Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice spoke at Boston College today and the vast majority of the students and faculty reacted very positively.
A few students turned their backs but more stood to applaud as Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice received an honorary degree and addressed graduates at Boston College on Monday.
After weeks of turmoil and anti-war protests over Rice’s invitation to address the Catholic school, Rice told graduates that their education comes with responsibilities.
She drew scattered applause when she discussed what she called a “commitment to reason,” or an obligation to test and challenge their own views.
“There is nothing wrong with holding an opinion and holding it passionately,” Rice said, “but at those times when you are absolutely sure you’re right, go find someone who disagrees.”
About 50 students stood with their backs toward the stage as Rice was introduced to give her commencement speech, but they were quickly drowned out by a standing ovation.
There is a time and a place for protesting, and the middle of Secretary Rice’s commencement address, similarly Senator John McCain’s speech at the New School, is not one of them. When I received my master’s degree, my commencement speaker was Gloria Steinem. I didn’t I agree with Gloria Steinem on anything then, and I still don’t now, but when she spoke it didn’t occur to me to do anything to disrupt her speech. To do so would have been rude.
Rich Lowery at The Corner has more on Condi’s BC appearance:
This is what someone at the event just e-mailed me about her reception at Boston College this morning. I have no first-hand knowledge, but pass along:
She got loud sustained applause when first introduced. A handful of students either turned backs or held up signs saying “not in my name.” A fair number of faculty did same, but then something happened when they awarded the degree — the students who had been sitting rose to give her a long standing ovation, along with families in alumni stadium. No students protested during the speech. A small number of faculty reprised their previous performance. Her speech has been interrupted by APPLAUSE at least five times. Speech ended to loud sustained applause and standing “O” by students and families alike.
As a BC Alumni, I want to set the record straight that the issue for most of us was not her speaking at BC, but the Honorary Degree. We felt BC had higher standards for such an honor.
This administration has lied to us about the justification for invading Iraq, and time will tell if we took the right course here. While we respect the US leaderships desire to protect our nation and the world at large, we do not have to agree with their methods nor their willingness to respond with force over diplomacy.
Her mission, in my opinion, is to make sure that force is used as the last alternative. There have been over 60k dead US and Iraqi’s due to the mis-information that we provided regarding WMD’s and Nukes under Saddam, we have found nothing to date. Now the tune changes to ‘sometimes you have to take out a brutal dictator’. I think somewhere between this stance and the WMD stance we heard something about promoting democracy in the region, they changed their tune after Hamas won the democratically held elections in Palestine. So, the justification is a moving target …
The real reason we invaded was to protect oil, and obtain the other spoils of war such as rebuilding Iraq after the invasion ($$). She was in support of this trajectory, given that she has not resigned from this administration, and is apparently OK with over 60k deaths (many of them innocent Iraqi’s, whose relatives will hate the US for decades now). I am not sure we are more secure long-term creating such a haven for breeding more terrorists.
Dave Serrano
BC ’84
Wow, Dave, the all-knowing and powerfully wise one, who without a security clearance or membership on the Trilateral Commission, is able to tell us the real reason why we went to war.
All hail Dave and bow to his glory.
“I didn’t I agree with Gloria Steinem on anything then, and I still don’t now, but when she spoke it didn’t occur to me to do anything to disrupt her speech.”
That’s because Steinem wasn’t a politican who helped 50000 Americans become casualties.
And who would you disrupt Kim? Anyone?
Dave, you are fundamentally wrong on so many different counts here:
1) WMD was not the only — nor was it EVER the only — reason we went into Iraq. There were numerous reasons Bush laid out.
2) 60,000 dead Iraqis since we invaded is a HUGE drop-off between the average when Saddam was there per year.
3) Nobody’s stance on democracy has changed due to Hamas winning. Refusing to fund them is not saying “democracy is bad”. It’s saying “Your choices have ramifications”. We don’t have to fund anybody we don’t wish to and if we disagree with the party in power in a country in fundamental ways, we would be silly to not cut funding.
