Opinions needed...Re: Daughter's "Presidential" Award

[LibDemAlways]

My daughter, who is graduating from Middle School, received a "Presidential Award" this morning because she's been on the Honor Roll every semester. I'm proud of her academic achievement, but the chimp's stamped signature is on it above his title. I'm kind of sick about it because I feel having him associated with it cheapens the honor.

What would you do with a hard-earned award that unfortunately bears the chimp's pawprint? Would you frame it and display it as is? Put a picture of the graduate over the signature? Something else? Help.

[valerief]

1. It's really nothing to fret over. nt

[LibDemAlways]

5. I don't want to diminish my daughter's accomplishment, but I

don't recognize the moron as a legit "President" to begin with. It really does pain me that his name is on the thing.

[Iris]

97. think of it this way:

The stamp and signature are just part of the award. She happened to win it during a time we had a moron for a president, but it also shows what she was able to achieve DESPITE the fact that we have a moron for a president!

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

2. Bush's signature cannot cheapen your daughter's achievement

Frame it and display it. It's about her, not him.

[WI_DEM]

92. Great response.

[jackstraw45]

3. Remember, there still should be pride in the OFFICE of the President

Just because a CHIMP is there now, don't diminish your daughters pride. The CHIMP will leave but the title "presidential award" has to mean something to her.

Just my opinion...

[MissMillie]

12. Agreed

I heard that a lot of military guys didn't want to retire when Clinton was in office because they didn't want his signature on the letter of thanks that they get when they retire. That's silly. Nevermind Shrubbie, your country is recognizing you. Accept it graciously.

[Hekate]

84. That's the right attitude.The honor is HERS; let her be proud of it.nt

[Mabus]

4. What does your daughter want to do with it?

She was the one given the award and she should be the one who decides how it should be displayed. If it bothers you perhaps you should talk it over with her and come up with a solution that makes both of you happy.

edited to add: Just remember that she received the award because of her academic achievements and W had nothing to do with setting the criteria (and he probably couldn't attain them himself).

[LibDemAlways]

67. The fact that Bush is such a total moron in

addition to being a warmonger, liar, cheater...etc., is really the gist of the reason for my disgust about this. I wish my daughter had an opinion, but she doesn't. She handed it to me and told me to do whatever I want to with it. After reading all of these comments, I'm confident I want to honor her achievement by displaying it, but am equally adament that it's not going up with the chimp's name on display. Husband agrees. Told me to make sure to cross the idiot's name off or cover it up before framing it.

[Mabus]

94. I totally agree

Bush is an idiot and if I had gotten an award signed with his name I'd seriously consider burning it. If I were you I'd put my daughter's picture over the disgusting scrawl that signifies Bush's signature. Or, as an alternative, I'd just cover up the letter "P" where it says "President" with a little dab of white-out (at least the seal would be accurate then).

I never had any doubt that you are proud of your daughter or that you would fail to honor her achievement. I just wanted to make sure she didn't want to hang it in her room or put it away with her other awards (I'm sure she has them). The fact that you asked for advice demonstrates that you're someone who thinks things through and tries to look for the best answer possible. In other words, you're a good liberal. :thumbsup:

As for your daughter not having an opinion: Oh man, wouldn't it be nice to not know as much as we do? I know I'd be in a much happier place. There are days when I sit back and remember having all the energy in the world and when nothing seemed impossible.

[LibDemAlways]

95. She has lots of strong opinions, just not about

school. At 14 it's all about friends and having fun.

[Mabus]

96. Sounds like you're a pretty successful parent

Keep her safe and let's keep doing what we can to make sure this isn't the world we leave her.

[LibDemAlways]

99. Thanks. I try. She complains actually that

I'm overprotective, and I probably am, but there's no such thing as too safe when it comes to your kids!

[havocmom]

6. Buy some white-out and send a note to Bill Clinton asking for an autograph?

:shrug:

I understand the dilemma, but I also understand why lots of vets tossed medals over the WH fence in past years.

[MilesColtrane]

71. Great suggestion.

She should write a letter to Al Gore. He'd probably send you his sig back.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

7. This is really only about your daughter

I'd display it with the same pride I would all of her other accomplishments.

Give her my congratulations for her great achievement.

[Norquist Nemesis]

8. Celebrate your daughter's achievement and display it proudly

It's unfortunate that "The President" just happens to be George W. Bush at this time.

