School children taught to praise Obama in song...

[Beebalm]

Poor kids. What a complete WASTE of their time. How about working on learning math facts, science experiments, READING, music theory, American history, world history, foreign language, spelling, etiquette.....I can think of about a million things that could actually be for THEIR benefit, not someone else's political agenda. Mmmm, mmmm, mmmm, what a bunch of garbage! (to be sung to the tune of BHO).

[stephanie]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zrsl8o4ZPo&feature=player_embedded

 

How do others feel about this? Should this be allowed or encouraged? As a parent, I would hope they had my permission before doing this. This is not about politics - I just think it really crosses the line. What says the hive?

 

That's borderline blasphemy for me. That's just my opinion though so no tomatoes, please.:D

[PineFarmMom]

That's borderline blasphemy for me. That's just my opinion though so no tomatoes, please.:D

 

No tomatoes. It IS blaspheme!!!

[Erica in PA]

My kids sing Old MacDonald. Not only is it a song about 1 person, its a person who probably never even existed.

 

 

There is nothing wrong with singing about the admirable accomplishments of a person- ANY person. SInging about someone is not the same as worship, nor is it a sign of anything problematic.

 

 

 

So I guess you would be fine with having public school kids sing a song about the accomplishments of Jesus (since singing about a person doesn't mean worship or indoctrination)? He had a few that were even more impressive than Obama's.

[Erica in PA]

It's wrong to put a child in a position where they are essentially forced to praise a leader they may (or may not) favor. It is coercive, and wrong, and violates freedom of conscious.

 

Such things have no place in a public school.

 

Bill (who has no problem with songs about Davy Crockett, Daniel Boone, or Paul Bunyon)

 

I am so relieved to be able to say: :iagree:

 

;)

[babysparkler]

Is there a transcript of the song out there???

 

Janet

 

Janet-- Here is the best one I could find.. From You Tube video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aqMTD5UFmU

 

Lyrics

========

Song 1:

Mm, mmm, mm!

Barack Hussein Obama

 

He said that all must lend a hand

To make this country strong again

Mmm, mmm, mm!

Barack Hussein Obama

 

He said we must be fair today

Equal work means equal pay

Mmm, mmm, mm!

Barack Hussein Obama

 

He said that we must take a stand

To make sure everyone gets a chance

Mmm, mmm, mm!

Barack Hussein Obama

 

He said red, yellow, black or white

All are equal in his sight

Mmm, mmm, mm!

Barack Hussein Obama

 

Yes!

Mmm, mmm, mm

Barack Hussein Obama

 

Song 2:

Hello, Mr. President we honor you today!

For all your great accomplishments, we all doth say "hooray!"

 

Hooray, Mr. President! You're number one!

The first black American to lead this great nation!

 

Hooray, Mr. President we honor your great plans

To make this country's economy number one again!

 

Hooray Mr. President, we're really proud of you!

And we stand for all Americans under the great Red, White, and Blue!

 

So continue ---- Mr. President we know you'll do the trick

So here's a hearty hip-hooray ----

 

Hip, hip hooray!

Hip, hip hooray!

Hip, hip hooray!

[babysparkler]

So I guess you would be fine with having public school kids sing a song about the accomplishments of Jesus (since singing about a person doesn't mean worship or indoctrination)? He had a few that were even more impressive than Obama's.

 

:hurray:

[PineFarmMom]

So I guess you would be fine with having public school kids sing a song about the accomplishments of Jesus (since singing about a person doesn't mean worship or indoctrination)? He had a few that were even more impressive than Obama's.

 

:iagree: He is a historical figure as well as God in the flesh. We could take the historical part and make a song about all that He did. If this Obama song can fly, then why can't we sing about Jesus?

[Kari C in SC]

This video currently has 363 views and features about a dozen bored-looking kids. I might be wrong, but I don't think this is the sign of the Apocalypse.

