Sound Off: Your comments 9/7/09
Editor's Note: Anderson’s reports from Afghanistan drew high response from many of you on Monday night. Some sent emails from families and friends of Marines stationed there with the 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment. Many thanked Anderson for highlighting the dangerous work they are doing there and allowing America to see them in action. President Obama’s upcoming speech to the children of America also continued to spark response from viewers. While opinions varied on both sides of the debate, the overwhelming majority seemed to be in favor of letting children listen to the president. Here’s some of the feedback we received on both topics, and we’d love to hear from you as well:
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Mr. Cooper, I commend you for your coverage of the Marines from the 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment and for highlighting the dangerous work they are doing out there. My fiancée is a machine-gunner in the Alpha Co. of 1/5 and every day I pray for his safety as well as the safety of everyone out there with him.
My son is with the 1/5 Marines that Anderson is with and we haven't heard from him, this helps give us an idea on what our son is going through. His being there and being on CNN is appreciated. Thank you, A Marine Mom
Anderson, thank you and your team, of showing what is really happening in Afghanistan. Here in Quebec, Canada, we have been following that war closely since the beginning. But we don't fully support the war, we support the troops. We feel winning that war is impossible when you look closely at the history of the country. Take care out there, please.
What is the problem with Middle America? For a child it will be wonderful to hear the President speak to the young about education...paranoia has set in and I see more and more ignoramuses being interviewed on TV, including the Principal of a school who caved in to a bunch of narrow minded parents not to show the speech.
Anderson please tell America they are acting worse than other countries. They have gone crazy. it is bad when Americans won't let their children watch our president speak...
While the president may have something of value to say to children, it shouldn’t be done in the classroom. It should be done when parents can be present to discuss it afterwards (remember sex education?)
The President of the United States will talk to American children.....and people are CRYING and keeping kids home from school?? Right-wingers have finally gone off the deep end.
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Filed under: 360° Radar |
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Thank you for taking your crew into the war ravaged areas in Afghanistan. I think all of us Americans need to see this coverage to know that our men and women are doing the best they can for their country and the freedom needed in other areas of the world. I do not receive CNN at home on TV, but I now have access on my computer. I wish I new you were going there ahead of time, my son Sgt T.A. Hafez is stationed at Camp Leatherneck, 3D radio Bn. If you get a chance, please say Hi, I love him, and we are behind him and the other forces doing their thing for freedom, 100+%!!
Semper Fi
Please come home safe!
A Marine Mom
my son SSGT. DAVID KALLAM is there at camp leatherneck in afghanistan.he told me he shook hands with ANDERSON COOPER which was really cool. i think it does theses marines alot of good for reporters to go there and see for themselves what are servicemen are doing and it also gives them the importance of what our freedom is all about.my hats off to CNN for being there with our sons and daughters in such a dangerous atmosphere.you are our hope in getting the messages out to america about the war in afghanistan and other foreign places.good job!! DAVID,IF YOU SEE THIS COMMENT,I LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU! PATTI WILLIAMS
Subject: Comments of Joe Hicks on Van Jones.
How can Joe Hicks say that Van Jones had a left wing radical past and compare him to a holocaust denier. That is like comparing apples and skyscrapers. Joe should know better. using his analogy he must be in torment, as a former member of the Communist Party with a Jewish wife.
I love President Obama and family. I don't care what anyone says. One of the greatest leaders we've had in my lifetime. Clinton was good too and I love Al Gore for all of his environmental work.
All great Men.
I dont understand why anyone is wasting their energy crying about the Presidents speech. I feel that the speech he gave was motivational and from the heart and innocent. People in this country arguing this speech are the reason why we cant get things done in America because he focus our attention on the wrong things. We all need to grow up.
Tom from Chicago
My husband served as a field medic from 2003-2004 in Iraq. He went on numerous missions with various Marine Units, etc. Colllectively, our family has served 160+ years in the US military. Iraq, Afghanistan, or any other middle east country, where fighters dress in civilian clothes, and hide behind civilians can not be won. We are not that barberic!
Besides, if the people of those countries wanted to be freed, we'd be out of there by now. For every insurgent we kill, ten more come slithering out from under a rock. It's insane.
It is a sad day in America.
The respect for the office and man as President of the United States has reached a new and tell-tale low. It is obvious that the "swift boat people, the people who believe Pres. Obama is NOT a U.S, citizen, those who applaud the woman with the Hltler sign and random far right persons are garnering attention, with a snicker and blind acceptance.