Just keep telling yourself it could be worse--would you rather see Richard B. Cheney stamped on there? *wink*

[BOSSHOG]

9. I retired from the Navy when bush was president but

I insisted that my form letter of appreciation from the commander in chief was signed by Clinton. One of my Sailors contacted his office in New York and made it happen. Its still prominently displayed in my office.

[LibDemAlways]

13. You just gave me an idea, BOSSHOG.

Since Al Gore was legitimately elected back in 2000 and would, no doubt, have been re-elected in 2004, perhaps I'll write a letter to his office explaining the situation and asking for an autograph. It would be cool to have the name "Al Gore" above "President of the United States." Then I could display it proudly.

By the way, I admire the stance you took. Sometimes you just have to stand on principle.

[BOSSHOG]

19. I thought you might think of something like that

I loved it when the letter was read at my ceremony.

My Best Wishes to you for happiness and success in the future

BILL CLINTON, Commander in Chief

[Mz Pip]

23. It's an honor

It's not your daughter's fault that Bunnypants is the current occupant of the White House.

Let her receive the award and then, if she doesn't want to display it, put it away along with all of her other memorabilia.

Congrats on your daughter's achievement!

Mz Pip
:dem:

[LibDemAlways]

76. It is an honor, though it would be much more

meaningful if it came with the signature of Pres. Gore or Pres. Kerry - you know, someone who isn't a criminal. Nonetheless, thanks for your kind words. I am proud of my daughter regardless.

[Ganja Ninja]

10. Find Al Gore and buy a bottle of White Out.

Seriously, mail it to Al Gore and ask him to autograph it. Explain things to him.

[Blaze Diem]

14. Honestly, I believe Al would understand.

and proudly lend his honorable signature.

Do it and keep us posted.

[tridim]

15. That's exactly what I was going to suggest.

I bet he'd do it! :)

[renate]

47. I bet he'd WANT to, as a nice gesture

But he probably has too much respect for the office, though not the man, to write his name above "President of the United States" when he hasn't actually been sworn in.

LibDemAlways' daughter could simply cross out "George W. Bush" if it bothered her (it certainly would bother me. I can't even look at the guy on TV with the sound off... it'd be so yucky to have his name touching something I'd worked hard to achieve).

[LibDemAlways]

53. I wouldn't ask him to sign the certificate personally, and

I wouldn't expect that he would. However, I could write a letter asking for an autograph. I also have an autographed book he signed, so I could make a copy of that signature, and simply substitute it on the certificate, so that I could hang it proudly in my home. Just can't leave it as is. If the chimp were only a crappy President in the tradition of his father, I could live with it. But he's so far beyond the pale, I just can't do it.

[renate]

56. that sounds like a great idea

Really great! It'd be a beautiful certificate in two ways!

Congratulations to your daughter, by the way! :applause:

[Uben]

11. Display it proudly

It's not her fault that the USSC selected Bush to be president, and it does not cheapen her achievement. The president never saw the certificate anyway.

[Horse with no Name]

16. The Presidential Award has been around forever

Respect the office and the accomplishment--it doesn't matter who signed it. Congratulations to your daughter.

[xultar]

17. Put her signature over his paw print. Don't tape it though it could be worth money

because he's sure to be the worst president of all time.

[NYCGirl]

18. Frame it and display it. It's not about GWB, it's about your daughter and how proud

you are of her.

[IChing]

20. Keep it and she can give it back to George when

she grows up and he gets out of the Hague.

Congratulations on your daughter's academic achievement.

[treestar]

21. This school is in a Twilight Zone where they think it's still the 50s

Though I hope that is limited to this.

Your daughter's achievement does not need the approbation of the President, no matter who he is.

I'd ask them if they can't do an Honor Roll Certificate. One that just says she's made the honor roll. I got some of those - and that was back in the 70s. They would've mentioned Carter if I'd been in High School and I wouldn't have minded that, but in Jr. High, they'd have had Tricky Dick's sig on them! And that would have been unacceptable!

:hi:

[Carni]

22. Did they read the chimp's letter at the award ceremony?

My daughter just *graduated* from the 5th grade--she didn't get that award you mention, but the letter was read in all it's splendor by a school official, before it was presented to the girl who DID win it.

I was really nauseated when the letter was read in a glowing fashion...it was supposedly the chimp speaking to the award winner.