 

:iagree:

 

:thumbup::hurray:

[Tree House Academy]

Until I know the context of this I'm not going to condemn it. If the President was going to visit this school or something then they're just doing what teachers have done for years, making up songs to honor their guest. I have the feeling there's more to this than we're being told. I certainly don't think it's some evil indoctrination plot to get kids to follow Obama blindly regardless of what their parents think.

 

Of course your right wing is showing. :001_smile: It's perfectly acceptable to condemn this song but not worshiping George Bush.

 

Oh no....that worshipping George Bush video you posted is totally disgusting. It is offensive to me, as a Christian as well. But I do think the two are different in that these kids were sent to Jesus camp willingly whereas public school is not a "choice" for many families.

Edited September 24, 2009 by Tree House Academy

[HRAAB]

This video currently has 363 views and features about a dozen bored-looking kids. I might be wrong, but I don't think this is the sign of the Apocalypse.

 

The one I saw had over 25,000 views. And I still don't think it's a sign of the Apocalypse.

 

Janet

[5kidsforME]

The one I saw had over 25,000 views. And I still don't think it's a sign of the Apocalypse.

 

Janet

 

Did ANYONE say or imply it was the sign of the Apocalypse? :confused:

[PineFarmMom]

The one I saw had over 25,000 views. And I still don't think it's a sign of the Apocalypse.

 

Janet

 

:glare:Just because people aren't fond of it doesn't mean they think it's the apocalypse. I don't like it...it IS creepy. I think the Apocalypse will look much different, thank you.

[Tree House Academy]

My kids sing Old MacDonald. Not only is it a song about 1 person, its a person who probably never even existed.

 

 

There is nothing wrong with singing about the admirable accomplishments of a person- ANY person. SInging about someone is not the same as worship, nor is it a sign of anything problematic.

 

Your Pol Pot comparison is a little telling, frankly.

 

 

Yeah...do your kids sing about how he had a farm or do they sing, "Almighty old McDonald, we praise thee..." ??? :glare:

[JennC]

So Paul Bunyan or ol' John Henry... that's creepy too? Lizzy Borden, that's a kid's song that's creepy.

 

No, Obama is our first black President. Rose up from humble beginnings. He's a good role model. The teacher decided to teach that in a song. Until I hear otherwise I have no problem with it.

 

What is it about some people that they must say "if you disagree with a black person, you must hate black people?"

I vehemently disagree with most of the policy that has so far been submitted and/or supported by Pres Obama. I think based on his speech yesterday, that he is anti-Israeli and has very negative feelings toward the United States.

How dare people call me a racist because I disagree with a particular man? Are all Bush-haters racist, as well? Is the only reason to disagree with someone who is diametrically opposed to you in all policy ideas his skin color. This argument is so ridiculous.

[5kidsforME]

What is it about some people that they must say "if you disagree with a black person, you must hate black people?"

I vehemently disagree with most of the policy that has so far been submitted and/or supported by Pres Obama. I think based on his speech yesterday, that he is anti-Israeli and has very negative feelings toward the United States.

How dare people call me a racist because I disagree with a particular man? Are all Bush-haters racist, as well? Is the only reason to disagree with someone who is diametrically opposed to you in all policy ideas his skin color. This argument is so ridiculous.

 

 

AMEN!!!! :iagree:

[Tree House Academy]

Is it any wonder some come to the conclusion it's because he's... :blink: black.

 

 

WHAT?? Does that even make sense??? On the other side of the coin, should we praise him BECAUSE he is black? Does that give him some sort of "out" or something??? I mean, he can't do wrong because if he does and we say anything about it, then we must be racist. right? UGH!:confused:

[Tree House Academy]

First off: I don't think the world is falling. Second off: I don't care about our President's skin color.

 

What I don't like about this video is this:

They are using words from a Christian song that goes like this:

 

"Jesus loves the little children

All the children of the world

Black and yellow, red and white

They're all precious in His sight

Jesus loves the little children of the world"

 

And they have replaces Jesus' name with Obama's. The new lyrics sung by the children in a public school are:

 

"Barack Hussein Obama

He said red, yellow, black or white

All are equal in his sight

Mmm, mmm, mm!"