Perhaps apathy is the true reason that these radicals, much akin to the religious radicals of the Middle East, are holding so much weight, at least with the media.
President Obama has the same intelligence, charisma, and common sense approach as President Kennedy. It is truly a sign of the times that marks this blatant and undeserved criticism of his address to the youth of the United States. Perhaps in light of the wording, the pre-speech criticism and the negativity, this may be veiled racism.
Otherwise, freedom of speech has given way to disrespect and poor taste by the people and the press.
Thank you so much Mr. Cooper for the coverage of our Marines. My fiance is in Weapons Company in the 1/5, and every letter that comes home is just a reminder that he's still alive and fighting.
Semper Fi, come home safe!
A Marine Fiance
Mr. Cooper:
I cannot believe all of the controversy surrounding the President's speech to the school children today. It seems to me to be a very sad day in our country where primarily only those school districts that voted heavily for John McCain are the ones that are refusing to air the speech. Whether you voted for President Obama or for John McCain, both who are great american heroes, I must remind all that he is still our President. One of the rationales for administrations to not air the speech is parental objection which translates to "it is the responsibilty of the parents to choose whether or not they show their children the speech later". Both you and I know, very few parents will have their child sit down tonight and view it. In fact, for that to happen, I would have to assume that the students must have parents that either have TIVO or some sort of digital recording cable box. Even still, do you honestly believe after parents get home they will spend the time between dinner, dishes, homework and baths to have their kids watch it. It was the responsibilty of our schools to give the children the opportunity to view it.
Even if we can agree to disagree on the content, then doesn't it seem the least bit beneficial to involve our country's youth into the government and political process. The children ARE CITIZENS TOO! They may not vote now, but will (hopefully) someday. The President, Congress, political leaders, teachers, AND PARENTS TOO have the responsiblity to educate our children, not only on science, english, math, but civics too. Has anyone given a thought to the fact that if we involve our children now, maybe get them excitied in our government at a young age, voter apathy may not be such an issue in the next generation? Get the children excited and involved, keep them informed about OUR country and maybe they can be committed to fixing the problems created by those that came before them.
Does anyone remember where President Bush was on September 11, 2001....If memory serves, I think he was reading to a kindergarten or other elementary grade class. OMG! How did that happen?? Who let him in the classroom? I mean NOT on the TV, but ACTUALLY live in the classroom! I think a task force should be commissioned to find these children who, if we are to believe the partison fear-mongering in Washington, have most certainly been more mentally traumatized by their exposure to a presidential visit in the classroom than the actual historic events of the day! Give me a **$$##!! break. What would our grandparents have said if FDR or JFK or any other president from the first half of the 20th century wanted to deliver a message to the youth of the nation? I'll tell you what mine would have said – that we should be proud and honored and respectful of his office, politics aside. Both my grandfathers, proud WWII veterans, are turning in their graves.
my son cpl bias christopher is at camp leatherneck give him a hug from home tell him i love him
I am very disappointed that like its sister news channels CNN has failed to look under the surface at the harsh response regarding the presidents speech to the nations children. CNN failed to place race into the equation and debate. The Attorney General was correct when he said that the nation lacked the courage to have a serious discussion on race. Prior presidents have spoken to the nations children without such a harsh response. No prior president from either party would have cause the level of concern as the nations first black president. Race is certainly a factor.
I am proud of President Obama. What a beautiful, inspiring speech he delivered this morning to all these students. I hope everyone who opposed this presentation will be ashamed after listening to him.
Anderson,
Your coverage of the problems in Afghanistan were, as usual, great.
You bring home the most comprehensive coverage on any subject you take on. I would, however, like to see you infiltrate a place much more secretive, and potentially dangerous to this country....The American Banks! These people need to be exposed! Too many smokescreens have gone up lately, and the mess the banking industry has caused, and their role in keeping this country in recession is going unnoticed. They are going totally unchecked, and have not only NOT had to share in the pain, they are profiting from the global mess they created Bernie Madoff was small potatoes compared to these monsters! They are gouging the American people at every turn. They don't want mortgage reform because they are making too much money on fees during the foreclosure process . They are introducing new fees daily, and have stopped up the entire credit system, stopping any growth or recovery. This discussion needs to be reopened for all to see again!