Gen. Tommy Franks to lead students in celebration of Constitution Day???

[paineinthearse]

From my school district's listserve:

The new "Constitution Day" is being implemented. The federal mandate for "Constitution Day" is "Each educational institution that receives Federal funds for a fiscal year shall hold an educational program on the United States Constitution on September 17 of such year for the students served by the educational institution."

DOE page: "http://www.doe.mass.edu/mailings/2005/cm082205.html

and here is a quote from the DOE website:

"Constitution Day: Last year President Bush signed a law establishing September 17 as Constitution Day. In recognition of this event, on Friday, September 16 schools around the country are being asked to simultaneously recite the Preamble to the Constitution along with a nationwide broadcast led by General Tommy Franks. The recitation will be broadcast over the Internet, allowing schools and legislators to participate along with military troops at home and abroad."

Listserv readers may want to read the following website, which was referenced on the DOE webpage. http://www.constitutionday.com/

:wtf:

Tommy Franks?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_Franks



Tommy Ray Franks KBE, (born June 17, 1945) is a retired General in the United States Army, previously serving as the Commander-in-Chief of United States Central Command, overseeing United States Armed Forces operations in a 25-country region, including the Middle East. Franks succeeded General Anthony Zinni to this position on July 6, 2000 and served until his retirement on July 7, 2003. He is an alumnus of University of Texas at Arlington. He was succeeded by General John Abizaid.

He was the U.S. general leading the attack on the Taliban in Afghanistan in response to the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center and The Pentagon. Franks also led the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the overthrow of Saddam Hussein and was commander-in-chief of the American occupation forces.

Franks blew the mission to find Osama Bin Laden in Tora-bora, now he's teaching our kids about the Constitution? Give me a break! How about an authority, such as a retired Appeals Court justice or the leading Constitutional scholar in the Senate, Robert Byrd?

Give me a break! Typical that * administration would put a military spin on this holiday.

p.s. I remember a post about this several months back, calling DU to support a celebration of the Constitution.. If anyone is curious, use the "advanced search" feature when it comes back.

edited typo

[acmejack]

1. How appropriate!

Tommy Franks, I understand the Framers were justifiably concerned about a large standing Army.

[Kerrytravelers]

2. I would give my child direct instruction NOT to participate in this.

I would give them a written letter from me and their daddy saying under no circumstances will my child participate in this farce by a pResident who ignores the COnstitution against law abiding citizens and attempts to change it to take rights awqay from law abiding citizens.

[paineinthearse]

3. Any suggestions for alternate "teachers"?

Who would make a good roll model/teacher for the webcast?

Names that come to mind:

Sandra Day O'Conner, Senator Robert Byrd, Bill Moyers, Jim Lehrer.....

any more????

[paineinthearse]

5. Contact the Department of Education

Phone: 1-800-USA-LEARN (1-800-872-5327)
TTY: 1-800-437-0833
Fax: [phone]
Mail: U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202
Email: http://answers.ed.gov/cgi-bin/education.cfg/php/enduser/ask.php?p_sid=zE6HVIlh&p_lva=&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPSZwX3NvcnRfYnk9JnBfZ3JpZHNvcnQ9JnBfcm93X2NudD0yNCZwX3BhZ2U9MQ**&p_li=&p_srch=

[montanacowboy]

4. Fyi - ALL Federal employees have to attend this

can you all stand the hypocrisy?