 

I think a lot of people who are saying this is fine would have a fit if it was a song about God. Well, to me they are putting Obama in the place of God. That is what I have a problem with. No God can be in school, but we can change the words of a famous children's hymn and sing it for Obama? No, this is just wrong.

 

Even though I really don't think the President or anyone else in Washington had anything else to do with this, it does remind me of the chants to Hitler prior to WWII. By saying this I'm not comparing Obama to Hitler. I'm comparing some people's worship of Obama to the worship of a lot of the German people had for Hitler, and that scares me. I really don't think any human should be worshipped and especially in a public school setting.

 

Don't ban God and Jesus from the schools and then use their hymns to canonize the President. I can't understand how anyone could be OK with this. Wrong is Wrong and I don't care who the president involved is.

Melissa

 

 

:iagree::iagree::iagree::iagree::iagree::iagree::iagree::iagree::iagree:

 

I particularly agree with the point you made about the way the kids are being taught to sing about Obama looking very much like the way the Germans were taught to praise Hitler. I, too, think that this was not Obama's doing (I hope), but it is scary in the fact that it is so reminiscent.

[JennC]

 

Don't ban God and Jesus from the schools and then use their hymns to canonize the President. I can't understand how anyone could be OK with this. Wrong is Wrong and I don't care who the president involved is.

Melissa

 

I agree with this.

And I never sang the praise of Old MacDonald either.:confused:

[Mrs Mungo]

How many of us heard and/or memorized poems in school that praised individual historical figures? How is that different than a song?

[calandalsmom]

Yeah...do your kids sing about how he had a farm or do they sing, "Almighty old McDonald, we praise thee..." ??? :glare:

 

I didnt see "Almightly Obama we praise thee" in the lyrics.

 

I cant admire the song itself because I think its pretty horrible. But I think comparing this to a Nazi Youth propaganda drive is ridiculous given that a) this wasnt during school and b) it was clearly optional; not at all coerced.

[Tree House Academy]

hmmmm.... i'm not going to spend hours running this to ground, but the questions that come up include things like: who paid for it? who organized it? who made sure the video link got sent out? and to whom?

 

and a simple observation that the song uses his complete name, which is much more typical from one side of the aisle than the other...

 

questions, i have questions.... and a feeling of being manipulated royally. when links are sent out without sources, well, 'nuff said....

 

i have actually started unsubscribing from groups/newsletters where stories are sent out without accurate sourcing, and/or for the fear factor. we are better than that, or at least, i hope we are.

 

sigh....

ann

 

I didn't have a link when I posted, but one was quickly found to back it up. I didn't post it as fact or proof of anything - I asked for hive opinion...and I think this IS something people deserve to know about and then draw their own conclusions/do their own research about.

[Tree House Academy]

I didnt see "Almightly Obama we praise thee" in the lyrics.

 

I cant admire the song itself because I think its pretty horrible. But I think comparing this to a Nazi Youth propaganda drive is ridiculous given that a) this wasnt during school and b) it was clearly optional; not at all coerced.

 

 

It doesn't take much coersion to get 6 year olds to sing a song that a grown up tells them to sing.

 

As as for "Almighty Obama.." Nope...they just took a song about Jesus and replaced the name with Obama. That isn't indicative of the Almighty at all....

[Slartibartfast]

It's wrong to put a child in a position where they are essentially forced to praise a leader they may (or may not) favor. It is coercive, and wrong, and violates freedom of conscious.

 

Such things have no place in a public school.

 

Bill (who has no problem with songs about Davy Crockett, Daniel Boone, or Paul Bunyon)

 

 

:iagree:

 

Davy! Davy Crockett, king of the wild frontier!!!

 

:lol:

[calandalsmom]

It doesn't take much coersion to get 6 year olds to sing a song that a grown up tells them to sing.

 

As as for "Almighty Obama.." Nope...they just took a song about Jesus and replaced the name with Obama. That isn't indicative of the Almighty at all....

