'The Blind Side' should trouble as well as inspire

Shortly after his enrollment at Briarcrest, Oher, struggling to make it, met Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy, a self-made couple of means. They took him in and soon adopted him.

By his senior year, making a final push to get his grade-point average to meet NCAA standards for college admission, they took him to psychologists for intelligence testing.

They found, incredibly, that in his few years at Briarcrest, his IQ increased almost 30 points. When he was admitted, his IQ measured 80. Now tests showed him as between 100 and 110. This, according to Lewis, "wasn't supposed to happen. IQ was meant to be a given, like the size of one's feet." The psychologists were dumfounded.

Michael Oher achieved this. But he couldn't have done it without a Christian school and his caring Christian adopted parents who loved him and respected his uniqueness.

President Barack Obama's $4.5 billion in new education spending will not fix our education crisis. Government and moral relativism never has been the answer and will not be.

School choice and traditional values are the answers. It's freedom, not bureaucrats, that produces miracles. Michael Oher may be an exceptional individual, but his story need not be an exceptional story.

MJ84 Wrote: Dec 02, 2009 11:11 AM

For the poster who brought up the point that his friend said that "only a Democrat family" would adopt a black child, I'd like to add that there is NO WAY a true Democrat white family would adopt a black child, because they would be too busy following the dictates of the Black Social Workers organization who have preached for 30 years that black children should NEVER be raised by white families, hence they lose their "black identity."

I would like to point out that it is the "urban black identity" that is causing so many of the black children to underachieve and only aspire to become rap stars, drug dealers and unwed mothers.

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Estelle7 Wrote: Dec 01, 2009 10:18 PM

Far too many people seem to close their eyes to the condition of those trapped in today's modern slavery, Welfare... The movie Blindside clearly showed the effects of a welfare state... the projects, crime, drugs and hopelessness the side of town was appropriately called “Hurt Village” where personal responsibility is a bad word. I’ve pointed out to my mentee what the man’s reason was for dropping out of school; he got tired of people trying to tell him what to do. So now he hustles for a drug dealer…who tells him what to do… How ironic

asurferiamnot Wrote: Dec 01, 2009 11:36 AM

Ms. Parker, what is your point? No one on the left wants to use common sense in a debate or discussion. Your article is littered with it.

Too bad too many Americans let common sense fall by the wayside while they reach out to the government for more help.

God help us all.

T.C.7 Wrote: Nov 30, 2009 7:56 PM

I'M SHOCKED IT GOT MADE.

Among other things the film depicts the following:

After a black thug lays some trash talk on the SANDRA BULLOCK character, she walks away. But then she turns around, walks back and tells him she has a gun, knows how to use it and doesn't intend to miss.

The black thug doesn't say a word.

This movie is NOT politically correct.

Look for Sean Penn, Danny Glover and Janeane Garofalo to demand the film be pulled from theatres. The Tea Party people must have made the movie, Garofalo will state. Then she'll throw a hissy fit.

Carlos7 Wrote: Nov 30, 2009 7:54 PM

Ms Kelly: Too Funny :-) True, Obama is fond of himself. And what's not to Admire ... is he not the Greatest Con Artist in American History?

oldsocialworker: "Love is a Lifestyle", you say. Oh, how I beg for such a Lifestyle! My mind says yes, but my body cannot keep pace :-)

Jin de soleil Wrote: Nov 30, 2009 7:26 PM

Bingo. Obimbo has been described as a Malignant Narcissist. It is an extreme version of NPD, which, in Obimbo's case, probably arises (according to people who know) from his abandonment issues.

The extreme nature of his delusion came from his very skillful ability to con large groups of people. The adulation is very addictive - more than any drug.

oldsocialworker Wrote: Nov 30, 2009 6:26 PM

Most people look to be loved rather than to love. Similarly, attraction and/or the desire for the gratification of an appetite is often confused with "love". I think love is a lifestyle, and one that can only be given by God.

Ms Kelly Wrote: Nov 30, 2009 5:53 PM

Oh not to worry, Carlos. Obama is full of love -- for himself.

Ms Kelly Wrote: Nov 30, 2009 5:51 PM

if this movie is protested, boycotted and prohibited from being shown in most movie houses. It just simply offends too many protected groups.

Teachers unions, public schools, Christian haters and those who oppose white/black adoption will be outraged. I would not expect to find this film at your local movie house.

Mac Moore Wrote: Nov 30, 2009 5:44 PM

oldsocialworker offers, "Gov't funded programs are funded based upon attendance numbers and are often filled based upon program- not client- need."

Absolutely!

Why on earth would you want to do business with anyone that does not profit from your good will? You show me an enterprise that does not profit from its Consumers and I will show an enterprise that does not conform to its Consumers' needs.

Private Schools profit from the good will of parents. Thus, Private Schools conform to parents' needs. Enterprises work for their benefactors, and, at private schools, parents are the benefactors.

Public schools get funding from Gov't, so they conform to Gov't's needs: filling a class room and punching the clock...

Carlos7 Wrote: Nov 30, 2009 5:43 PM

If Obama Loves anyone at all.

Is such even possible, to not Love?

oldsocialworker Wrote: Nov 30, 2009 5:35 PM

Another thing that has happened is parents who want to stay home can no longer do so- which is not in children's best interest. Parent volunteers are more scarce because people have to work to support themselves and the huge entitlement programs that are built into gov't services. Having no national borders significantly exascerbates matters- anyone can get anything for free here in the US, and we pay for it.

Here in NJ , it is very difficult to maintain a reasonable standard of living on one income; state and federal taxes take over 50% of the earnings of those who are self-employed, and the behavior-based poor are growing even more impoverished, and the middle class is being sucked down into a lower standard of living, and...

