Homeland Security, Sesame Style
By Jeff Dufour and Patrick Gavin
POSTED September 18, 2008 | 7:30 AM
(Above: Rosita and Meryl Chertoff)
Big Brother and Big Bird
When it comes to securing the homeland, who better to help you sleep at night than various characters from the popular children’s show, “Sesame Street" ... ?!?
Seriously.
In a move that will make Bush administration detractors bring back those duct tape jokes again, the Department of Homeland Security has partnered up with the famous children’s show.
“We all want our children to feel safe in this world,” said Meryl Chertoff, wife of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, at a ceremony held at the John Tyler Elementary School to announce the partnership. "And who better to do that than our Sesame Street friends, Grover and Rosita!”
“I always knew that [Mr. and Mrs. Chertoff] would be big muppet Muppett supporters!” said Sesame Workshop CEO Gary Knell.
As you can imagine, the partnership is aimed at children, and seeks to encourage family preparedness plans in the case of emergencies.
“Family preparedness is the cornerstone of personal and community readiness,” said Secretary Chertoff in a statement (he was scheduled to attend the event, but has been busy handling the aftermath of Hurricane Ike in Texas). “And we could not be more pleased to team up with Sesame Workshop.”
But perhaps Grover puts it best in his introductory remarks, published in a pamphlet titled, “Let’s Get Ready!”
“I, your furry, blue friend Grover, have a story to share. Are you wondering what it is about? I will give you an itty-bitty hint: It is about getting ready for emergencies! Oh boy, that was a big hint. Do you want to get ready, too? You do? Oh, I am so pleased. Then read this story with me, and let us get ready together!”
(above: Gary Knell and Rosita)
326 Comments
Reader Comments:
POSTED Sep 18, 2008
: "How long do you think it will be before Sesame Street characters start telling children to report their parents for un-American activities?"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
f8te: "Wow. Getting ready to tell all you kids to spy on your parents and neighbors. Be prepared! Be a rat! The New Amerikkka. Wake up people. Where else has this happened in history?!!?"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
: "Horrendous. Conditioning the minds of the new "Homeland Security Youth Police" program. New World Order is picking up the pace."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
: "Good lord. what happened to the good old days when Grover was just telling children about over, under, and through."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
tomsmith@aol.com: "or how about when we were younger and our parents always told us to be ready for anything (i.e. keeping canned food and bottled water in the house) in case something happens. It's not big brother it's common sense."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
foo@bar.edu: "People, I'm willing to bet good money that it's not about border security, illegal aliens, or terrorists. It's about what to do in an emergency. What about all the cartoon fire safety films we grew up with? Was that subversive? Oh no, the government is helping us to teach our kids what to do to prepare for a natural disaster. Besides, none of us has read the book. Chill out."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
gibber122: "After the latest string of hurricanes and disasterous situations that young kids have had to live through, I don't see what's so wrong with helping them to understand and prepare for emergencies."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
: "Tom, Preparation education is fine. However, I find "The letter "Q", brought to you by the United States Department of Homeland Security" a bit daunting."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
geologyjoe@gmail.com: "let the brain washing begin!"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
carricksea@aol.com: "Hush American babies don't you cry. On the terrorists we will drop bombs tonight. If those bombs won't kill their kids. I'm sure a bio-chem potion their graves will dig. Now children, would you like to play a game of who can stare the longest without blinking?"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
ibd_guy@hotmail.com: "The incompetent fascists in charge at U.S. Department of Homeland Security need to look warm and fuzzy. They're taking their cues from those scenes in "TRIUMPH OF THE WILL" where Adolf Hitler was shown kissing babies, and acting like a kindly uncle to German children. Heil Bush!"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
david.spencer@vt.edu: "I think this is a great idea. We have lost our sense of how to take care of ourselves. If this helps, so be it! If you're worried about the govt using your kids to spy on you, why not raise better kids and fight for better government? Oh yeah, that would take WORK..."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
melaniemcguffin@yahoo.com: "Simply scary. I'm scared."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
ibd_guy@hotmail.com: "This is just like those scenes from 'TRIUMPH OF THE WILL', which depicted Adolf Hitler as a kind and charming man who loved children and stopped his military processions to hug moms with their babies."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
Gardolf: "I'm depressed now...me need a cookie!!!"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
: "It seems fairly clear that this is just about general disaster preparedness, part of DHS purview as we see with these hurricanes. What's the fuss?"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
sesamestreet@dcexaminer.com: "For the age group targeted by Sesame Street, the main thing the kids need to know is they must listen to Mom and Dad or their caregiver. It's up to the parents to buy the duct tape and make the actual preparations."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
isparks1@fau .edu: "I remeber learning to count and read and explore how things were made with Sesame Street (the only TV my sisters and I were allowed to watch when young...am now well over 30)...I have seen Sesame Street twice in the last few years and have been disgusted that many of the current themes are more like social engineering for a liberal fantasy than to help young kids learn a little about the world they should be growing up into (as opposed to what someone with a political: socialist agenda wants). Now add that Homeland Security wants to 'program' kids and I fear a quicker slip down paths history tells us end in tragedy (Hitler Youth, Youth Workers Party, ANSWER, "It Takes A Village," etc.). I would suggest that parents who have younger (or older!) children need to know what their kids a being taught on TV and forced to learn in school, you may be suprised when those ideals to not match your own. Please pass on YOUR values, hopes, and dreams to YOUR kid...don't let the 'State' do it."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
: "Better than Rosita showing Elmo how to put a condom on a banana!"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
louisraritan@yahoo.com: "From the other posts here I can tell my first instincts aren't just paranoid but popular. Homeland securities mission is so ambiguous. Its like having cops teach kids while teachers patrol streets. Only history will tell."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
curtisotherstuff@gmail.com: "For all of you that believe this is brainwashing or subversive. Watch the evening news. If you get your news from any of the main stream sources, you have been being brainwashed for decades. The Marxism we have been forced to listen too from the left is subversive. This is about being prepared for lifes disasters."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
schrader@colorado.edu: "What country did I wake up in?"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
mathisfun314159@yahoo.com: "Seriously people get a grip, this is a really good idea. http://rightwingprofessor.blogspot.com/"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
bibbobbib2@yahoo.ca: "soon the characters will be beating up on the muslim one phillr.blogspot.com"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
johnerinbyers@yahoo.com: "This is pretty sick, and if we allow it to go on we'll end up with a generation of adults who've been perfectly conditioned to the yoke of an authoritarian regime. Guess I'm pulling the plug on Sesame Street...so sad."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