4) If the war was “for oil”, we could’ve more easily and less expensively made a deal with Saddam and gotten it that way.
And if BC actually held its OWN professors to the standards that people like you hold Rice, we’d have no problem. But you don’t.
Mary Daly was a distinguished professor for DECADES there, even though — for example, she refused to teach men and her writing was explicitly and undeniably virulently anti-Catholic. She was NEVER disciplined for her openly anti-Catholic writing — which is odd since Rice is being condemned for not honoring Catholic dogma or some such nonsense.
Hell, how does Queen Noor qualify for an honorary degree, anyway?
Fact is, the left has lost its ever-loving mind.
-=Mike
MikeSC:
I always applaud the effort, but your transmission cannot penetrate their tinfoil. It’s like industrial grade or something.
Outshouting or disrupting someone is not tatamount to exercising freedom of speech: it is outright suppression of freedom of speech. I don’t think I have ever seen conservatives resort to this common liberal technique. Even Ward Churchill, who deserved every ridicule thrown at him, was never heckled off the podium.
It is interesting that liberals define critcism of their absurd ideas as suppression of speech (which it most certainly is not), yet do not define their disruption of conservative speech as suppression.
It is also interesting that they constantly lament that Bush is treading on civil liberties when they are free to criticize and ridicule Bush. They are the ones that are treading on civil liberties by suppressing conservative speech.
jp2….
50,000 American casualties? I usually ignor your exagerations, but 50,000?!?
I am a Boston College alumnus (CSOM ’02) who returned from Iraq less than 10 days ago. I led 92 men in combat – 42 Americans and 50 Iraqis.
Without hesitation I can say it was the greatest pleasure of my life to serve – with the good times came the bad.
In 2003, I walked past a church near Harvard where Al Franken was given a lecture. No one protested either inside or outside. It was a simple gathering, not a commencement address.
I’m refreshed that students and faculty would protest before the event, but to protest during the event is crass politicking of the lowest common denominator. I expect nothing less from some members of the left. I’m surprised they didn’t burn a Starbucks or McDonald’s in effigy.
Oh, hey Epador, I might not be a member of the Trilateral Commission, but dollars to doughnuts says my security clearance trumps yours. Does that give me the necessary qualifications to post? Don’t be fatuous.
given [sic]
I was there today for my son’s graduation.
Less than a hundred students wore white armbands and/or white notices on their hats, which vanished by conferment of degrees.
The behavior of the faculty was dreadful, embarassing and despicable. We the parents collectively paid about 60 million in tuition for the 2200 kids who graduated today. We do not deserve to be subject to the garbage cast upon us by the faculty.
Those miscreants claim that Rice’s honorary degree and appearance are counter to Jesuit and Catholic tradition and Pope John Paul II’s teachings. This is absolutely disingenuous. These same people support gay marriage, birth control and contraception, which is also against the teachings of John Paul II and the Catholic tradition.
This is opportunistic morality. It is the principles of convenience. They are democrats and anti-war and hide behind their graduation robes.
These academics are cowards. They are whiny, sniveling cowards. They used what should have been a glorious event for parents (the parents who pay their inflated salaries)and turned it into a self-serving mockery. There were indeed about 5 standing ovations for Rice, who never went political.
These faculty leeches hold our children hostage to their political bents. If our kids speak out they will suffer academically at their hands. They hardly ever restrain themselves from opining in class, whether or not it is appropriate.
Faculty never stray into the arena of equitable intellectual interaction as they are overmatched.
Academicians are pathetic.
As for Almond, he was highly likely leaving anyway to concentrate on his career as an author (check out his website) and the school is better off without him.
A few students turned their backs but more stood to applaud as Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice received an honorary degree and addressed graduates at Boston College on Monday.
>> More? It was considerably more than 90%
After weeks of turmoil and anti-war protests over Rice’s invitation to address the Catholic school, Rice told graduates that their education comes with responsibilities.
She drew scattered applause when she discussed what she called a “commitment to reason,” or an obligation to test and challenge their own views.
>Scattered my ass.