When the school official finished reading the letter aloud, they started to clap like they were prompting the audience to clap for the chimp and his crappy letter (BEFORE it was presented to the girl--this was to be applause for bush, not the girl)

There were some neanderthals who picked up the cue and clapped in a frenzied fashion (which was putrid) but most of the audience just sat there until the award was actually given to the child--
I didn't clap for the chimp's letter and literally rolled my eyes and groaned :|

I did clap for the child obviously but I felt bad that her efforts were tainted by a letter from that insidious creature!

I understand your disgust! lol

[LibDemAlways]

24. Yep, the letter supposedly from Bush was read. There were

quite a few President's Award Honor Roll winners, and no one applauded until the end. In fact, when they announced the "Presidential Award" with a message from the chimp, there were a few snickers and groans. Mine was among them.

[Carni]

46. God help me--who couldn't groan over that letter!?!

Hearing that a-hole pontificating about the importance of an education and applying oneself was just too obscene for me! lol

I was truly beside myself when some of the idiot parents in that gym started clapping for the words of the chimp...granted there weren't many clapping but there were some, which is what I get for moving to a red state I guess! :(

[TBreeze]

79. At my son's school

One of the teachers read that letter aloud before the kids got their awards, and nobody clapped. There was a kind of awkward silence, a few people shuffling around in their chairs, and I had to try hard to suppress the urge to yell out something about impeachment. But the kids themselves got tons of applause. My son has the award on the wall in his bedroom, and just said that hopefully if he wins another after high school, that it'll be from a real president that actually cares about kids.

[LibDemAlways]

86. You are describing what happened at my daughter's

school, too. Sort of an uncomfortable silence, with a few groans and under breath mumbles when the principal announced she was going to read a letter supposedly written (yeah right) by the chimp. My daughter doesn't care what I do with it. Says it's up to me to decide.

[blondeatlast]

25. Frame it and display it in a prominent place. she worked hard

and earned it--and the OFFICE of the President still deserves respect.

[mcar]

26. My son got one of those in middle school

He's in college now so his was signed by the last legitimately elected President.

The award is about your daughter, not the Current Occupant. You can be proud of her achieving the award and still be disgusted by its signee.

Congratulations to her! :toast:

[Bake]

27. Frame it and display it. It's about YOUR CHILD.

Not everything is about politics. Honor your child's achievement.

Bake

[SemperEadem]

28. it's your daughter's document, so perhaps she should be the one

who decides what to do with it, since she's the one who earned it.

[LibDemAlways]

29. I asked her and she told me it's up to me to decide what I

want to do since I'm paying to have it framed. She doesn't care one way or the other, so this really is my decision.

[npincus]

30. oMG- gross! But to alter it is to

diminish yur daughter's achievement. Frame it and hang it up, I say. Eeeew, I can just imagine it, I feel for you.

[LibDemAlways]

34. You know, I just can't see having something hanging on a

wall in my home with the chimp's name on it. It's simply too repulsive. The man's a war criminal. A thief. A liar. A crook - not to mention a dumbass I thoroughly loathe.

It just pisses me off.

At this point I'm leaning toward substituting an "Al Gore" signature. He is the last legitimately elected President anyway.

[npincus]

36. LOL- totallly understand.

whatever passes muster with your daughter. If you talk about it with her she should understand. Eeeeew- chimp scrathings.

[Bluebear]

31. Frame it with the knowledge that she is already smarter than the signer. nt

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

32. I Think You're Being Amazingly Petty Here And Should Be Proud With No Strings Attached.

I don't agree with your reservations whatsoever. This is a standard award regardless of who is in office and the specific signature is completely irrelevant.

Hang it with pride. It is a sign of your daughter's achievment, not a sign of recognition from bush towards your daughter's achievement. Letting your personal feelings toward the administration actually creep into the recieving of this award, is a sign that you may be taking your hatred towards the administration a bit too far. This has nothing to do with them and all to do with your daughter.

I apologize for the bluntness, but I believe it needed to be said.

[LibDemAlways]

37. I see nothing petty about not wanting to display the

signature of a war criminal on a wall in my home. Sorry, but that's how I feel.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

38. You Don't But I Do.

You asked for opinions but I wasn't aware you only wanted those that agreed fully with your mentality.

I feel a bit sorry for your daughter that her achievment is going to be minimized and that she has to now have a stigma with it that her physical award is bothersome to you.