jon@vt.edu: "This is a terrible idea. Americans are continually being told they have lost the sense of how to take care of themselves. Which is an opinion that is just wrong. The state wants to take your kids and raise them for you. We are not afraid of work."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
ahgates@hotmail.com: "A is for Al-Qaida Today's threat rating is the number 2! Their propagandizing the 3-5 year old set now? Great..."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
mms111@comcast.net: "Sure it's ridiculouse, but do you paranoid whack jobs sit around in fear of everything you hear and see? You're feel justified in freaking out because you're ignorant of history, and too lazy read more than 1 account of the past. Good luck in life, losers."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
michael@homeland.gov: "'For all of you that believe this is brainwashing or subversive. Watch the evening news. If you get your news from any of the main stream sources, you have been being brainwashed for decades. As we have been brainwashed, and now, all the people who commented here have awoken to that fact, shouldn't we be wary of this latest move?"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
: "With the government taking over financial markets and Obama planning to socialize every other aspect of our country, the Communism train is coming hard and fast if we dont do anything to stop it!"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
mysterydave@yahoo.com: "Hi Dave, hope all is well down there. As you're a current watcher of children's tv shows I thought you might find this interesting. Even I have to admit it's weird. Mitch"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
paranoid@wackjob.com: ""I agree with Foo, here. You people need to chill out. It's about teaching kids what to do in an emergency. No more no less. Just because DHS is involved doesn't mean there is something nefarious going on here. Hippies: can't live with'em, can't bury'em in the back yard." And the Patriot act was just about terrorists."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
: "Michael Chertoff is a dual-citizen of Israel. Let that sink in for a minute, the head of our HOMELAND Security is a citizen of another country...and not just ANY country, one that is continuously caught spying on the us."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
treehousesd@yahoo.com: "What will they name the "Arab" Elmo character? Habibmo? Osamanuffleupagus? Big Ahkbird?"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
blutstein42@gmail.com: "WTF. This goes way too far. We do not need to be scaring our children. They don't need to know anything about terrorist, maybe when they are in high school but this is utterly insane to introduce and scare little kids with terrorism. They already have the monster in the closet, leave it at that."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
blackjackshellac@gmail.com: "Amerikkka is officially fsckkked."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
chocolate_man_17110@yahoo.com: "People who are overreacting obviously are not parents. I watched the episode, and as a parent, it was very helpful for a child to understand the importance of being READY for an emergency. The show features kids and how they may not be ready for a house fire or blackout and what they could do or who to turn to if they ever encountered an emergency. For those who are making it more than that are ridiculous. Right away, you people think it has something to do with terrorists! Chill the freak out!!!!! Perhaps try watching the epsiode before jumping to conclusions and overreacting."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
phishfry44@hotmail.com: "Hey kids! You want to know a really fun game? If you see mommy or daddy with a gun or spouting unamerican views call this number. Then cookie monster will come and put funny uniforms on them consisting of orange jumpsuits with hoods over their heads."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
annon@annon.com: "Most of you commenting are completely overreacting. Ironically enough, you are being completely childish. Maybe you should take a field trip to the Holocaust Museum downtown and learn what real tyranny and totalitarianism is all about."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
lsyski@usa.net: "Shame on you, Grover!"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
caseybrinck@yahoo.com: "Alot of you out there are crying "fascism or brainwashing". I bet you wouldn't be saying that if it were the Obama administration doing this. You all would be saying "what a great idea". Personally I would much rather have this administration teaching children about what to be prepared for than an Obama administration. I wonder what they would tell children? "Report all non-Democrats (communists)" to your local government official and they will be hauled off to a labor and re-education camp...have a great day kids!""POSTED Sep 18, 2008
NAU2010@yahoo.com: "This is about as sick as it gets!"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
theflamingoking@yahoo.com: "I'm going to depart from the alarmist comments in this thread and say: Turn the TV off. That's right, you have the power. It's a freakin' TV show. It's not being beamed into your kids brains. It's not mandatory curriculum at your local elementary school. It's just a TV show. You can change the channel. In fact, PBS is public sponsored television. Don't like it? Don't sponsor it. Tell others not to sponsor it. The public pays for this show through donations. If I recall, we learned fire safety "Stop, Drop & Roll" before there was a Dept. of Homeland Security. We learned to call 911 in an emergency. We learned what to do if a parent or loved one is hurt. So I guess we're all Nazis or KKK members or whatever the people in this thread want you to believe. I'm as scared of big government as anyone, but this is not Big Brother. This is a TV show."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
psyops3000@aol.com: "It is about time, now we can see that this so-called agency is more like a kids show than something they think is going to help us with terrorists. Homeland Security is one of the most useless agencies we have, maybe they will do better on small time tv."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
ack754@hotmail.com: "It's not PARANOIA if they're really out to get you..."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
j2wilcox@hotmail.com: "I love paying these experts to tell my kid to spy on me and the community. Mr. McCarthy would be a happy man in this era."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
fbush@gmail.com: "what is this .. the 1950s?????????"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
takodas@msn.com: "my children will never watch sesame street again. Jesus have we really become such a socialist state that the government is now doing our television programming"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
Cracker740@cs.com: "This would be funny if it were not so tragic. Nazi Homeland Security brainwashing our children with Elmo, yet another infringement on our rights by the gov't. Add it to the ever-growing list of violations: They violate the 1st Amendment by opening mail, caging demonstrators and banning books like "America Deceived" from Amazon, Wikipedia and Facebook. They violate the 2nd Amendment by confiscating guns during Katrina. They violate the 4th Amendment by conducting warrant-less wiretaps. They violate the 5th and 6th Amendment by suspending habeas corpus. They violate the 8th Amendment by torturing at Gitmo. They violate the entire Constitution by starting illegal wars without declaration. Impeach them all (both parties) and save this great country. Last link (unless Google Books caves to the gov't and drops the title): http://www.iuniverse.com/Bookstore/BookDetail.aspx?BookId=SKU-000083883"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
andreascary@gmail.com: "LEAVE MUPPETS OUT OF THIS"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
EdMurrow@aol.com: "Another good reason to end the government subsidies of public television, which now has become a propaganda arm of the State."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
