Obama sums up America's problems with a Dr. Seuss book

WTVD logo
Friday, January 23, 2015
President Barack Obama visits with 3-5 year-olds at the Community Children's Center in Lawrence, Kansas, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2015.
creativeContent-AP Photo

While discussing the themes of discrimination within a popular children's book, President Obama told a group of preschoolers that his job would be easier if some Americans didn't feel superior to others.

According to The Washington Times, President Obama was visiting a Head Start classroom at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Jan. 22, while the children were discussing the themes within the Dr. Seuss book, "Sneetches and Other Stories."

The book tells a story of a group of creatures called Sneetches, some of whom have a green star on their bellies. Those Sneetches with stars discriminate against those without stars, until one character offers those without to have stars for a fee.

Once all of the Sneetches have stars on their bellies, the original star-bellied Sneetches feel they have lost their special status, and pay to have theirs removed. And so, the Sneetches go back and forth, adding and removing their stars until they are all penniless and forgotten of who they once were.

"That is one of my favorite stories," the president told the 4-year-olds. "In fact most of the things I deal with as president would be solved if everybody read about the Sneetches. Because there are some people who think they're special 'cause they've got stars, and some who feel bad 'cause they don't."