“There is nothing wrong with holding an opinion and holding it passionately,” Rice said, “but at those times when you are absolutely sure you’re right, go find someone who disagrees.”
About 50 students stood with their backs toward the stage as Rice was introduced to give her commencement speech, but they were quickly drowned out by a standing ovation.
>> And there was at least one parent doing the same within my sight. And yes they were drowned out- big time.
Here’s something else from the=at Breitbart report:
The AP report makes it sound as if Rice spoke of the Iraq war during her address.
“I think Americans have lost sight of the idea of sacrifice,” he said. “This is a relatively small sacrifice for me.”
Rice said the use of force in Iraq was “the right thing.”
“I’m not surprised that there was controversy, but my understanding is that there are views on both sides of the issue,” she said Sunday at meeting with a small group of reporters.”
She never brought up the war. But hey- it’s AP. The truth never gets in their way.
In its 2002 Joint Resolution to Authorize the Use of United States Armed Forces Against Iraq, Congress stated several reasons for sending the U.S. military into Iraq.
Here is an excerpt from that congressional resolution:
“Whereas members of al Qaida, an organization bearing responsibility for attacks on the United States, its citizens, and interests, including the attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, are known to be in Iraq;
Whereas Iraq continues to aid and harbor other international terrorist organizations, including organizations that threaten the lives and safety of American citizens;”
It is clear to me from his first post that Rick understands the real reasons why the U.S. military was sent into Iraq.
It is also clear to me that Rick is truly an alumnus of Boston College, not an alumni as Dave claims to be, because the Latin word alumni is the plural of the word alumnus. Alumnus is what you call an individual college graduate. Alumni is what you call a group of college graduates. Thus, Dave can’t be an alumni unless he has multiple personalities a.k.a. Dissociative Identity Disorder) (which, by the way, is often confused with Schizophrenia).
There is nothing lower than a liberal academic.
Nothing.
Yes, I am angry.
I’m just wondering where the standards of Catholicism that should disqualify Condi come into play when it comes to things like gay student organizations.
The Catholic Church is pretty much opposed to that kind of thing, no?
-=Mike
To MikeSC and drjohn,
Keep it up. The pure common sense of your statements is refreshing, and you absolutely carved up the other side in this mini-debate. I currently serve in the Air Force to protect many liberties, including free speech. It’s just nice to know that you guys use that free speech to keep everyone straight on the facts!
Hmmm.
I hope one day to have the opportunity to get a honorary degree or give a commencement speech. I really hope that there would be an occasion for someone to stand up and turn their back on me.
In which case I’d either turn the podium around and turn my back to the people with their backs turned.
Or I’d pull out a straw and start shooting spitballs at them. Probably the latter because, what the hell, it’s not like they can see you doing it.
Dodo David:
Right from your link, it’s the first reason justifying the use of force. Sure there’s a lot of other things we didn’t like about Saddam, but you can’t build consensus for an invasion based on those reasons. The reasons we went into Iraq was to eliminate WMD’s and Nukes:
‘Whereas Iraq both poses a continuing threat to the national security of the United States and international peace and security in the Persian Gulf region and remains in material and unacceptable breach of its international obligations by, among other things, continuing to possess and develop a significant chemical and biological weapons capability, actively seeking a nuclear weapons capability, and supporting and harboring terrorist organizations;’
Further, while certainly eliminating any terrorists is a good thing in my mind, I am not convinced that an all out invasion is the most effective means. Sure we may kill some bona-fide terrorists that were in Iraq in the process, but think of how many people there have had their lives and families totally distroyed — who are they going to blame ? Not Saddam … since we are the invaders I believe they will be angry with us. Anger breeds terrorists, and is very long-lived sentiment. Time will tell, in decades, whether we accomplished any of our goals.
Dave
Yes, I am a BC Alumnus and a member of the class of ’84.
Again, I wanted to clarify the mis-characterization that some people from BC didn’t want her to speak. That’s not it. We didn’t feel that she deserved an honorary degree from BC, based on the war in Iraq and how we ended up there (mis-info about WMD’s, etc).