 

well I guess its as big a deal as you want to make of it.

[Tree House Academy]

I think based on his speech yesterday, that he is anti-Israeli and has very negative feelings toward the United States.

 

 

I got an e-mail a few weeks back with a picture of Obama getting on Air Force 1 with a copy of This Book. I find that absolutely terrifying, if it is true. I realize pictures can be doctored and such, so I didn't pass this one along....but if it is what he was reading, it aligns with some of the beliefs I have had about him all along. And, for the record, none of those have anything to do with him being black. I also find it funny that he is half white, but no one ever really mentions that. My nieces are mixed race (african american and caucasian) just like Obama...

[Phred]

So I guess you would be fine with having public school kids sing a song about the accomplishments of Jesus (since singing about a person doesn't mean worship or indoctrination)? He had a few that were even more impressive than Obama's.

Really? Jesus couldn't get elected president. He hung out with prostitutes and lepers. FOX News would tar and feather him before the first primary. People magazine would have him on the worst-dressed list. He'd suggest caring for the least among us and the Republican party would start in with the socialist name calling.

 

There wouldn't be any songs praising him. He'd be more liberal than Ted Kennedy. You'd all hate him.

[elizabeth]

I removed dd from school when I watched the 1st graders sing and do some dance to God Bless The USA along with the pledge while facing the wall with a poster of Ground Zero next to the flag. I found it offensive, warmongering and a bit grotesque in its simplistic knee jerk patriotism. Not my cuppa so that was that. There are many , many things that offend different people in different ways. For me that was enough. Don't even get me started on the military being allowed in high school settings for recruitment. Particularly without the parents consent. Unless you file a FERPA paper in Iowa they have the right to get this information from the local public school and can contact your minor child without your knowledge or consent. There are people of all beliefs, persuasions, and varying theological positions and someone is always going to be offended it all depends on who is in power and whose ox is getting gored.

[Mrs Mungo]

I got an e-mail a few weeks back with a picture of Obama getting on Air Force 1 with a copy of This Book. I find that absolutely terrifying, if it is true.

 

1. I've read Mein Kampf, as recommended in The Well Educated Mind. Reading a book doesn't mean agreeing with it.

 

2. Have you read or even seen this book in real life? I didn't get the same impression of it that you did. I found it similar in theory to Friedman's The World is Flat. They are about globalization, not about the downfall of America.

[8circles]

Really? Jesus couldn't get elected president. He hung out with prostitutes and lepers. FOX News would tar and feather him before the first primary. People magazine would have him on the worst-dressed list. He'd suggest caring for the least among us and the Republican party would start in with the socialist name calling.

 

There wouldn't be any songs praising him. He'd be more liberal than Ted Kennedy. You'd all hate him.

 

Jesus wouldn't be running for political office, Phred, that's kind of the point of him being who he is. I know him & I assure you that I don't hate him. Believing in "caring for the least among us" isn't mutually exclusive to being Republican or ©conservative.

 

Phred, I think your post is offensive & I think you intended it that way. Kind of makes whatever else you say worthless.

[Spy Car]

How many of us heard and/or memorized poems in school that praised individual historical figures? How is that different than a song?

 

The difference is time.

 

A story or song praising Abe Lincoln or George Washington praises men long dead, whose political careers are long over. And are not (despite Mr Lincoln being the first "Republican" President) men who are seen as "partisan" figures.

 

Mr Obama stands to seek re-election (and I hope that happens) and is the de facto leader of the Democratic Party. Plenty of folks aren't Democrats (like I need to tell you :D) and may not cotton to their children singing songs praising current political leaders they may not like (there is no accounting for taste :tongue_smilie:).

 

I'd be unhappy were my child pushed to sing songs praising G.W. Bush, and setting the tune to Jesus Loves the Little Children , while I don't believe is "blasphemous", is unseemly to say the least.