bodenhammerk: "What a bunch of...."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
smackmegood@home.com: "Plain and simple this is BRAINWASHING the children to think like the Bushitlers want them to....1984 is here."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
snelson30@gamil.com: "things are definitely getting weird."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
maxssearch@yahoo.com: "I must say there is certainly no varnish on the continued and accelerated overt machinations the actors - who pretend to be "Americans" - are rolling out to further destroy this country. Yes, and someone commented that perhaps we should take a field trip to a holocaust museum so that we can tune our perspective. Check your history American and see who really is LARGELY responsible for so many Holocausts. Good grief! Do any of us in America pay ANY ATTENTION AT ALL?....We've a fascist police state built around a bogey man descending all round and sadly many people cannot see the forest for the trees. Peace. RM"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
gregheninger411: "Why don't they also show grover teaching how to take out a bully,and i don't mean with nice words."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
schistopherschiss@yahoo.com: "I don't get why HUSSEIN supporters are complaining. The rest of the country already pays for everything your kids need, we should at least teach them how to react in an emergency besides rioting also."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
schistopherschiss@yahoo.com: "I don't get why HUSSEIN supporters are complaining. The rest of the country already pays for everything your kids need, we should at least teach them how to react in an emergency besides rioting also."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
fred@fred.net: "The whole issue is that Homeland security shouldn't exist, after 9/11 there should have been massive firings combined and the revoking of pensions for those who were fired at the FBI and CIA followed up by promotions for those who were vigilant but stopped by their bosses from bringing threat information on the table. Also fire off any iof the ICE and immigration officials that were complicit in not following deportation policies for those on expired student visa, guess what several of the hijackers were here on EXPIRED visas!!! Lastly the President should have addressed the nation and let them knwo that if some nut job on a plane decides to take it over with a box cutter the passengers need to take action and if they do he will personally award them a medal of honor. That is ALL that was needed after 9/11, what do we get, more government and more crappy laws like the Patriot act. We just needed to fire those who wouldn't enforce the laws already on the books."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
trustin@hotmail.com: "Government wasting your money. What's new? Have you heard those idiotic ad counsel bits about the "energy hog"?"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
modjesky@verizon.net: "Now we have achieved the complete trivialization of the "war against terror.""POSTED Sep 18, 2008
jcolstion@hotmail.com: "There are movies out there that send a differnt message. Try watching the old school never ending story, or the new golden compass. The government has you convinced that they can brain wash your kids with cartoons. Change that. Talk to your childern. Teach them to think for themselves and explain why."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
dyspathy@hotmail.com: "I'm over 18, I can vote. My kids can't, and they don't need to be bothered by lessons from the government - period. "Fire safety" is one thing - using the vague term "Emergency" is a subversive way of conditioning people for fear. Government, stay the hell away from my children!"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
gunny2674@hotmail.com: "This is a joke right? RIGHT?"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
: "Here is an itty-bitty hint: the Bush administration is full of SH@#$"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
ecmerola@yahoo.com: "Well, I guess that might as well dress up the fantasy with more fictional characters. Good for them!"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
rosetta44@gmail.com: "America is turning into Nazi Germany. The militarized police state will enforce an orderly extermination of the public through forced vaccinations. Laugh all you want but it is happening right in front of our eyes. Read Drudge Report, AP wire, and Infowars for real news."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
amybazer@yahoo.com: "OMG!!!!"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
idiotsdy@yahoo.com: "I love nazi america! Don't you love nazi america kids!?"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
vanpelt101@hotmail.com: "I trust the Muppets, unlike the puppet "running" things. Can they tackle the economy next. Elmo says, "Kiss your four, zero, one, kay good bye kids!""POSTED Sep 18, 2008
: "once again gubment doing the parenting. I am sure the gubment has nothing but the best of intentions. Never forget katrina what about those kids...oh well just stick those kids in trailers covered in formaldehyde, then sell their homes to the highest bidder. BIG BROTHER DOES NOT LOVE YOU, BIG BROTHER IS A CANNIBAL."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
boniface@yahoo.com: "Good for the Dept. of Homeland Security to be teaching our kids what way too many adults don't know...what to do in an emergency. It's those of you that are complaining that are the ones that have to be rescued during hurricanes and natural disasters. Try thinking with both sides of your brain...not just with the left!"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
byron_lonnquist@yahoo.com: "How many of you paranoiacs screaming about Big Brother actually have read the pamphlet? I'm guessing that'd be none. You are all so smart that you can criticize it without knowing anything about it. PBS is about the most liberal organization on earth - do you REALLY think they would play ball with DHS if the content amounted to brainwashing kids about terrorism? GET REAL!"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
boniface73@yahoo.com: "Good for the Dept. of Homeland Security to be teaching our kids what way too many adults don't know...what to do in an emergency. It's those of you that are complaining that are the ones that have to be rescued during hurricanes and natural disasters. Try thinking with both sides of your brain...not just with the left!"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
ewing@palmbeachjustice.net: "Herr Goerring would be proud. Instilling a national sense of fear from terrorism and other disasters, with children that are too young to prepare anyway seems like a great way to spend taxpayer money while keeping the fear strong in the next generation!"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
dana@danacreates.com: "involuntary indoctrination and scaremongering of children. Children will not simply accept a generic emergency preparedness campaign. They will invariably ask the same question they repeat every 2 minutes or 2 seconds, sometimes. "Why?" Then comes the scaremongering. Sesame Street is supposed to be a safe place to learn the basics, and still be able to take a nap afterwards. Not ensure that our kids grow up fearful and neurotic."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
: "Wise or Waste? Homeland Security teams with Sesame Street to teach preparedness [VOTE] - http://www.thriveorfail.com/30273"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
: "Wise or Waste? Homeland Security teams with Sesame Street to teach preparedness [VOTE] - www.thriveorfail.com/30273"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
bayousun2010@yahoo.com: "By talking to children about fear you make them fearful. It's not their job to get the adults ready for emergencies. What a burden to put on already stressed kids 7 - 17. Sounds like the movie V For Vendetta (watch it again). There is fear everywhere trust the government."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
gwendeleon@aol.com: "Why is it apparently okay for the federal government to pre-empt parents' rights to teach their kindergarten-aged kids about emergency preparedness, but not okay for public schools to teach those same kids about molestation risks?"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