We are entitled to our opinions, and people are entitled to protest in this country. If not, what the heck are we supposedly fighting for over there ?
After reading her speach, I feel it was one of her best efforts in terms of a commencement address.
Dave
Dave
One is entitled to protest, but there is a time and a place. Firstly, the grounds on which the protest were held were duplicitous.
Second, I might strongly disagree with something you feel but I would not stage a protest at your son’s wedding or his birthday. I have a sense of respect and a sense of decorum.
Liberal faculty have neither.
It was appalling.
The day was NOT for the faculty to protest, it was a day for parents and their children to celebrate the successful completion of a college education.
But those miscreants felt that their opinions were more important than our happiness. We paid for that day. We earned that day. We deserved that decency. We deserved that respect.
As one of the 200 protesters who slogged over to BC on a workday for 3 hours to represent the vast majority of Americans against Rice’s role in the illegal invasion of Iraq, the establishment of the concentration camp at Guantanamo, and host of other crimes against international law–all I can say is that you all in the minority can whine to yourselves and comfort each other that a conservative college like BC represents the nation. But it does not. And you do not. In other countries, Rice is dogged as a war criminal by thousands wherever she goes. If Rice made a public appearance in downtown Boston, or in any major U.S. city it would be the same. Instead she skulks out to a campus filled with upper-middle class white Republicans on the outskirts of the city, surrounds herself with hundreds of police, speaks banal platitudes for a few minutes, then takes off as fast as possible. The entire affair was orchestrated from on high by the BC administration and the State Department. Her honorary degree at BC Law School did not go through normal channels, the Law Faculty was never consulted about the degree, and it was only announced two weeks in advance–all highly unusual. And a Bush administration propaganda move from start to finish. Given the short time to prepare, the protests were significant, inside and outside BC. There will be more and more of them as the destructive fallout from Bush’s foreign policy at the behest of the energy industry that both he and Rice represent continues to wreak havoc the world over. Rice and the rest of her anti-democratic pals will be removed from office, and if there is any justice in the world, will spend the rest of their lives in prison for what they’ve done.
Again, I wanted to clarify the mis-characterization that some people from BC didn’t want her to speak. That’s not it. We didn’t feel that she deserved an honorary degree from BC, based on the war in Iraq and how we ended up there (mis-info about WMD’s, etc).
Again, the reason your side gave was that she didn’t live up to BC’s ideals, namely Catholicism — yet you have no problem with gay student clubs, which more openly go against Catholic teaching.
Selective concern over your “core values” means you have no core values.
And, again, I know it’s stunning to consider the concept of intel being wrong without it being cooked. It’s what happens when you have no sources on the ground.
As one of the 200 protesters who slogged over to BC on a workday for 3 hours to represent the vast majority of Americans against Rice’s role in the illegal invasion of Iraq, the establishment of the concentration camp at Guantanamo, and host of other crimes against international law–all I can say is that you all in the minority can whine to yourselves and comfort each other that a conservative college like BC represents the nation. But it does not. And you do not. In other countries, Rice is dogged as a war criminal by thousands wherever she goes.
These other countries were also parties in the misery of the Iraqi people, cowtow to Muslim extremists, and insist on us doing everything to help the world.
In other words, they are like teenagers, without the potential for eventually becoming useful.
If Rice made a public appearance in downtown Boston, or in any major U.S. city it would be the same.
Because leftists are rude and poorly educated. Heck, why not remind us of how “mean” the right was to Clinton, too?
Rice and the rest of her anti-democratic pals will be removed from office, and if there is any justice in the world, will spend the rest of their lives in prison for what they’ve done
“Undemocratic pals”? You are aware that they won the election, right?
But feel free to bus us in protestors to “speak truth to power”. In 10 years, you’ll deny having done any of this — just as your side now claims to have always been behind the war on Communism.
-=Mike
Dr John
I can sympathize with your feelings, I think you have an issue with the BC administration for selecting such a controversial Honorary degree recipient. There should have been no surprise this would have unfolded in this manner. Shame on BC for selecting Ms Rice and ruining your special day. Shame on Rice and Bush for sending troops into Iraq under false pretenses and destroying over 60k lives (Americans & Iraqi civilians who are now dead).