I think the award is about her, not you, but you're making it about you.

I know you don't like hearing it but to have such aversion to something as simple as a signature, on an award you should be proud of, is a sign that your hatred is running a bit too deep. I personally don't feel this sort of petty obsession of hatred towards a mere signature is a good lesson to show your daughter, but to each their own perception. Obviously you're going to do what you're going to do anyway, so I guess there's no real point in me thinking I'm going to get through to you anyway. Do what ya do.

[LibDemAlways]

41. Actually, I welcome everybody's input. Everyone in

my family despises Bush, and I know what they'll all say. Stick the thing in a closet someplace and never let it see the light of day - which is not what I want to do. That wouldn't be fair to my daughter. So I really did start this thread to seek other ideas, opinions, options.

The more I think about it, the more I realize I can't in good conscience display it as is. It's not the signature. It's what the man represents - evil. Here's a man who stole two elections and has misused the office to start an illegal war. He's condoned torture. He's shredded the Constitution, and on and on......

At the least I have to cover the signature over or I would feel like I was betraying my own principles. Fortunately, she gave me the go-ahead to do whatever I think is right.

And I do appreciate the input and understand your point of view.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

42. See, This Is Why I Say Taking The Hatred Too Far.

It is a small signature. On a piece of paper. We're not talking about a friggin life size statue here that someone is asking you to bow down to.

It's just a signature. You are assigning WAYYYYYYYY too much weight and impact to such a silly little thing.

Hang it on the wall and simply ignore the signature. Each time you look at it, you should be immediately reminded of your daughter's achievment, not Bush. If you have trouble with that and obsess instead on the latter, then I think you've let things go too far.

[LibDemAlways]

44. Like I say, I respect your opinion. I just can't

do it - pretend it doesn't bear the signature of the worst so-called "President" in history . Just spoke with my husband who also has mixed feelings about it. Once I explained what it was, his exact response was "Just be sure to cover over the chimp's sig before you hang it up. I don't want any reminders of the moron in the house." At least we're on the same page.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

52. I Think The Only Important Opinion Is The One From Your Daugher.

If she feels the same as you do then there's no problem I guess. But if she would rather the award displayed proudly and without anything having to cover parts of it, then it would be sad if you didn't oblige.

[LibDemAlways]

54. She doesn't care one way or the other. What she's

proudest of is a picture she took with her favorite rock star. Priorities!! LOL!!

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

55. Who's That?

[LibDemAlways]

59. The lead singer of a group

called "Fall Out Boy." She has other pics, too, including one she snapped up close of Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day at a premiere I took her to. That's one of the reasons she does so well in school. No concerts if her grades fall. Great motivator!

[immoderate]

74. I wouldn't pay any more attention to that signature than I would ...

...to who signs a dollar bill. It's a certificate from that office and Bush happens to be the president (occupant) now. It's not a political document. Some day it may be an object of interest that your daughter was cited by 'the worst so-called "President" in history.'

Surely she will accrue other honors, but certainly not from any worse public official. :) I hope she will be fortunate enough in her endeavors to be able to step back and appreciate the irony in such an award.

--IMM

[LibDemAlways]

75. Thanks for your thoughtful response.

I suppose it would be hard to convey just how ardently anti-Bush my entire family is and how offensive that name is to us. I guess it's just on a whole different level than for some here.

His name on it just wrecks it for us. It's a damn shame, I know. And perhaps we shouldn't feel this way, but we do. At least we have the satisfaction of knowing that our daughter is an excellent student and she surely does not need any validation from the moron illegally occupying the WH.

[immoderate]

77. I'm glad you got my point.

Don't change the document. One day this will sit amongst your daughter's degrees and honors, and she can point to it and enjoy the laughter when she says, "...and George W. Bush thought I was smart."

I know it's hard to convey how ardently anti-Bush one can be, there are no words. :) It certainly puts a strain on human communication. LOL. All I can say is I signed up for DU at the beginning of 2001, which was the beginning of DU, and I know how much Bush can be detested, though I can't say.

So therein lies the joke. As you said, your daughter "surely does not need any validation from the moron illegally occupying the WH."

Indeed!

--IMM

[truebrit71]

33. My daughter got one too a few years ago...she laughed and said the signature must be fake....

...because Shrub is too stupid to remember how to spell his own name!!!