 

So if it would be hateful to be in one circumstance, I couldn't support such a thing in another circumstance. No matter that I like Obama. In fact, my support of him make me feel a double-fold responsibility to say I think it's wrong.

 

I see it as an arena the schools ought not play in.

 

There should only be one standard in these matters. And the schools should not get involved in partisan politics, or do anything that seems to compel children to praise politicians. Even ones I may like.

 

Bill

Edited September 24, 2009 by Spy Car

[Jenny in Atl]

I got an e-mail a few weeks back with a picture of Obama getting on Air Force 1 with a copy of This Book. I find that absolutely terrifying, if it is true. I realize pictures can be doctored and such, so I didn't pass this one along....but if it is what he was reading, it aligns with some of the beliefs I have had about him all along. And, for the record, none of those have anything to do with him being black. I also find it funny that he is half white, but no one ever really mentions that. My nieces are mixed race (african american and caucasian) just like Obama...

 

The dude from CNN? Your jokin' right?

[Tree House Academy]

The difference is time.

 

A story or song praising Abe Lincoln or George Washington praises men long dead, whose political careers are log over. And are not (despite Mr Lincoln being the first "Republican" President) men who are seen as "partisan" figures.

 

Mr Obama stands to seek re-election (and I hope that happens) and is the de facto leader of the Democratic Party. Plenty of folks aren't Democrats (like I need to tell you :D) and may not cotton to their children sing songs praising current political leaders they may not like (there is no accounting for taste :tongue_smilie:).

 

I'd be unhappy were my child pushed to sing songs praising G.W. Bush, and setting the tune to Jesus Loves the Little Children , while I don't believe is "blasphemous", is unseemly to say the least.

 

So if it would be hateful to be in one circumstance, I couldn't support such a thing in another circumstance. No matter that I like Obama. In fact, my support of him make me feel a double-fold responsibility to say I think it's wrong.

 

I see it as an arena the schools ought not play in.

 

There should only be one standard in these matters. And the schools should not get involved in partisan politics, or do anything that seems to compel children to praise politicians. Even ones I may like.

 

Bill

 

I like you, Bill. :001_smile:

[Tree House Academy]

The dude from CNN? Your jokin' right?

 

 

Huh? What "dude from CNN" - apparently I don't watch enough television to know what you are talking about.

[Mrs Mungo]

:iagree:

 

Davy! Davy Crockett, king of the wild frontier!!!

 

:lol:

 

I guess the question is-where do you draw the line between history and politics? Even if you disagree with Obama from a political standpoint, he is the first black president and that, alone, makes him a major historical figure.

 

Davy Crockett was an extremely controversial Congressman. He strongly fought against the Indian Removal Act (don't even get me started on Andrew Jackson), even though a majority of his constituents agreed with it. The only difference is that it was in the past, not the present.

 

eta: Bill, sorry, I cross-posted with you. Note, I did not take a stand on the issue, either way, I just like to puzzle out the sticky bits.

Edited September 24, 2009 by Mrs Mungo

[Tree House Academy]

1. I've read Mein Kampf, as recommended in The Well Educated Mind. Reading a book doesn't mean agreeing with it.

 

2. Have you read or even seen this book in real life? I didn't get the same impression of it that you did. I found it similar in theory to Friedman's The World is Flat. They are about globalization, not about the downfall of America.

 

 

Precisely. You know we won't agree on this, so I am not going to really try. For me, a lot of what Obama says and does leaves me shaking my head. He goes against a lot of what I believe in and it doesn't have a whole lot to do with Democrat or Republican. And it sure isn't because he is black. LOL

[LibraryLover]

I guess the question is-where do you draw the line between history and politics? Even if you disagree with Obama from a political standpoint, he is the first black president and that, alone, makes him a major historical figure.

 

Davy Crockett was an extremely controversial Congressman. He strongly fought against the Indian Removal Act (don't even get me started on Andrew Jackson), even though a majority of his constituents agreed with it. The only difference is that it was in the past, not the present.

 

 

The Trail of Tears. Manifest Destiny...talk about god-awful American history, greed, and hatred.