Dave
Dr John
I can sympathize with your feelings, I think you have an issue with the BC administration for selecting such a controversial Honorary degree recipient. There should have been no surprise this would have unfolded in this manner. Shame on BC for selecting Ms Rice and ruining your special day. Shame on Rice and Bush for sending troops into Iraq under false pretenses and destroying over 60k lives (Americans & Iraqi civilians who are now dead).
It’s hilarious that the “Free Speech” movement of the 1960’s has morphed into the “No Conservative Views Voiced EVER!!” movement now. Pretty open-minded of you.
World of difference between Condi and the BC faculty: Condi is brilliant and has actually done some good for the world.
-=Mike
MikeSC:
Yes, it is stunning to me that we would invade another country, despite how much we might hate it’s leader, based on bogus intelligence. It’s not ok with me, since lives are being lost and we are spending billions on this effort. And quite frankly we’re creating more terrorists in this process. So we gain nothing.
I am not a conspiracy-type person, but we know about the Bay of Pigs (Cuba) and the Gulf of Tonkin (Vietnam) incidents (Democrat in office at the time), so let’s not be naive here…
The issue on ‘Catholic values’ was penned by someone else, I have stated repeatedly here that many of us do not have a problem with her speaking at BC, but with the Honorary degree. Let’s leave it at that.
You often confuse BC students, faculty and alumni with the Boston College adminstration. They are all different entities, while as as an institution we identify with Jesuit values. That does not mean we march in unison with every Jesuit position or ideal. We do not view differences of opinion as hostile, so we do not feel threatened by them.
But what is harmful and threatening is the way some of the media and bloggers (MikeSC) manipulate the oppositions stated positions. Let others state their own reasons for their positions & opinions, don’t try to state them in your own words as you have an ulterior motive and you often mis-represent what others are saying. Not cool.
Dave
Ted’s comment about Guatanamo… sickens me.
That is all.
MikeSC:
She said nothing particularly noteworthy in the speech. We all knew that would be the case. The speech is not the issue.
You say she’s ‘brilliant’, others wish she had stayed in academia. I am not sure she has accomplished anything noteworthy while in this administration. Fell asleep before 9-11. Allowed bogus intel on WMD’s and Nukes to gain support for invasion. She is an eloquent speaker, and no doubt intelligent, but bombing and invading is hardly a brilliant idea.
Dave
Rick:
My security clearance is still good. My Godfather ran the NSA and project BlueBook. I’ve been inside Langley. I don’t question your credentials, I’ve been to the sandbox and every Somewheristan myself.
But Dave, well, I am not so sure about his clearance.
Oh, and I had an ex who escaped and was deprogrammed from the Labor Committee, so I’ve heard more than I care to about the Trilateral Committee believers…
“As one of the 200 protesters who slogged over to BC on a workday for 3 hours to represent the vast majority of Americans against Rice’s role in the illegal invasion of Iraq,”
This is exactly my point. You had really no business being there. It was a private affair as I see it neither they nor I need your damned approval for a commencement day speaker.
I suspect you work for ANSWER.
I fully approve of the choice of speaker. So did about all of the rest of the parents who paid those tuitions.
If the execrable faculty did not approve, then THEY should have stayed home.
Your right to does NOT include the right to disturb a private affair on private property, try as you might.
Now why don’t you do me a favor and furnish me with your name and address so I can visit you at home during one of your private celebrations so I can do my best to disrupt it?
Why were you there, Ted?
Why did you have to “slog” there and protest?
It was a graduation.
I am wondering why you feel compelled to try to ruin someone else’s happiness.
Nevermind.
I know you’ll comply with neither of my queries. So here it comes.
You’re a dirtbag. You’re scum. Why?
Because this was my son’s graduation day and just like those fecund teachers, you could not put away your motivations in consideration of the happiness of others- a very personal happiness- that of family and achievement.
You’re a selfish moron who, at the same time as screaming about the anti-Democratic Rice, attempted to deprive me of my right to be happy for a day.
