OPINION — One day I was running late taking my oldest boy to school. Both his younger brothers were still in diapers, and that morning they both decided, right as we headed out, to soil themselves. It happens. Most mothers know exactly what I’m talking about.
So I had just dropped my son off, and I was waiting in the parking lot for him to enter the building. As he summitted the grass slope leading to the red-brick elementary school, even though he was late, he stopped dead in his tracks and put his hand over his chest. I pushed the button that lowered the passenger window, ready to yell to him to “hurry his butt up to class.”
But before I could call out, I could hear through the crackling of the school’s P.A. system, the instrumental notes of the national anthem. Quickly, I took a blurry picture with my phone and drove away in haste, because my boys have never seen me cry, and if he had looked back just then he would have.
I was overwhelmed with pride that this little guy was my son. So much so I couldn’t hold back the tears. It was one of those unforgettable moments where I could not deny how blessed I was — how blessed I am.
Two years have passed, and all of us still have our opinions about what is appropriate to do during the nation anthem. I believe I have just made mine clear. But that is not exactly what I am writing about now.
Yes, that memory still brings me joy, and surely it always will. But two days ago, he said something else that almost made me cry. We were talking about things, and he mentioned that he hated America now. He is only 8 years old and he told me that he hates America because the president wants to have sex with his daughter. Never mind the sound bite he heard somewhere is pure hyperbole; it is not something an 8-year-old should ever hear.
Even if it was true, what adult in their right mind thinks a child should hear that? Who thinks they have the right to do that? It is hard not to take it personally. Like my child is being exploited for relaying depravity and hatred.
No intelligent person blames the president that children are hearing these things. It’s not the president’s P.R. people disseminating this filthy, unsubstantiated propaganda. It is not the people in support of Trump who are talking down the country to little kids. It is the opposition to the president and everyone knows it is. And for what?
What do those people hope to accomplish? Do they think it’s going to persuade my children – my babies – to vote for their party 10-15 years from now? Do they think their self-righteous, short-sighted, political opinions are not going to change between now and then? Do the ends justify these means? Do they really?
I want to ask the lot of them: “How resided are you in your perceived inability to make mistakes that you can justify doing this?” No one’s opinion, pro or con, justifies introducing the concept of incest to children — to my perfect little man! I want to yell in their ears that their hatred isn’t better than any other bigoted sentiments echoing in the shadows of this great country. Children are perfect.
So, whoever you are, letting kids overhear hate-speeches, not supervising them as they surf the web or letting them flip through the channels without guidance, even if you think you are morally superior enough to indoctrinate them with this crap, it is wrong!
Take some responsibility; love this land or hate it; stand or kneel; just keep your mouth shut around the children.
Submitted by QUINTON BRADLEY SMITH, Washington City, Utah.
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Letters to the Editor are not the product of St. George News, its editors, staff or news contributors. The matters stated and opinions given are the responsibility of the person submitting them. They do not reflect the product or opinion of St. George News and are given only light edit for technical style and formatting.
“No intelligent person blames the president that children are hearing these things. It’s not the president’s P.R. people disseminating this filthy, unsubstantiated propaganda.”
You are correct. Those words come from the man himself. Not some third-party affiliate.
Are you trying to say that Trump isn’t to blame for the very words that come out of his mouth?
“If Ivanka weren’t my daughter, perhaps I’d be dating her.” – Donald Trump
That’s hyperbole to you? Okay then.
You are just taking his words out of context. If it’s filth you’re looking for, Obama represented, and still represents filth. Obama is to blame for igniting the hatred and violence that persists all over the country. President Trump is busy trying to do his job, and clean up Obama’s mess, and he’s doing a very fine job of it!
You support a demented, sexually perverse sociopath as president, and you get what you deserve.
Chris, show your credentials to make wild statements like this or, SHUT UP.
Chris, President Trump is the best president we’ve ever had in this nation. You should be thankful we have such a wonderful president!
Trump and Trump voters are eternal victims of countless outrages perpetuated against them.
TRUMP 2020. I”LL TELL ALL THE KIDS TO VOTE FOR THE BEST PRESIDENT OF THE HISTORY. <3
Wow I just had to get that off my chest. I love TRUMP!!!! He’s the most handsome smart man president in history. No man ever loved me or even gave me a chance except Trump because he cares for Americans like me. Not Mexican rapists or Canadian Communists. GO TRUMP! Sending love to the commander in chef <3
Oh wow… if this isn’t a bot, I don’t know what is. Thanks for getting that off your chesticles debragoober. Lol
Ha…if you don’t like Trump now, your really going to hate him when he re-elected in 2020….child block CNN, HLN & MSNBC along with CBS, ABC & NBC and your kids won’t hear a thing
Did people talk like this before 2012? Did liberals taunt conservatives by talking about Obama’s reelection? It seems that your support for Trump is less about conservative issues and more about making liberals sad.
That blue wave is quickly becoming nothing more than a leaky gatorade bottle.
Children shouldn’t be contaminated with political hyperbole by either side or extreme.
“It is not the people in support of Trump who are talking down the country to little kids. It is the opposition to the president and everyone knows it is.”
You are completely correct that no child should have to hear political BS in elementary school. Completely inappropriate.
That said, I will take issue with your statement above. My daughter’s choir teacher spoke approvingly of a Trump protester that burned himself to death in protest against the administration. She once made the mistake of announcing her support for Obamacare (her little brother is uninsurable without it), and she has gotten unending grief from students and teachers about it.
So how about you put away your persecution complex. It really hurts your otherwise good argument.
Trump is in favor of oxygen, what are you going to do about it?