gwendeleon@aol.com: "Why is it apparently okay for the federal government to pre-empt parents' rights to teach their kindergarten-aged kids about emergency preparedness, but not okay for public schools to teach those same kids about molestation risks?"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
: "This is right out of the Nazi playbook."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
simon@yekk.com: "This is horrific. Jim Henson must be turning in his grave."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
cobra270@excite.com: "Don't get ready for Orwell's vision. It is here and has been for some time now."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
: "so this is how they plan to teach the president to read. sneaky, sneaky."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
bradevans@cox.net: "Indoctrinate At A Young Age. The Implications Of Possible Propaganda Are Dire. My Kids Will No Longer Be Watching."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
mdunford1@hotmail.com: "Heil Hitler..... It is so comforting to know that DHS is out there proctecting us. Why would you tell this to kids? Isn't it the parents responsibilty in disasters to make sure the family is alright? I guess when the government has turned into the paretns this is acceptable."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
bradevans@cox.net: "To Assume Benevolence Is Foolish."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
skaggs2@comcast.net: "Better get the kids red bandanas and I expect to get my overalls and boots soon."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
brannon67@gmail.com: "This is really sad, First a character with AIDS, now a character that helps kids cope with terrorism. How sad, this has to be, in this day and age. Its a different world, thats for sure. SO sad that kids just cant be kids anymore. They have to worry about everything now, and grow up faster...."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
joshgatesdc@yahoo.com: "Sure, and the next one will be, here is a story about the illegal alien living next door, turn him in, or maybe, that is not really a cigarette mom and dad are smoking, turn them in, or, do mommy and daddy do any of theses things, call 800 turn em in. Big Brother is here."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
politicalhack48@yahoo.com: "Cant wait to see the episode where Elmo is picked up at the air port and water boarded by Big Bird"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
arjuna91@hotmail.com: "For those who think this isn't a problem, you are part of the problem!"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
obama@nannystate.org: "Next you fools are going to be hating on McGruff...."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
Gah!: "I spent 28 years in the US Army for THIS?!?!?!"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
: "This is truly terrifying. I predict an enormous paradigm shift within the next 5 years, the likes of which this country has never seen. Bigger than 9/11, bigger than the Great Depression, bigger even that the Civil War. This world will be a very different place in a very short amount of time."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
sszych@aol.com: "I can't wait to see the episode where Big Bird waterboards Elmo, who knows the whereabouts of the terrorist Cookie Monster."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
sean_allen@comcast.net: "Jim Henson would be mortified."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
sean_allen@comcast.net: "Jim Henson would be mortified."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
: "I don't think it's a bad idea, helping kids know what to expect in an emergency. I just think their choice of spokeswoman makes it seem like it's more a anti-terrorist action and not to empower kids."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
jameswoods@aol.com: "POSTED Sep 18, 2008
unknown@unknown.com: "why does it look like she's detaining that muppet?"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
jodie511@gmail.com: "I have a 2 year old, his favorite show is sesame... i don't want him to worry or even know about Terrorism. This is riduclous! How dare sesame street give in to this 'fear'"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
: "Has anyone noticed that Chertoff looks exactly like Muppet Sam the Eagle? http://iconicionic.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/samtheagle.jpg"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
: ""man oh man"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
puhara@vtc.net: "Personally, I think it's genius - kids today aren't prepared for much in the way of an emergency. One of the biggest things children can do in an emergency is to not panic, and what better way to teach that than with warm, fuzzy friends? Things like knowing your address, full name and how to dial your own phone number should be fundamental skills. The whole deal is available at ready.gov - look through it BEFORE the hippie comments begin."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
jdd35@drexel.edu: "I must say that too many people are overreacting to this move. Do you have an issue with firemen (government employees) coming into your childrens' (government) schools helping them preparedness in case of a fire/hurricane/earthquake. And how is this any different than using a mass distribution source? It sure saves a lot more (hard earned)time and (tax)money"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
prhfsmiller5@gmail.com: "I will clearly oppose this if it comes to my childrens schools. What ever happpened to teaching children about compassion, morality, having a conscience...how about managing credit and the whole money system? Oh I forgot, our schools never really taught them that. In the words of Dorothy Thompson, "Only when we are no longer afraid do we begin to live.""POSTED Sep 18, 2008
: "Geez, it's just a program for the kids to learn how to take care of themselves and their family in an emergency. What's wrong with teaching children to be heroes? Maybe we'll have more kids who know how to help their classmate out at the next school shooting, earthquake, or other disaster. Remember that little boy in the Olympics who walked in with Yao Ming, who was bestowed that honor because he was prepared and was able to save a couple of his classmates after the Chinese earthquake?"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
resistancecomm@aol.com: "What did they do to poor Elmo to get the other muppets to all agree to this? When are they coming out with the "Waterboard-Me-Elmo"?"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
1@1.CC: "ORDO ABDO CHAO"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
markwukas@comcast.net: "As a child of the Cold War who went to school every day expecting nuclear annihilation during the Cuban Missile Crisis, I'm appalled that we would instill that same fear in our children. Isn't there a better way than using fear to educate?"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
tom_martin_9@hotmail.com: "Great. Lets start making kids fearful right out of the gate so they can always be controlled. Amazing!!! :("POSTED Sep 18, 2008
cmub@hotmail.com: "Where the heck are you all getting this spying on Mom & Dad from? This story, the headlines aside, says nothing even approaching that...simply that the characters that many of us grew up with are helping our children understand that planning for an emergency, and follow said plan, is a good thing. You need to stop drinking Red Bull and stay away from Starbucks before you make the GIANT leap to 1984."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
writethepower@gmail.com: "The first muppet to come out with a turban is recieving a beatdown. Please believe that."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
mjtoto@gmail.com: "hahaha this is not about spying on anyone, this is about things like having emergency kits in your house and making sure you know evacuation routes and things like that. it's wonderful that it's put in a venue that kids can relate to and won't be scared by!"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
Elmo: "You must succumb, or that facist left will hack your email..."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
Elmo: "You must succumb, or that facist left will hack your email..."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