You are anti-Democratic.
You are intolerant.
You would deny Rice her right to free speech.]
You and all of your miserable ilk.
I hope we meet again.
doc j-
i wonder why you are so filled of hate towards protesters. was this really the one day that would make you so happy, to see that all your money went to your son’s degree? is this why graduation is so important? because its so expensive and you want to see a return on your investment? i am a current undergrad at BC, and i did not support rice being honored by the school that I pay money to go to. i think its disgusting of many of the seniors (and apparrently their parents) to whine about the fact that people are moved enough to act on their beliefs and “ruin” a graduation ceremony. why is this such a big event for people who are graduating? has anyone done anything so worthy in their 4 years here to be honored by so many people part of such a large community? i honestly do not think so. most of the kids here just want attention and a pat on the back for going to such a joke (academically, morally) of a school. it is a silly ritual rite of passage. by your denouncement of individuals acting upon their beliefs you are breaking down the things that education means to accomplish. i hope your kid always conforms to what he is told, maybe then you would be happy.
mail me my diploma. this school is racist, homophobic, paternalistic, and mainly for kids who cant step out of their own rich, priviledged, white bubble of comfort and whose parents can pay out the wazoo for such an environment where their kids can feel so safe and at home in the homogeneity.
Epador,
Nice creds. If the blogosphere has taught me one thing:
1) “Grammer mizztakes willn’t go unnnoticed.” Self-correction lessens the burden.
2) The bastardization of alumna/ae and alumnus/i has reached truly epic proportions, though the rare breed who can spot such differences cringe when “data” is referred to in the singular and other uses of the Vulgate. Eh, 6/10 of people btwn 18 and 24 can’t find Iraq on a map, so perhaps the William Safirist in me ought focus on larger issues.
Correction – That’s two things.
DrJohn,
I wholeheartedly agree. The “liberal academic complex” has its roots entrenched in our “elite” universities. Graduation is supposed to be a celebration. I wonder why none of the leftists protested the ROTC commissioning the day before? Oh wait, they commissioned in the morning and the protest-niks were still wearing down their meth, ecstasy, etc from the night before.
Steve,
Two words: DROP OUT. What narco-fascist regime forced you to go there? Take the money you’re “wasting” on tuition and sell hacky-sacks or drugs.
Boston College was lost when they emailed me at Christmas asking for $$$ and nowhere in the e-card did it mention Jesus or Christmas. It was a “holiday reminder.” Yup, it reminded me to not give them money again.
Steve
I know you do not mean what you say, and that makes you a hypocrite. How do I know? Because you’re still there. If you had any heart and sincerity, you’d already be gone. You are typical of the limousine liberals- lots of badmouthing but no action. Action is for someone else to take- you would prefer just to able to spout off. Actually acting on your “beliefs” and really leaving would take courage. I’d respect that- I’d think it was loopy, but I’d respect the fact that you actually took a stand.
But there’s no chance of it happening. You words are empty. Or call me and I’ll be glad to help your parents take the gun from your forehead.
By the way- if you email me your name privately, I’d love to know how your parents feel about your statements here. Or aren’t you man enough to tell them?
I think that graduation is a private celebration and it was not for anyone to intrude- and the same would go for any family celebration of yours. It ought not be interrupted by anyone who has a disagreement with you.
That’ why I loathe liberal protesters so. They are an astonshingly selfish and inconsiderate lot.
actually, i have considered dropping out. but i figured id just graduate early instead. i decided to stay here because i believe that bc, supposedly based on the jesuit values it espouses, has potential to be better than it is. if everyone just left the place or institution they were in when they thought something was wrong with it we really wouldnt have had much progress over the course of history. im sure you would feel it wouldve been a better environment for your kid with fewer differing viewpoints around other than that of the super rich and white conservative.