[Tree House Academy]

I guess the question is-where do you draw the line between history and politics? Even if you disagree with Obama from a political standpoint, he is the first black president and that, alone, makes him a major historical figure.

 

How does someone who is 1/2 black and 1/2 white become the first BLACK president???? He is the first president with some African American in him, maybe. I have never quite understood that!

 

Davy Crockett was an extremely controversial Congressman. He strongly fought against the Indian Removal Act (don't even get me started on Andrew Jackson), even though a majority of his constituents agreed with it. The only difference is that it was in the past, not the present.

 

Because neither of them are up for re-election in 3 years...

[Spy Car]

I like you, Bill. :001_smile:

 

Thanks.

 

Not to undo the love, but have you read or listened to Fareed Zakaria?

 

I find him one of the most informed, clear-headed, and reasonable commentators on foreign affairs working in journalism today. That Mr Obama is reading his book (despite the title) is something I'd take as a good sign.

 

Bill

[Melissa in FL]

 

There should only be one standard in these matters.

Bill

 

This is why I have such great respect for you Bill. You really think about the subject and seem to be able to look at certain issues without the rose colored glasses on. I love it when you are in the conversation, you make me stop and think about many things. Others think this is an Obama bashing, it's not. It's about not using our schools for any propaganda or agenda. I don't think anyone who has posted here today believe that the President had anything to do with this song. But our educators (who are paid for by you and me) should know better.

Melissa

[Jenny in Atl]

Huh? What "dude from CNN" - apparently I don't watch enough television to know what you are talking about.

 

The bk you linked... He is in no way anti-US. Has a rather bland world economy/politics show on CNN. Why would Obama reading this bk be so frightening?

 

[Mrs Mungo]

Huh? What "dude from CNN" - apparently I don't watch enough television to know what you are talking about.

 

Fareed Zakaria has a show on CNN. He's also the editor of Newsweek International and has had columns in several well known and respected publications. He was a big Reagan supporter. You are barking up the wrong tree here.

 

Precisely. You know we won't agree on this, so I am not going to really try. For me, a lot of what Obama says and does leaves me shaking my head. He goes against a lot of what I believe in and it doesn't have a whole lot to do with Democrat or Republican. And it sure isn't because he is black. LOL

 

I have zero idea what this means.

 

How does someone who is 1/2 black and 1/2 white become the first BLACK president???? He is the first president with some African American in him, maybe. I have never quite understood that!

 

How is he not black? Being half white doesn't make you not black. That doesn't even make sense.

[Jenny in Atl]

It's about not using our schools for any propaganda or agenda. I don't think anyone who has posted here today believe that the President had anything to do with this song. But our educators (who are paid for by you and me) should know better.

Melissa

 

You know, I rather agree here. I hate all the rah-rah aspects of school in general. Pep rallies in general are very annoying, whether for a political figure or for the football team. :lol:

[LibraryLover]

You know, I rather agree here. I hate all the rah-rah aspects of school in general. Pep rallies in general are very annoying, whether for a political figure or for the football team. :lol:

 

 

Don't get me started on the glorification of high school football! Or coaches who pray for wins! God is so on the side of one high school team over another. Does god have an opinion on The Spartans Vs The Tigers????!

[Spy Car]

I guess the question is-where do you draw the line between history and politics? Even if you disagree with Obama from a political standpoint, he is the first black president and that, alone, makes him a major historical figure.

 

Davy Crockett was an extremely controversial Congressman. He strongly fought against the Indian Removal Act (don't even get me started on Andrew Jackson), even though a majority of his constituents agreed with it. The only difference is that it was in the past, not the present.

 

eta: Bill, sorry, I cross-posted with you. Note, I did not take a stand on the issue, either way, I just like to puzzle out the sticky bits.

 

If a hundred years from now (perhaps a lot less than that) the story of Barack Obama is told to students in terms like Washington and Lincoln were when I was a child, I'd be neither surprised or...

