So what did your student(s) learn from the Inauguration thus far?

Turn on your squawk box, Gwenny. My son tells me they're replaying it.

 

Our 7-year old watched it for a minute and then said "Is Obama the one who said it was OK that black people can sit anywhere they want on the bus?"

We're still working on a conception of time. "A long time ago" is last Saturday to her!

She also said "I'm glad we live in a country where we can vote. I wouldn't want a mean old dictator telling me what to wear!"

 

I read somewhere that she will likely be compared to Jackie Kennedy as far as style goes. I don't think she comes off like a trendsetter, I think she's kind of down to earth.

 

It is not very common to discuss what men are wearing. When is the last time you watched the Emmy Awards and they stopped the men and asked them who made their suit? I have never seen a recap in a magazine of what the men were wearing at such events, but pages and pages are dedicated to womens fashion. It is just a part of our society.

 

I agree, and I think I am in love with their girls, they seem like very nice children.

 

I can see where she could get confused, there were plenty of references to MLK and the inauguration being the day after and 40 years after MLKs birthday and the first black president. Totally understandable.

 

None of us here cared to watch it.
Quite frankly I'm sick of "Obamapalooza".

 

We had staff meeting and then co-op. But I did turn on the radio when we got in the car. We heard both Biden and Obama sworn in (or whatever it is they call it!) I also heard a good part of his speech. All three kids were actually quiet and paid attention. Faythe was impressed by what he said, but Rachael explained that "he" really didn't write it; he has people whose job it is to write his stuff.

Basically, whether I "like" him or not, he IS president, and we should support him as much as we can. I think my children should be aware of how leadership changes hands in this country.

 

My kids do know how leadership changes hands, its basic government 101.
We didn't feel the need to watch it thats all.
When we voted in previous elections we never watched the swearing in either.

Him being president, doesn't mean I don't support him, I just don't see why people think his is a Superstar or something.
No person should be upheld like this, especially a political leader IMHO.

 

We have never watched it before - but we did today. Like him/dislike him - it was history in the making and that's what I explained to the kids.

Same reason I woke my son up for midnight 2000 - you will never see a millenium happen again (granted he was 3 and doesn't remember - but he was there with me - dh was working)

They will never see "the first black president to be sworn in" again. My son did a comparison to Rosa Parks - she was the first black woman to refuse to give up her seat and my son remembers that and really likes that story because of her courage.

 

Crystal , I so agree with you! We ran errands all day and stopped at wal-mart and to my surprise they had brought a big screen TV from electronics and had it set up on pallets at the front entrance next to the carts and the whole time I shopped they were screaming and yelling in excitement I have never experienced anything like that! It kinda scares me the way American ppl are worshiping him! Anyway I do respect the authority put over us here on earth but will not worship them and make them the center of my world , This is one reason I home-school , Had my children been in public school they would have stayed home today anyhow JMO!

 

Crystal, I'm sorry! My comments were NOT directed at you or anyone else. I was just stating what we did and why. Believe me, I understand where you're coming from with all the hoop-la!

 

We watched part of it - from about 11:30 to the benediction, basically.

My kids actually paid attention, they thought it was neat for History class to watch TV.

I think what they comprehended most was that the president was changing. The thought it was interesting that Joe Biden was actually president for about 20 minutes since there was a short delay in swearing in Obama.

My oldest thought it was a bit odd that the president-elect could remember the oath even though he had just heard it - like he flubbed the repeating of it, etc. She just thought that was strange. I have to agree! LOL (I'll have to let my daughter know it was the chief justice who messed up...not Obama...interesting)

We're still going to do the inauguration lapbook that JennErix posted....we'll spend some time on that.

I'm actually looking forward to 4 years from now - my kids will be older and have a firmer grasp of the situation, I think.

 

Ok, guys...I just had to find the words to the poem read at the inauguration, to see if it meant what I thought it meant. Actually, I like it a lot better reading it for myself. Something about the way the poet read it made it hard to follow, in my opinion.

Anyway...I've heard lots of people saying they didn't get it (not just here, but other friends and family). So, here it is...

'Praise Song for the Day' by Elizabeth Alexander


Each day we go about our business, walking past each other, catching each others’ eyes or not, about to speak or speaking. All about us is noise. All about us is noise and bramble, thorn and din, each one of our ancestors on our tongues. Someone is stitching up a hem, darning a hole in a uniform, patching a tire, repairing the things in need of repair.

Someone is trying to make music somewhere with a pair of wooden spoons on an oil drum with cello, boom box, harmonica, voice.

A woman and her son wait for the bus.

A farmer consider the changing sky; A teacher says, “Take out your pencils. Begin.”

We encounter each other in words, Words spiny or smooth, whispered or declaimed; Words to consider, reconsider.

We cross dirt roads and highways that mark the will of someone and then others who said, “I need to see what’s on the other side; I know there’s something better down the road.”

We need to find a place where we are safe; We walk into that which we cannot yet see.

Say it plain, that many have died for this day. Sing the names of the dead who brought us here, who laid the train tracks, raised the bridges, picked the cotton and the lettuce, built brick by brick the glittering edifices they would then keep clean and work inside of.

Praise song for struggle; praise song for the day. Praise song for every hand-lettered sign; The figuring it out at kitchen tables.

Some live by “Love thy neighbor as thy self.”

Others by first do no harm, or take no more than you need.

What if the mightiest word is love, love beyond marital, filial, national. Love that casts a widening pool of light. Love with no need to preempt grievance.

In today’s sharp sparkle, this winter air, anything can be made, any sentence begun.

On the brink, on the brim, on the cusp -- praise song for walking forward in that light.

 

Thanks for posting the words to that Kari, I didn't read it YET, I'm still half asleep, but later today I will come read it and maybe it will make sense to me. The way that lady read it, it just seemed like broken up words. I don't know if she thought she was at a speak easy (that's what they are called right?) or what, but she had no rythem with it and the words just sounded like random words to me.

 

We watched a portion of it. The thing that bothers me the most about it is we are in a recession and the money spent on this was ridiculous. Obama has the authority to advise them to not spend such money on the event but he didn't. Just like spending so much money on his political ad. To me I see that as wasteful spending, but that's just my opinion.

 

Lee, I totally agree. My hubby who really is totally even more out of the political interest than I am was saying the same thing. Then we were talking about how the entire White House was getting a huge makeover in just 4 or 5 hours and all the new paint and carpets and what not.... sorry but a house does NOT need painted every 4 or 8 years, I don't care who is going to be living in it. We also talked about the set of china that the Bush's bought for the White House... several MILLION dollars for friggen dishes???/ Hello, where is our government's prioirities??

ETA... Oh and of course the paint they are using isn't the same $10 a can stuff we would buy from Walmart ya know?

 

Exactly, that's why I think that if his heart was truly on fixing the country he wouldn't be spending as he does. We watched on tv lastnight how the biggest loser was giving away food boxes and the people receiving them were not poor people. They were average people like us who lost their jobs and can't make ends meet. That money they are using to paint the white house could feed soooo many familys. I understand it might not be your color but their is a cheaper way of painting than I'm sure the way they are doing it. Okay, I'll get off my soap box now. Back to normal programming, lol.

 

hehe.. hubby and I both can get on that soap box. And yes, I agree, those that they gave that food box to on TBL last night soooo didn't look like they were that desperate. I think I would sell off everything in my house before I went asking for hand outs... but that is just me.

 

2 million people and no arrest were reported (stated by Matt Lower on TODAY)......... that seams amazining in itself.