that in Lee County where I live in America the major city, Fort Myers, banned the President's speech in schools. I find it humiliatingly ignorant that redneck ignorance prevails.

I also think the times we are in calls for a strong leader who is deeply concerned with the wellbeing of our children as well as the older generations. F.D.R. was hated by the Republicans during the depression when I was a kid, but very few people dispute today---even Republicans--- that his strong leadership was a major factor psychologically in overcoming the depression. Can any rational person question that we need a strong executive today?

Shame on you, ultra right-wingers. Why don't you come out FOR something... instead of always being ANTI something. Try to think about the good for the majority of people, just once. You might even learn to enjoy it.