Should They Be Forced?

I have heard several stories of schools where kids had to watch footage of the big takeover (inauguration) yesterday. In one reported instance, they played "Obama songs", in another, the kids missed a class to watch it, so they had to give up recess to make up for the class - yet they had no choice in the matter. Yet another case, a young girl was forced to watch it at school. Several kids were making pro-Obama statements. She politely gave her viewpoints, and was reprimanded by the teacher. When her mother called the principal, she was also reprimanded for having a different opinion, after all, this is a historical moment, the first half black president to take office (half black my wording).

By use of the internet and a large screen, the kids at my nieces' school were able to watch it. I don't know if they had a choice, I will give the school the benefit of the doubt and assume that they did have a choice, and that is how it should be, shouldn't it?

Should kids be forced to watch an inauguration of a president whose viewpoints & policies they completely oppose? Or should they have no choice in the matter, since it is a historic event, whether or not it is the first half black president to be elected, or the "normal" inauguration we have every 4 years.

I cannot imagine the outcry by the liberals if this were John McCain's or George W Bush's inauguration kids were being forced to watch. It would be the end of the world in their eyes, yet when it is a liberal & Democrat, everyone should watch it.

I know inaugurations are important, and this is a historic occasion as the first ever half black person takes over the presidency, but I do believe that no one, child or adult, should have to watch any inauguration of any president, whether they agree with him or not. And that is my two cents. :-)