gmgs@walla.com: "Bio-Chemicals - Sweepin’ the clouds away, On my way to where the air is deadly sweet and people dying in the street Can you tell me how to get, how to get to Gestapo Street. Come and play, everything’s A-OK if you listen to the government today Friendly neighbors there that’s where we meet To sign you up for the Homeland’s military needs Can you tell me how to get How to get to Gestapo Street It’s a magic carpet ride. Every door will open wide. Happy people like you. Happy people who tell on their parents about their Un -American deeds Like a horrible cloudy day sweepin’ unwashed Americans away On my way to where the air deadly sweet Can you tell me how to get, How to get to Gestapo street, how to get to Gestapo Street, How to get to . . ."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
captbobalou@yahoo.com: "Uh-oh! Kermit and Ms Piggy better be careful. Elmo and Grover will be putting them on the TSA watch list and accidentally tapping their phones/email."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
: "Good lord there are a lot of dumb comments on here about Sesame Street turning kids into Hitler Youth. Get a grip. Do you think having your kids run around like headless chickens in the event of a natural disaster or some sort of attack is preferable?"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
mdunford1@homtail.com: "I wonder if she will have that smiley face when they throw you in the dungeon for speaking out against the state."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
jill@austinstages.com: "Rosita has the distinct look of, [i]"Help me..."[/i]"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
: "the fact is that PBS is a well-know liberal agency (hence, bigger national government). the fact that they have partnered with an administration that has pushed every day for greater federal access into citizens' lives isn't cute or fluffy; it's scary."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
m.chertoff@scumbag.mil: ""Department of Homeland Security" sounds like something they had in Nazi Germany or Soviet Russia. The time has come for all good men to come to the aid of their country, as the saying goes."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
f8te@hotmail.com: "The fact that most of the comments on here dont even have a problem with an agency called "Homeland Security" speaks volumes about how dumb, and easily cowed people are. Lambs to the slaughter. Hahaha. Keep laughing and watching amerikan idol you idiots. You are so ignorant and arrogant at the same time I cant even believe it. For shame."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
: "I agree with Melanie. I'm scared of what those maniacs are doing. When I have children, they won't watch television, and they certainly won't be going to any school where the department of education can get their dirty hands on my children's minds. Don't be fooled, what's happening right now is a massive power grab for the free minds of people all across the globe."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
info@govcentral.com: "Hasn't Sesame Street occasionally made allegorical criticisms of the current government? I'd really like to post this article on my website, GovCentral.com. Staffies, is this acceptable to you? Email me: info@govcentral.com"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
Wheelofvoter@windjewel.com: "Parents handle emergencies, not children. The cookie monster should just tell the kids to listen to their parents since they are the ones who pay for the college educations or bail them out of jail and pay for diapers. Bush and Cheney have "1984" open and highlighted. Orwell wrote a how-to manual for morons. V is for Vendetta. It's like we have handed the keys to paranoid thugs. Conservatives supposedly want small government unless it is for protection of their bodies and monies and now monies not so safe so it is time to go to Pink alert or whatever color is for the GOP to get elected. Exxon runs the country people. McCain may not be qualified to run a company but he can do Exxon's bidding. Exxon DOES control the price of gas. Boycotting Exxon WILL lower prices. Stop listening to stock holders. The cookie monster now has oil diarrhea. He eats oil cookies and poops neoconarrhea."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
: "appauling"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
: "appauling"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
jwagner2k@charter.net: "Currently Big Brother is NEAR....we wish him to be FAR"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
: "AAAHAHAHAHA Gitmo GITMO Please tell me someone here watches the daily show because i refuse to believe whoever masterminded this little gem doesn't"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
: "AAAHAHAHAHA Gitmo GITMO Please tell me someone here watches the daily show because i refuse to believe whoever masterminded this little gem doesn't"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
artyprojects@cybermesa.com: "This is a sin in publishing, using young minds for political propaganda and fear. I have been in publishing since 1977 and I have never seen such garbage coming out of these big publishing houses. The publishers are all bought and paid for. I heard one educational publisher is printing anti-Muslim history books for our soldiers and are rewriting the history of the presidents on the internet, never mentioning this horrendous administration's torture and illegal wars, lies and coups. This use of a Sesame Street character must not be presented to children. This is predatory propaganda and this filth cannot be inflicted on innocent minds. Shame on you Chertoff. You should be fired on the spot. Why not: My Pet Goat Wants You to Think about the Third World War?"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
: "it begins with teaching kids about emergency, then morphs into teaching kids about a wide range of topics. I believe in being prepared, but I teach my kids about it...I teach my children to read for that matter. Brainwashing is bad no matter where it comes from, TV news, internet, or Grover..."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
udontscareme@fhls.com: "So we are using the SCARE tactics against little kids now...our society has sunk to a new low...and is only getting lower...pretty sad. This isn't the country I grew up"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
: "Fearmongering propaganda for preschoolers. Brought to you by the letters G, O, P and the numbers 9 and 11."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
jacques_graber@yahoo.com: "They should get Oscar. He's used to handling crappy situations and living in trashy conditions. Don't get Bert and Ernie, they're GAY."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
whineyBabies@yousuck.com: "Actually, the "tell on your parents" bit started in the 60's - 70's, during the hippy years, originating from the social work industry, which just happens to be run by the government. Is it really a surprise now that educators (now adults) hold these same ideals dear?"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
thejackothewisp@sbcglobal.net: "Cute............ In a creepy kind of way. On the other hand it might save a family's life."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
turbokitty2010@yahoo.com: "What the f*$%#???? Are you kidding me? Insipid government infringement into our homes at the pre-school level? Look out, here comes Big Brother in a Big Way."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
bobsmith@morsoncamp.org: "Time to boycott Sesame Street. Pass this on to everyone you know. This show has become just another government propaganda tool; no child should watch it."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
felinetta@hotmail.com: "And yet, Obama tries to keep children safe from predators and he gets a negative campaign from McSame."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