(dj- why do you so strangely want peoples names and addresses you creep stalker?) i do tell my parents how i feel about this. they are fine with my position. i am a fully emancipated individual and pay for everything of my own, they have no sway over anything i do in my life. not like many of the babies i go to school with who whine when their parents dont buy them a new car/coat/louis vuitton bag every season. what constitutes being a “man” to you? it is obvious you are just a leftover from a more patriarchal and sexist time of beliefs. it makes me sick that you would say “man enough” as if only men are able to strongly stand by their beliefs. ask your son and his friends if they have learned anything about the problems of race, gender, class, and privledge over their time at bc and then ask if it is possible to enter this world knowing nothing about these things and be a “man”. i would bet that they learned nothing of those things here, except to further their own dislike (and maybe even hate, as you seem to have) for people who are not like them.
i apologize that your day was “ruined” by a few silent people holding signs, but am surprised that this did ruin your day. Maybe it was the whole controversy that made you uncomfortable? did the fact the supporters of the administration are in the vast minority and that there was a visible sign of that that was out of your control, did that make you uneasy?
and have you read of rice’s speech at Vanderbilt in 2004? its pretty much the same speech she gave you, me, and your son. we were all fooled again by the state dept, but this time we couldve stayed home and read her original source on the internet. i hope you hadnt expected a more individual speech, or even anything original. dang, ripped off again by the administration(s). im glad i didnt go for the speech. guess we all get suckered sometimes.
peace, have a sweet day
Steve
I would be impressed if you really were an emancipated person. That you used the term emancipated suggests that you undertook a process to gain your freedom from parental tyranny. So I guess it would not matter to them how you feel.
That being the case, I have no use for their names. Stalker, indeed. Insults are the immediate refuge of the liberal.
I am curious to know what kind of employment you have to enable you to attend BC full time and still pay for it yourself.
I used the term “man” since I inferred that “Steve” was a male name. Feel free to correct me. My son endured the liberal pablum doled out by the academic liberals who cannot resist teaching kids what to think instead of simply teaching them to think. He resisted successfully. The point is, you do not reall have the convictions- just the verbiage.
I am damned tired of miserable stinking liberals whining about their lack of rights while they trample upon everyone else’s. Sorry, gender neutral person, this was a non-political event and the selfish bastard liberals did their best to turn it into one.
And that’s it in a nutshell. It’s not always about liberals. They just think it is.
And I don’t care if Rice’s speech was largely the same. I enjoyed it.
I hope you are successful in your life.
i find it interesting that you say insults are the refuge of the liberal while you continuously insult “liberals” wholeheartedly. maybe we should all look at ourselves before we point the finger.
i finance my education through almost a full scholarship, financial aid, and student loans. these things have not been part of your child’s education? how privledged.
and i dont see how this could ever be considered a non-political event. everything is political, especially the placing of “one of the chief architects of us foreign policy” as a commencement speaker at any institution. what would you have liked dissenter to do instead? everything done within bc grouds was silent and respectful. just because someone doesnt agree with you doesnt mean they are “selfish bastards”
maybe we should all (myself included) just stop whining about people whining and go out and act on our beliefs? or maybe we should just sit home, take what we are spoon fed by the government, the media, and everyone else who has an agenda, and do nothing about it and form no dissenting opinions. that sounds like a good plan. or more like 1984.
Steve,
Please concile:
a) Condi gets boos at BC
b) McCain gets boos at Liberty Univ
c) Ann Coulter gets pies thrown at her at UConn
(We’ll stick to academia and let alone WTO, DNC, RNC, etc.)
Why is it that liberals ruin events, throw pies, boo, etc and yet conservatives don’t?
My personal belief is that conservatives have these enchanted institutions henceforth called “JOBS” and we learned magical customs called “MANNERS,” whereas liberals grew up under the dominion of “anything I do is okay b/c I’m okay.” Everything is moral relativism and we can’t judge anyone’s ideas, values or beliefs, no matter how corrupt. In judging them we become corrupt. Such is the liberal mantra and its leading us down a path of unspeakable evil and costing us victory in Iraq. Thanks, champ.
cripes….reconcile
You can’t say what is for and against the Catholic Church. It’s so wishy-washy anwyway. Allowing gay clubs to exist is NOT against Catholic teaching. We are not saying they should be married in a church, merely acknowledging their existence. How is THAT against Catholic teachings? Jesus surrounded himself with the outcasts of society, anyway.