[LynneSin]

35. Frame it for now but cover the signature then

in 2-3 years when she gets another one from a real president you can replace it.

It's a great honor that she got - show it off

[Balbus]

39. Ground your daughter for daring to achieve to such a high

level which in turn caused her to bring such a filthy, disgusting thing into your house.

or.....

You can stop making it about you and be proud of your daughter for her accomplishment and display the symbol of her achievement proudly.

[LibDemAlways]

51. It's not about me. I am very proud of my daughter. I just

can't in good conscience proudly hang something in my home with Bush's signature on it. We (my entire family) despise the man and everything he stands for. It's a damn shame the signature of a war criminal is on that award. That's what's upsetting. My daughter deserves that the recognition for her achievement not be tainted that way.

[elehhhhna]

40. Mine got one too. And 2 years ago the other daughter won the Tom DeLay

Citizenship Award (I am NOT making this up).

Congrats are in order, respecting the office from which it came.

File it away, as have we. They will hit E-Bay when each is indicted.

[Hippo_Tron]

61. I remember you mentioning the Tom DeLay award on another thread, was about to bring it up

I still find that hillarious

[Lisa]

43. I've got an official government apology signed by a Canadian Prime Minister

... who is not one of my faves (Brian Mulroney). However, I keep it on my wall anyway because I figure that Brian just happened to be sitting in the PM's chair at the time!

Kudos to your daughter! As other posters have pointed out, she has accomplished something which Bush didn't (and likely still could not, no matter how much Karl tutored him!). While it may be a bit tiresome to see Bush's signature, trust me on this -- eventually it will just kind of fade into the background, and your daughter's name on the certificate will be what stands out in your memory. You don't have to hang it in the busiest part of the house ... or keep it turned to the wall, in a back room somewhere. Just where you'll see it often enough that eventually it just becomes part of the furnishings.

It could always be worse. Imagine how ghastly the proceedings would have been if Dubya himself had shown up to hand out the awards -- smirking and preening, still puffed up from that Albanian visit (and refusing to admit that his reception there had much more to do with how much the people there like America itself, rather than his own mishandled presidency). That would have spoiled the happy memories of everybody in the room! One of my best friends still has a science award she got at age 9, from then-President Ronald Reagan ... and I think that the perfect outcome is the fact that Ronnie, were he still with us, would faint in shock if he saw her now -- a hippie environmentalist single mom with body piercings and a Master's degree!

[LibDemAlways]

45. If the ass had been there in person to hand out the

awards, my daughter would have had to collect hers some other time, because neither she nor I would have been there. Just the thought of being in the same room with the idiot makes my skin crawl. EEEEWWWWWWW.

[Lisa]

49. if you're in need of a lift, just imagine the chaos he could have wrought!

And picture someone less obnoxious, like Will Ferrell or some other Bush impersonator, doing it instead.

First, he'd have leaned so much on the podium that it would have tipped over. Then a self-aggrandizing speech that reminded everyone of what a slacker he was ("this here's the principal, and here I am, the C-student and president, don't you fergit it!"). Not complete without some non sequitur about what a great job he is doing in Iraq. And then a smarmy meet-and-greet where he rubbed balding guys on the head, and made tasteless remarks to the older women about how much they looked like his mom ("an' you glare jus' like she did when I ticker her off, heh heh!").

[LibDemAlways]

73. He'd be an embarrassment, all right. It's painful to

even think about it. Frankly, they should have redone those "Presidential Awards" so parents could request their child's with (for the kool aid lovers) or without (for the rest of us) his name on it. I'd have been perfectly happy for her to have received a generic "Honor Roll" award and leave Pres. Dumbass out of it!!

[Lisa]

93. one good thing about having her name next to the Dumbass's ....

He talks a fine game about being supportive of women in education, but I suspect that he is quite resentful about how things have changed. When he did his degree at Yale, female undergrads were not permitted! These days, more than half of North American post-secondary students are women, and the term "co-ed" is as antiquated as whale-oil lamps. One of his own daughters attended Yale -- and if Bush hasn't changed his attitude, it must be eating him up inside. He really, really hates to be proven wrong. (Your daughter might get a kick out of this actual story ...)

http://www.dubyaspeak.com/incidents.phtml?page=4

There's also Lynn Novick, a co-producer of Ken Burns' PBS series "Baseball," who had the rare treat of accompanying Bush to a Texas Rangers game in the summer of 1994, before he was elected governor. "He was a very gracious host," Novick says. "He was perfectly pleasant. Until he changed the subject."