: "Completely reasonable. They have had shows on fire safety and following a plan to leave a home. I believe they had police and firefighters on the show after September 11 and that was met with approval. I have heard that when someone actually had an emergency at their school a child actually wasn't frightened since they saw how helpful and nice the firefighters were on SS. Have you forgotten that 3,000 people died in the US and terrorists are waiting to strike. BTW the US Embassy got struck by multiple car bombers YESTERDAY. Al Quaida is alive and well. Wake up and prepare your kids with age appropriate ways to deal with emergencies. You aren't of course and liberal PBS run by government funds feels it has to do it for you. Stop whining."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
: "Completely reasonable. They have had shows on fire safety and following a plan to leave a home. I believe they had police and firefighters on the show after September 11 and that was met with approval. I have heard that when someone actually had an emergency at their school a child actually wasn't frightened since they saw how helpful and nice the firefighters were on SS. Have you forgotten that 3,000 people died in the US and terrorists are waiting to strike. BTW the US Embassy got struck by multiple car bombers YESTERDAY. Al Quaida is alive and well. Wake up and prepare your kids with age appropriate ways to deal with emergencies. You aren't of course and liberal PBS run by government funds feels it has to do it for you. Stop whining."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
: "Grover wants to know what books Mommy and Daddy check out from the library...you don't want to disappoint Grover, do you? DO YOU!?"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
ducncvr@us.gov: "Grover wants to know what books Mommy and Daddy check out from the library...you don't want to disappoint Grover, do you? DO YOU!?"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
: "Hmmmm, not really DHS's job...it's the parent's job."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
nordic.winds1969@gmail.com: "foo@bar.edu: "People, I'm willing to bet good money that it's not about border security, illegal aliens, or terrorists. It's about what to do in an emergency. What about all the cartoon fire safety films we grew up with? Was that subversive? Oh no, the government is helping us to teach our kids what to do to prepare for a natural disaster. Besides, none of us has read the book. Chill out." **************************************** I am not one to quickly call out an ostrich but I think you are thinking too simplistically. That is why these seem none threatening to you. They have used Kids Characters to instill thoughts and beliefs into children for as long as I can remember. I used to teach Preschool and Kindergarten, I know, I used the cute puppets to get the kid's attention to encourage them to do what was coming up next. Do not be so blind to what they are able to do with this campaign style."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
andrisd@aol.com: "So the leftist Marxist that inhabit the national teachers union aren't teaching bad things to the kiddies?I love leftist idiots that believe anything a republican adminstration does is evil, but when some moron illigetimate demo-scum runs al over the peoples rights it'sok cuase he's purdy. Look at the idiots in New Orleans that believed the morn monkey running the city. Of course it was Bush's fault."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
dieinfidel@kaboom.com: "doesn't anyone recall the "Mickey Mouse" character that Hamas used to teach death to the infidel?!"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
tonyquinn82@gmail.com: "These children are about a zillion times more likely to die every time they get in their parents' car than terrorism in their entire lifetime."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
hagden06@hotmail.com: "Yet again we have ignorant comments from readers. The program is about preparedness and being ready in case of an emergency. I would be willing to bet most of the people who wrote the stupid comments mocking this initiative are the same ones who complained about preparedness after Katrina. Being ready for emergencies should be a priority for all ages."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
tacitusmk3@yahoo.com: ".. This is covered in the FIRST chapter of Orwells 1984. You know, it's one of those books they like to remove from libraries. .. .."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
imperium8infinitum8@yahoo.com: "welcome to the paranoid police state soon to be 3rd world cess pit. "spy on your parents, kids, it is your duty for the glory of the homeland!" DOWN WITH THESE NAZI FASCISTS!"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
tasljs@sbcglobal.net: "the american government are fat lazy rich greedy criminals face the facts criminals"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
: "I've suspected for a long time;that Bert and Ernie are part of George Adolf Bush's homosexual brownshirts."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
eye@dumbboy.org: "T is for Terror Mongers, its how Republicans win votes I is for the incompetence of the Bush administration I is also for impeachment O is for Oil, what the war in Iraq was fought four M is for missing, Osama Bin Laden is still missing."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
: "Wow, this is a new low! Soom we will have Bush seasame caracter called Let's go to War!"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
: "No wonder Miss Piggy is in rehab!"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
wing_nut@exciote.com: "When the head of "Homeland security" Michael Chertoff an israeli citizen? this is what you get"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
KOLSEN08@yahoo.com: "This is disgusting. What is wrong with these people at sesame street. This is not about keeping people safe, it is about keeping children in fear and creating future republican voters who can be scared into voting for those who make them the most scared of the big bad world. Give me a break-pathetic."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
wolfgang316@yahoo.com: "What business does the federal government have teaching children about emergency preparedness? Isn't emergency preparedness something best left to adults? This is really bizarre."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
: "Children feel safe by default, it's not until they're exposed to fear that they start to feel unsafe. DHS, is simply teaching children to be fearful."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
: "How can a six year old prepare for an emergency?"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
justorr@comcast.net: "i remember another leader using their children as a security tool,the one with a little mustache.........."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
mrssupermami@hotmail.com: "Sesame STreet has since years also a programme that helps kids dealing with military deployments ."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
: "Heck of a job, Kermie."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
shmst13@gmail.com: "Jim Henson is rolling over in his grave right now."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
: "yikes! this is called aclimation of a young population to be scared from birth to death. just get the kids used to being scared all the time. mental control is easy, start early, make parents feel like it is a nice thing to do to prepare children for terrorist stories and continue that with an entire cirriculum at school that teaches evangelist extremism (Sarah Palin style even) keep the masses controlled by starting with the young then use the young against the old. who said that 1% of the population can't control the remainder 99%?"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
: "yikes! this is called aclimation of a young population to be scared from birth to death. just get the kids used to being scared all the time. mental control is easy, start early, make parents feel like it is a nice thing to do to prepare children for terrorist stories and continue that with an entire cirriculum at school that teaches evangelist extremism (Sarah Palin style even) keep the masses controlled by starting with the young then use the young against the old. who said that 1% of the population can't control the remainder 99%?"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
eric_g_olsen@yahoo.com: ""Disaster readiness is for everybody, disaster readiness is for everyone, you can dream and be anybody, but disaster readiness is how you get it done!""POSTED Sep 18, 2008
scsuhuskies08@gmail.com: "Look at the Nazi Youth to see what will happen if we let government give us a sense of security!!!!"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
