Congressman tells second-graders about child suicide bombers [Rep Salmon - AZ]

The Hill ^ | 09/01/2015 | Bradford Richardson

[GIdget2004]

Several parents say they are shocked by comments Rep. Matt Salmon (R-Ariz.) made to second- and third-graders about suicide bombings and nuclear weapons last week.

The congressman was giving a presentation to students at San Tan Charter School about how bills become laws, when he reportedly began talking to the children about Iran, according to CBS 5 Phoenix.

“The congressman chose to give an example of the current situation in Iran, and made some inappropriate comments about ‘Do you know what a nuclear weapon is? Do you know that there are schools that train children your age to be suicide bombers?” parent Scott Campbell said. Campbell said he later had to console his daughter.



“After school my daughter was very concerned and said to me she actually didn’t even know what suicide was and was very afraid,” he said.

Salmon is planning to meet with concerned parents on Monday.

[Norm Lenhart]

““The congressman chose to give an example of the current situation in Iran, and made some inappropriate comments “

No he did not.

[laconic]

when I was in second grade, we had to do air raid drills in case the school was obliterated by Soviet missiles. Despite our youth, I think we had a fairly good idea what this potential incineration meant, what’s the big difference today with telling kids that age about suicide bombers and other terror methods?

[Rodamala]

Oh, Puh-leeze! Everyone knows that second graders need to be more worried that the conservatives want to keep their two mommies from getting married.

[albie]

Children are taught that they can do no harm, that they’re the smartest and most talented child ever, and that there should only be peace in the world. No reality allowed. That’s why they end up in Mom and Dad’s basement.

[mkjessup]

Parents need to explain the facts of life in this new 21st century, and to emphasize that it is a vicious and cruel world, and it’s not about rainbows, unicorns and Skittles(c).

[Sacajaweau]

WWII vets were always careful not to discuss the terrors of war with their children. We did indeed have air raids...but the terror of war...never heard a word.

[Ben Ficklin]

As the GOP tries to shift public opinion on the issue, the children are fair game.

In the politics of foreign policy, the political leaders always try to organize the public against external threats. In this particular case the GOP needs to manufacture consent for war with Iran.