Bush mentioned something about Yale University, from which he graduated in 1968. Novick graduated from Yale in 1983, so she brought it up, thinking it would be "like a bonding thing."

"When did you graduate?" Bush asked her, as she recalls. She told him. That's when Bush told her that Yale "went downhill since they admitted women."

"I said, 'Excuse me?'" Novick says. "I thought he was kidding. But he didn't seem to be kidding. I said, 'What do you mean?'"

Bush replied that "something had been lost" when women were fully admitted to Yale in 1969, that fraternities were big when he'd been there, providing a "great camaraderie for the men." But that went out the window when women were allowed in, Bush said.

"He said something like, 'Women changed the social dynamic for the worse,'" she says. "I was so stunned, shocked and insulted, I didn't know what to say."


* * *


So imagine how bitter he'd be, if he were that chauvinistic and knew that his name would be appearing on the same certificate as an accomplished young woman. I would not be surprised if most of the students in your daughter's class who did so well academically are female! (And a woman I know who did her PhD at a Texas university said that his signature appeared on her diploma, as governor ... she told me that if she ever meets him, she will not hesitate to get in his face about what a disappointment he is.)

[Johonny]

48. I remember when

you just left middle school. I guess the state of education is so poor we are happy people pass middle school?

[LibDemAlways]

57. Oh my God. You should have seen it. There was a 2 hour long

awards extravaganza. There are 300 kids in the class, and 156 received one or more awards - everything from "Excellence in PE" (lots of those) to the 4.0 award for kids who've never received less than an "A" (handful of those). Ironically, if not for my daughter's B's in PE, she would have won that award! Oh, well. I'm very proud of all she's accomplished so far - though she would tell you that by far her greatest accomplishment was meeting her favorite rock star. Now that's one picture she has proudly displayed on her wall!!

[deutsey]

50. My son has also received the award, twice

We display them because we want him to know how proud we are of him. However, we've used the fact that Bush's name is on it to help educate him about why we do not support the Li'l Dictator.

Basically, we say we're proud of our son and ashamed of Bush.

[LibDemAlways]

66. Congrats to your son on his achievements. These

awards don't come easy. It's just a damn shame they're defiled with the name of a warmongering moron.

[Jax]

58. Not sure what you should do about the award

but I want to applaud you Mom and your outstanding Daughter!!!

:yourock: :thumbsup: :applause:

[LibDemAlways]

60. Thanks! We appreciate it!

[Hippo_Tron]

62. I thought the George W Bush Presidential Award was for C students only

Just kidding...

Honestly if your daughter just graduated middle school, she's old enough to make her own decision about what to do with it and if she's on the honor roll, she's certainly smart enough to know what to do with it.

If she has a problem with it, you can offer suggestions like putting Gore's signature over it (I would've found that funny at that age and still do), but if she doesn't have a problem with it then just let it be.

[LibDemAlways]

63. She really doesn't care. As I commented to someone upthread,

she's more proud of a picture she took with a guy in a rock group. However, I do want to display the award, and was looking to other DUers to see how they would handle it. I respect those who have no problem with it. I, however, do. It's such a touchy subject with my family, that I really don't want to tell my parents about it. They'll be proud she was recognized for her academic achievement, but mightily pissed that Bush's name is on there. My 84-year-old dad despises Bush more than anyone I know. He'd never under any circumstances even accept an award with his name on it.

I'm toying with the idea of substituting an Al Gore signature or simply covering over the offensive paw print with a grad pic of my daughter. It's horrible that Bush has so demeaned and defiled the office of the Presidency that this is even an issue for us!

[Hippo_Tron]

68. How about storing it somewhere?

You don't have to display it just save it in case she wants to see it when she gets older.

[LibDemAlways]

69. I would like to display it. Maybe I could figure out a

way to put a picture over the offending signature under glass without actually affixing it. I'll have to think about it. Thanks for your input.

[Breeze54]

82. It's her award to toy with. Not yours!!!

[Vinca]

64. Let your daughter decide what she wants to do with it.

If she's smart enough to win the award, she's smart enough to hide it in a box at the back of the closet for an ebay sale in 25 or 30 years.