sesame street wino: "i always suspected Bert and Ernie are undercover agents of G. Adolf Bush's homosexual brownshirts!"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
jon@well.com: "Umm, take off the tin foil and try and be a productive member of society, how about that? It's teaching common sense, if you think this is "Nazi Germany" as many posts suggests, I suggest you read more, alot more."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
hunneybu@yahoo.com: "We should not place this kind of burden on children. It is OUR burden to carry as adults. What the heck were they thinking."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
ccmadison@charter.net: "How dare they use Grover for right wing propaganda! You know darned well that's what it will be. This has to be stopped. I tried to find a contact for them but was unsuccessful. Surely some group is out there fighting this."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
: "Can Sesame Street teach about the US Constitution?"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
fsmart12@hotmail.com: "Never too young to learn about the US Constitution!"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
reed@aloha.net: "next they will have kids act as spys on their parents to report any activities deemed "subversive" by big brother."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
bilbar777@hotmail.com: "Our schools taught us to "get under the desk" for tornado's and in case of nuclear bombs. This stuff has been going on for a long time. Chill out!"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
iamnot@home.com: "Wow...incredible... HAS ANYONE HERE EVER READ A HISTORY BOOK?? You grandchildren are going to say "how could you be so dull that you couldn't see this coming??" Wake up people. Do we really need to start reciting the uncountable number of lies they tell us. Why would you believe this would be different??? Wake up O, and fire safety films were from the STATE not FED.....once again, i recommend books...."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
IamRevolution@restoretheconstitution.com: "Remember Remember the 11th of September, the Neo Con Treason and Plot, I know of no reason why the Neo Con treason should ever be forgot."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
fashionfocus@earthlink.net: "There is a monster at the end of this book!"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
me@nospame.net: "Sunny Days - Sweeping our rights away! Can you tell me how to get, how to get to Guantanomo Street?"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
ronko1954@yahoo.com: "More likely this was a report written for W in the aftermath of Katrina in a format his handlers thought he would understand."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
stephchad@integrity.com: "We are a military family. Recently we got notification that "Sesame Street Live" was coming to our Base theater. Whooooppee!!! The kidlins would be so excited! Then we learned it was a "special" presentation with SS teaming with the Defense Dept. to teach kids about changes and "feeeeeelings" that might occur while a family member was deployed. This show was to be complete with kids projected onto the big screen talking and crying about how sad they are. Kids were to be told that "mommy or daddy might be acting differently" while the spouse is gone. We, of course, did not send our 4 and 2 year old. Social indoctrination at its best."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
ryne.able@gmail.com: "Veggie Tales is better."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
kevin.schmidt@smithsdetection.com: "Hey - is Carrie going to star in this? You KNOW she has experience..."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
kevin.schmidt@smithsdetection.com: "Hey - is Carrie going to star in this? You KNOW she has experience..."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
carpentersmith2002@yahoo.com: "So, let me guess here, the way to make our children feel safe and snugly is to have their little Sesame Street friends scare them? This must have been conceive by the descendants of the people who made those cherished "Duck and Cover" cartoons. Sheesh!"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
: "This country is sunk. Heil Bush!"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
noway@nevermind.com: "All this hype about Fundamentalist Islamic Terrorists and in the end, it's our own economic stupidity that kills the USA"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
thubba@verizon.net: "How can The Onion compete with this administration?"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
thubba@verizon.net: "How can The Onion compete with this administration?"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
sampricesf@hotmail.com: "Finally a news story where I CANNOT TELL if it's a parody or not. Must be from the Onion, right? Yeah. No. Yeah. No. . . ."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
rickvid@drizzle.com: "OH. MY. GOD! Telling kids to be prepared for emergencies! Horrors! Better they die from being unprepared! No contingency plans! No preparation! No supplies laid in! No places to assemble! No emergency phone numbers! No no no no! Death before preparedness! Hail O-beyme!"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
: "this is what fried crispy women and children look like kids!"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
jreuben65@yahoo.com: "makes me wish Jim Henson was still alive to stop this nonesense"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
elbruce@hotmale.com: "See this man? He is wearing a dish towel on his head. That means he wants to kill your mommy and your daddy and you. If you see a man with a dish towel wrapped on his head, call the nice people at Homeland Security and they'll save you. What color is this Terror Alert Level? It's orange. That's right. Sometimes it's yellow, but most of the time it's orange. If it's orange that means that everybody needs to be scared or your parents will be killed. Can you get scared? Good job! If the Terror Alert Level ever turns red, then that means that your puppy got killed by the dishtowel head man."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
jogoxm334@aol.com: "That's right boys and girls! Buildings magically explode into dust and big planes vaporize!"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
toolongtoowordy@gmail.com: "Liberals think everything is scary. They're like little kids who have never been disciplined or taught how to handle "scary" things on their own. Instead, they just point fingers and cry how the big bad grownups mess everything up!! Give me a break, people. PBS is just about the most liberal entity in existence, and Sesame Street is still its bread and butter. Do you really think PBS /CTW would allow any nefarious government brainwashing to happen via Bert and Ernie??"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
cjk002us@yahoo.com: "In the first picture, which one is Cheryl Chertoff?"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
moxlotus62@yahoo.com: "You people are ridiculous. Didn't know teaching our kids to be prepared was a bad thing. Better tell the Boy Scouts that."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
ronj1955@gmail.com: "I hope Oscar tells them all to go to hell"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
ulbme@yahoo.com: "This is a new low, but so predictable. It is so hard to listen to our "patriots" tell stories of the jihadist schools, when we are doing the same thing under a different god. Hipocrits..."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
nathan@poparf.com: "Bert and Ernie are now going to tell you to report your parents if they ever touch you or hug you. Lets Veri_chip the MUPPETS for our protection!"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
: "As an overgrown boy scout scared poopless during my pre-teen years by the spectre of nuclear holocaust and post-apocolyptic Mad-Max type world which would surely follow, I'm the person who is always prepared for anything. I don't have a problem using sesame street characters to help teach kids about emergencies and what to do. I'm troubled by the fact that we have never called this country the "homeland" until post 9-11 and the similarities between saving the father land, the reichstag fire and what followed seems like deja vu all over again."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