I graduated from BC last week with my doctorate (I also went there undergrad – on scholarship – we are not all rich whiners) and I have followed the debates around Dr. Rice’s visit with some interest.
I am a practicing Catholic – not a cafeteria Catholic (believe it or not there are many of us in the academic world and at BC). I believe BC is right to uphold its identity as Catholic even if that means it is out of step with the rest of society. It has thus far steadfastly adhered to Catholic teaching as well as to Catholic conceptions of social responsibility and social justice. Nor has it capitulated (as some here have implied) to pressure from the gay contingent within and without its community (unlike some other Catholic schools). This is PRECISELY WHY the decision to grant Dr. Rice an honorary degree is so unworthy of the school. Dr. Rice’s actions while in office do not reflect Catholic morality. Yes, she has done very well in her chosen field and that might be criteria enough for honors at some other school, but the whole ethos at BC is that we hold ourselves to a higher standard, that we are different and that we’re OK being different.
Many of BC’s lay leaders (Trustees, VPs etc) come from the business world. This has advantages and disadvantages: BC’s endowment has mushroomed in the last thirty years because its leaders have real business expertise. The downside, however, is that the administration has become obsessed with “branding,” with getting national exposure, and with establishing BC as the “Jesuit Ivy” (an odious and embarrassing term to my mind). Many of those on the Board came up through the ranks at BC. They were undergrads there in the 1950s and 1960s and they felt acutely the sneers directed at them from more established and more prestigious institutions (particularly Harvard). Unfortunately, BC has yet to overcome the culture of inferiority and feelings of unworthiness this created. Thus, the cringing response of many people at BC (including “The Heights”) to Dr. Rice’s acceptance of the invitation to speak: “Wow, can you believe little old BC got such a BIG NAME to grace us with her presence?” There was far too much of the attitude that we ought to be grateful that someone so important had even heard of BC. This is not the reaction one would expect from an institution supposedly confident in its academic standing and committed to its distinct place among American universities.
All that said, I was glad that the “protests” were so muted and frankly, lame. One element at BC had already let us down by bestowing an honor on Dr. Rice. It would have really sickened me if the other side caused even more embarrassment by insulting the Secretary. I think the vast majority of the graduates on the field with me last week felt this way: stuck in the middle between two sets of assholes. Steve Almond is a self-aggrandizing and hysterical flake (and the fact that BC allowed him to pose as a scholar is embarrassing). He is no loss whatsoever to Boston College. On the other hand, Fr. Leahy and those responsible for honoring Dr. Rice have badly let us down because they sold out our Catholic identity when they saw a quick and cheap publicity opportunity (“we’ll be on CSPAN! Whaddya think of that Harvard??”) Fr. Leahy’s stupendously lame claim to be furthering healthy academic debate on national questions was completely disingenuous. Any debate was truly “academic” as the invitation could not be rescinded (nor should it have been – that would have been an even bigger strike against BC’s character).
A couple of more petty points:
As someone above has mentioned, Dr. Rice’s speech contained several long passages IDENTICAL to those from her Vanderbilt address in 2004. Somebody got sloppy – whether it was Dr. Rice herself or more likely, her speechwriter, it is still disappointing. No, I didn’t expect a commencement address that was personally tailored to me, or one that would change my life. But that someone assumed a “celebrity sighting” was enough to make me happy is a bit insulting.
Finally: Dr. John’s outrage seems so personal and intense that I’m left pitying his son (whether he wants my pity or not), as all that I have read here suggests that dear old Dad likely did more ranting on the 22nd than all the “protestors” combined. Was Dad still foaming at the mouth at dinner that evening? To his son’s friends as they helped pack up the car? I wonder what his son will remember most about the day…
I will remember how sunny it was, how proud my parents were, and how my (seemingly inflated) estimation of my beloved alma mater was at the last minute tinged by doubts as to the sincerity of the values I was taught there.