[LibDemAlways]

65. LOL! As I've been commenting, my daughter doesn't

care one way or the other. She handed it to me and told me to do whatever I want to with it. Thus, my dilemma.

[Vinca]

70. Did I just hear a flushing sound???

:rofl:

[LibDemAlways]

72. Nah....If she doesn't want it and I can get even a quarter for

it on e-bay in 30 years, maybe it will be worth keeping around. You are right though. Having Bush's signature on an academic award surely does make it seem less impressive.

[Breeze54]

83. You're going to sell HER award???

:wtf:

:crazy:

[walldude]

78. Sounds to me like your daughter is smart enough to be proud

of her achievements without needing a piece of paper with the pResidents rubber stamp on it. Reminds me of a Pink Floyd song:

"And kind old King George
Sent Mother a note
When he heard that father was gone.
It was, I recall,
In the form of a scroll,
With gold leaf and all.
And I found it one day
In a drawer of old photographs, hidden away.
And my eyes still grow damp to remember
His Majesty signed
With his own rubber stamp."

[Breeze54]

80. You know damn well you're going to frame it for her.

It's her award, not his or yours! :eyes:

[LibDemAlways]

85. Oh, I'm framing it alright. But as I've said elsewhere on

this thread, my daughter really doesn't care what I do with it. Truly. I asked her and she said I could burn it for all she cares. She's an excellent student, but her real interest is music and attending concerts. Unless she gets good grades, the concerts stop and she knows it. So academic achievement to her at this point is only a means to an end.

So, she handed me the award and said do whatever you want to with it. She knows how much I detest Bush and how it would pain me to hang it up with his name on it. My husband says I should put Al Gore's signature on there since he's the last elected President. I'm thinking about it. Either that or a picture of my daughter to cover the SOB's signature. I'm still mulling it over.

[twenty4blackbirds]

87. It's about her

...so how about a photo (or cropped) of her & the Fall Out Boy guy? They are a good band. Or maybe the guy only :-)

[LibDemAlways]

88. That's my screen saver. And there's an 8 x 10

of the same pic hanging in her room. I think I'll use a graduation pic instead.

But, you're right. It is about her! Thanks for weighing in.

[Control-Z]

81. We were lucky

My older daughter received her Presidential Academic Award while Clinton was in office. But, unless it is a different/new award, it has nothing to do with the chimp, whatsoever. In fact, if the chimpster even knew about the awards program he would probably have done away with it by now. I doubt that he knows he signed (stamped) it.

Don't let him detract from your daughter's achievement. If it is the same award as my daughter's it is the highest academic honor a student can receive prior to entering HS, by the highest office of the United States.

[radfringe]

89. the decision to give this award to your daughter was not made

by the "decider", it was made by the school in recognition of her acheivement.

Doesn't really matter if it was 'signed' by George Washington or George Bush, the standards needing to be met in order to receive the award are the same, they weren't lowered to just maintaining a "gentlemen's C" because bush is in the White House.

I find it a bit amusing - your daughter is receiving the Presidential award that pResident bush will never receive himself.

[LibDemAlways]

90. It wouldn't have been quite so bad if the principal hadn't

prefaced the award by reading an accompanying letter supposedly from the chimp wishing the award winners well and emphasizing that it was an honor he was bestowing on them. (I'm well aware it wasn't. I just find his association with it and name on it so repulsive as to render it meaningless.)

Would have been so much better for them to simply have an "Honor Roll Award" and leave the chimp out of it.

[radfringe]

91. you can always

scan it into the computer, and with a bit of photoshopping - change the name to President Gore or President Kerry.... :evilgrin:

[BluePatriot]

98. I remember the Presidential Fitness award...

and not being able to meet the requirement for chin-ups...

Just tuck it away in your daughter's file/spot for mementos if it's one of many awards / she is indifferent to it. It will be cool for her to dig up when she is older. If she is proud of earning it, let her display it.

I remember my repug parents hating Clinton on the awards in the early 90's, but, they were still proud I achieved something, FWIW.

[LibDemAlways]

100. The Presidential Fitness Award is one she'll never

have to worry about receiving! LOL! Her only B's, all through school thus far, have been in PE and those were probably gifts from the coach since in her school a student's PE grade depends on his/her ability to run a lightning fast timed mile. More than 10 minutes is an "F" and I'm sure she never came close to cracking that! Oh, well. We all have our differing talents and abilities.