greyhound58@gmail.com: "Get a life! Whats wrong with having children get ready for trouble, it sure is just around the corner! There are enough "big brother" problems out there, and we don't need to make up more"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
fored_0124new@yahoo.com: "Some of you forgot your medication did'nt you ? We can not treat your paranoia unless you follow the Doctors orders. Perhaps some of you would prefer childrens characters to teach kids about sex and abortion and condoms and incest and same partner couples...Oh thats right they allready do...But that's O.K. for you left of center types huh???"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
pbwv14@hotmail.com: "Yeah, this is kinda funny, but I remember watching a Sesame Street episode about fire safety when I was 3, so this doesn't surprise me at all. No different from the "Mr. Yuck" stickers, DARE program and Stop, Drop and Roll type things we were all exposed to when we were little kids"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
tpg: "How stupid are you people that would welcome more govt into your life? WAKE UP!!! It's not about hippies. If you want your kids to know this stuff, TEACH THEM YOURSELF. Teach them to be self reliant. How many of you idiots will smile and say "thank you" when handed a shovel at a FEMA work camp?"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
drlove@notorious9.net: "Some of these comments are unbelievable. Nobody is out to brainwash the kids. Anyone that thinks this is like the Nazi youth has become unhinged."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
: "This is right out of South Park. In fact this week's South Park episode terrorist have taken over our children's imagination. There is only humor here."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
marxistsocialist@gmail.com: "Hey you all, is it true that there are revolutionary professional thieves that work as plummers, or house party clowns so that they can steal money at mansions? I am thinking of buying a plummer van, or become a party clown so i could steal at kids parties."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
pdennany@hotmail.comp: "There couldn't be a better place for HLS. It is an otherwise useless fantacy."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
KarlRovesLoveChild@CheneysBush.gov: "Please people, you have noszing to vorry about. Move along. Oh and remember kids, duct tape and plastic are not just for windows and doors. They can be used to wrap zee dead up for collection or discreet burial, whether enemy or loved one... you decide which is more appropriate for you."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
victorwagg@mac.com: "Long Live Evil Bert!"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
: "2&1/2 weeks"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
youhavelostyourmind@sense.com: "The reason all the "loons" here dont like this idea has nothing to do with preparedness. How often has the government given us one reason for something, only to find them using it for something else...think patriot act used to imprison video pirates..that what you thought it was used for?"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
ttownhowie@yahoo.com: "Love the conspiracy theorists on the one...guess they missed what Al Bore has been doing with Global Warming brainwashing...that lie has spread through every kids show on TV...come on wake up..."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
: "I'm kind of scared by this and if it was about emergency preparedness, why isn't FEMA partnering with Sesame Street?"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
whoishere@mail.anonymizer.com: "Love the theme: Let's Get Ready! Yeah, like for another 9/11 "terrorist" attack perhaps?"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
charles.sobieski@yahoo.com: "Chertoff knows his job is coming to an end in about 4 months, so what better way to line his family's pockets and leave office with a big pile of cash? He sticks his wife and a couple of muppets in front of a camera and bills the Dept. of Homeland Security for big bucks for her "acting" and "consulting" services. (She ain't gonna get minimum wage for her "efforts" - that's for sure!) Just more Bush Administration henchmen (and women) greedily grabbing as much dough as possible and stuffing their pockets before the Republican gravy train ends."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
bob@yahoo.com: "That's pathetic. Kids don't need to worry about things like disasters, that's the job of parents and adults."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
alf@gmail.com: "Holy Christ. Just goes to show how much a joke "Homeland Security" is."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
sara.Mullens@gmail.com: "Oh God, now Sesame Street can help raise another generation of morons who only respond to fear."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
alf@gmail.com: "You guys using "Nazi" do know that Cherthoff is a dual citizen Jew, huh? Think about it."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
free_us_now@hotmail.com: "Why team up with Homeland Security when they could do it just as well on their own? There's more to this than meets the eye folks. I don't trust them."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
rook2c4@lycos.com: ""1984", here we come!"POSTED Sep 18, 2008
jhenson@heav.en: "Finally! Mr. Rogers and I were wondering when Phase 2 would begin."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
peppershehot@yahoo.com: "And brother shall betray brother, the father the son & children shall rise up against their parents & shall cause them put to death. Mark 14:12. Just another prophecy being fulfilled.Next will be chips inserted into your skin to keep track of you, your bank account & everything else about you.Please check it out & prove me wrong before you attack me verbally. Thanks."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
rjb144@columbia.edu: "It's "Atomic Cafe" all over again! DUCK AND COVER! The Republikans have finally found a replacement for the Red Scare. Back in the 50's the media played host to a great assortment of propaganda. There was "I Led Three Lives" on TV and propaganda science fiction movies like "Red Planet Mars". Now, we have "24 Hours". Nothing changes."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
: "I stopped letting my daughter watch sesame street when cookie monster stopped eating cookies. Let kids be kids this is ridiculous. Sad to say sesame street has to be on the do not watch list. Sesame street should get back to doing what it used to do best teach letters and numbers those are the skills our pre-schoolers need let their parents handle the emergency preparedness plan that is their job."POSTED Sep 18, 2008
elitenova@comcast.net: ""Nazi Germany folks, we live in nazi germany" Uhmm...Your in a wrong country if you are saying the United States is Nazi Germany. So...Tell me where you seen the authorities round up the jews, gypsies and christians to camps?"POSTED Sep 19, 2008
pat@mogeau.com: "It seems my fellow citizens simply HAVE to have something to rail about. The people objecting to good common sense information being pesented to children are the same ones who crave "Reality" television. There is a toxic addiction to argumentative and confrontational thought and behavior in our culture. Shame, shame on such displays of ludicrous and unseemly paranoia. Watch the show yourself. If you have a problem with it...turn the channel - same as you would have the majority of viewers dial through the many demeaning and obscene and depraved programs that you enjoy."POSTED Sep 19, 2008
Susan: "Emergency preparedness is definitely a good thing, but can someone please explain to me why teaching this to 2-6 year olds is appropriate? Are they the ones who should be spearheading the family effort to prepare for emergencies? What exactly do kids this young need to know and prepare for? If they want to prepare families, have a program aimed at parents, not children."POSTED Sep 19, 2008
mendus@sbcglobal.net: "But don't you want the government to educate your children? This is no different than what children are taught in the government indoctrination centers, errr schools. Look to the governmen