I checked (very quickly) on Lexus/Nexus today. I found no evidence of parents demanding the right to opt out of this event, no evidence that the school district felt it necessary to allow (actively) such opting out, nor any evidence that it was viewed by local students.
So, what’s the difference? Is it that George H. W. Bush was a Republican, a white man, a scion of an old political family, that the Internet has changed the discourse that dramatically, or perhaps the left is eminently more reasonable than the right. Probably, its a combination of all the above. And, don’t tell me that the social and political environment has changed, ’cause I still show the George H. W. Bush’s “Willy Horton” advertisements in my US history course when we discuss post-World War II politics. Of course, the crazy zealots on the right would have a cow, claiming I am “indoctrinating” their kids. That said, I also show the “daisy ad,” Reagan’s “morning in America” ad, Hilary Clinton’s “3am” ad, and part of Obama’s 30-minute infomercial. But, I digress.
This should remind you just how pathetic the current crop of right-wing zealots are as people and citizens.