Becca in TX Wrote: Nov 30, 2009 5:32 PM

It is very unfair for you to suggest that liberals arent' generous. That's not true-they are very, very generous.....as long as they're using other people's money.

oldsocialworker Wrote: Nov 30, 2009 5:18 PM

see in practice: There is no substitute for PERSONAL investment and choices, and most gov't systems that we have are to be AVOIDED. I am late getting in today because I was at a meeting trying to help a 17 year old girl AVOID being "evaluated" (interviewed by a dopey grad student and medicated by a witless psychiatrist) and then sentenced to "treatment". Gov't funded programs are funded based upon attendance numbers and are often filled based upon program- not client- need. There are many kids who are diagnosed with psychiatric illensses that they don't have, and once drawn into the system for "help", often buy into the menatlly ill role. This is very destructive.

In addition, tradesmen and businesses I used to send kids to...

HARVARD - MIT Wrote: Nov 30, 2009 5:05 PM

"BUT WHERE, WHERE, WHERE WILL WE HIDE THIS BIMBO" Obama asks Rahm Emanuel... his infinite guiding light. "Over there, way over there", Rahm says. "Remember, boy, I told you to always keep your enemies close by" further says Rahm to Obama. "Who you callin 'boy'... you f-cking J", retorts Obama

SO OBAMA MAKES THE BIMBO, PILLOW EDUCATED HILLARY,... SECRETARY OF STATE. Rahm remains as Obama-Rama's guiding light within the White House.

"ONLY WITH MY KIND OF WISDOM & LEADERSHIP", believes Obama-Rama.. can health care ever get through during these hard economic times. Such an achievement will surely only prove to Obama-Rama (aka Obama-Cide) that his wit is truly superior to that of any euro named Clinton (this includes Bill...

Jin de soleil Wrote: Nov 30, 2009 4:58 PM

Too bad a family like that didn't have the opportunity to adopt Barry the Blunderer. He sure could have used the added IQ.

Brian'61 Wrote: Nov 30, 2009 4:34 PM

I was also touched by the Christian goodness of the Touhy family. It demonstrated that people are redeemed one at a time, by the direct action of loving people.

And the contrast with the government's solution was stark. The "projects" on the other side of the tracks in Memphis were created (and perpetuated) by uncaring, unknowing government agencies which grow in size each year without ever solving the problems they are tasked with fixing. Indeed, the government is a key destroyer of the family unit in the projects, by making fathers even less relevant with welfare programs.

PammyFaye Wrote: Nov 30, 2009 4:06 PM

Frederick Douglass's autobiography? That's a work of fiction, right? I mean, it supposedly took place in the 1800's - WELL before the Civil Rights Acts and The Great Society, so we KNOW that a black person could not have made it on his own at that time, right? Amazing, isn't it?

Shrug Wrote: Nov 30, 2009 3:51 PM

I would hope that none of the people you mention would see this movie. After all, in the eyes of any good Marxist the Touhy's usurped the government's power over Michael Oher, and the government is pretty good at making sure that no good deed goes unpunished!

In Leann's Touhy's interview with Hugh Hewitt she talked about how the NCAA was shown in a far more kindly light in the book and movie than they deserved. She said that the NCAA was "always part of the problem and never part of the solution". If that's the case with the NCAA just think how bad the organizations and their leaders are that you listed.

In the Marxist's world view "The Blind Side" would only serve to convince them that they had to work even harder to...

Sunny45 Wrote: Nov 30, 2009 2:57 PM

I would suggest that this be a 'must see' for the entire current administration, Eric Holder, ALL of the 'reverends', ALL ACORN and SEIU employees and the ACLU.
This movie is the real America. Not the contrived America that the above organizations are attempting to shove down the throats of Americans of all ethnicities.
Bravo to everyone who contributed to this movie and it's tremendous message. Thanks, Ms. Bullock!

SVARA Wrote: Nov 30, 2009 2:55 PM

Good column by Star and some true and excellent posts on this thread. Yes, many private schools are an excellent source of education, but the family factor is of the utmost importance as the film illustrates.
And I agree that the govt. "so-called experts" should see this film and make the Touhys or someone of their kind of work ethic the heads of education with no interference. IMO

greg1920 Wrote: Nov 30, 2009 2:49 PM

'nuff said

Desert Rat6 Wrote: Nov 30, 2009 2:25 PM

Did you happen to mention to your democrat friend the study that came out about a year or so ago that showed that conservatives are MUCH more giving? It was shown that they give MUCH more to charitable organizations that do liberals.

Hence, his supposition that only a democrat family would take in a black child simply does not follow. Conservatives are more charitable, period. Libs -- well, they just give it lip service, with nothing to back it up. (according to the cited statistics)

Sword of Light Wrote: Nov 30, 2009 2:01 PM

Not sure whether you meant Mark in MD or me (Sword of Light) in PA. Regardless, I agree with you about Booker T. Washington. As a matter of fact, not to touch a nerve, but I wonder how knowledgeable Black children are of these authentic histories.

Chef M. from WA. Wrote: Nov 30, 2009 1:53 PM

that the liberal base of this country still hold onto the premise that the all giving government will fix everything. If in fact the government actually did anything good, it would spend money cleaning up fraud, which would be far cheaper than just printing checks evey month and making those welfare cases get a job and leave the assistance for those that really need it. It is appauling to walk through the grocery store and see a man or momen riding in a cart because they are too big to walk and buy all kinds of junk food to feed their obesity, then pay with food stamps. It would seem to be logical that these people are getting more food assistance than necessary. How about a weight limit based on food stamp quantity? May sound...

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'The Blind Side' should trouble as well as inspire

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