TWO IMPORTANT SPEECHES

by MONITOR
BARACK Obama has made two important speeches this week. One was to the rare joint meeting of the Senate and House of Representatives at which he set out in clear terms why he intends to be the last President to fight for a health-care Bill for the nation. The other was delivered at a school in Virginia and broadcast to the schoolchildren of America as they assembled for a new term; other presidents have done something similar in the past yet Mr Obama's message did not reach all children. RIght-wing radio and TV commentators claimed that the President would be delivering “socialist” propaganda and should not be heard by innocent ears. Protests from like-minded parents and even some school administrators followed. But the President went ahead anyway with his subversive left-wing thoughts, telling his audience: “Whatever you resolve to do, I want you to commit to it. The truth is, being successful is hard. You won't love every subject. You won't click with every teacher... At the end of the day, we can have the most dedicated teachers, the most supportive parents and the best schools in the world; and none of it will matter, unless all of you fulfill your responsibilities.” Important though the President's address in Washington may have been, is it just possible that his wise words to the schoolchildren will have more lasting effect?