 

Actually I won't be here, so...

 

In the mean time he is a partisan political figure as well as a President (who deserves the respect of his office, but not "endorsement" by a school.

 

S o for now I'm OK with Paul Bunyon, feeling uneasy about Daniel Boone, and back-peddling on Davey Crocket (but enjoyed the show in the 60s :tongue_smilie:)

 

Bill

[Tree House Academy]

Fareed Zakaria has a show on CNN. He's also the editor of Newsweek International and has had columns in several well known and respected publications. He was a big Reagan supporter. You are barking up the wrong tree here.

 

I am not barking up any tree at all. I didn't share the photo for a reason - mostly because I wasn't sure what it meant. The title of the book, the blurb, just made me go...hmmm. Which is what I do with most of what I read about Obama.

 

 

 

I have zero idea what this means.

 

It means I am not going to discuss it with you because we dont' agree politically and there is no need to even try to discuss my view points with you in that regard. However, other than political views, I love your posts! :)

 

 

 

How is he not black? Being half white doesn't make you not black. That doesn't even make sense.

 

Mostly the comments about race were because, earlier in the thread, it was brought up that disagreeing with the singing is because we are racist - which I think is just stupid. If he was white, I'd feel no differently. I didn't much care for "W" either to be honest.

 

I just find it amusing that he is our 1st black president. He is not "African American" - he is bi racial. People tend to leave that out to support whatever point they are making about racism at the time.

[Mrs Mungo]

Think about the songs praising Christopher Columbus. Think about the moment you found out he wasn't really all that great.

 

Err..I'm Native American, my grandmother was chief of our tribe. I heard bad things about Columbus from an early age, I have no memory of thinking he was that great.

 

I think we were all forced to sing these sorts of songs and were told all these nice squeaky clean happy happy things about presidents, etc. It isn't anything new.

 

I agree.

[LibraryLover]

Think about the songs praising Christopher Columbus. Think about the moment you found out he wasn't really all that great.

 

I think we were all forced to sing these sorts of songs and were told all these nice squeaky clean happy happy things about presidents, etc. It isn't anything new.

 

 

In 1492 Columbus sailed the ccean blue

And took the brown people as slaves.

 

You never did hear that version.

[LibraryLover]

Well I'll be. The songs we sang were positive! :D

 

But yeah, I was pretty surprised when I found out otherwise.

 

 

It's a crying shame. The whitewashing...(sic)...is incredible.

[justamouse]

Watch out there. Them's fightin' words!!! Say anything you want, but don't include him in a sentence with Hitler or the fires of hell will rise up and get you. ;)

 

Or it could be that you defaulted to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin's_law Godwin's Law.

 

Godwin's Law (also known as Godwin's Rule of Nazi Analogies)[1] is a humorous observation made by Mike Godwin in 1990 which has become an Internet adage. It states: "As a Usenet discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches 1."[2][3]

Godwin's Law is often cited in online discussions as a deterrent against the use of arguments in the widespread reductio ad Hitlerum form. The rule does not make any statement about whether any particular reference or comparison to Adolf Hitler or the Nazis might be appropriate, but only asserts that the likelihood of such a reference or comparison arising increases as the discussion progresses. It is precisely because such a comparison or reference may sometimes be appropriate, Godwin has argued,[4] that overuse of Nazi and Hitler comparisons should be avoided, because it robs the valid comparisons of their impact.

 

There are many corollaries to Godwin's law, some considered more canonical (by being adopted by Godwin himself)[2] than others.[1] For example, there is a tradition in many newsgroups and other Internet discussion forums that once such a comparison is made, the thread is finished and whoever mentioned the Nazis has automatically "lost" whatever debate was in progress. This principle itself is frequently referred to as Godwin's Law. It is considered poor form to raise such a comparison arbitrarily with the motive of ending the thread. There is a widely recognized codicil that any such ulterior-motive invocation of Godwin's law will be unsuccessful (this is sometimes referred to as "Quirk's Exception").[6]