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Dear Class of 2014: Thanks for Not Disinviting Me
Bloomberg View ^ | May 15, 2014 | Stephen L. Carter

Posted on 05/17/2014 8:46:28 AM PDT by Excellence

Members of the Class of 2014, I salute you. My warmest wishes on the occasion of your graduation from this fine institution.

And, before I go any further, I would like to express my personal thanks to all of you for not rescinding my invitation. I know that matters were dicey for a while, given that I have held and defended actual positions on politically contested issues. Now and then I’ve strayed from the party line. And if the demonstrators would quiet down for a moment, I’d like to offer an abject apology for any way in which I have offended against the increasingly narrow and often obscure values of the academy.

In my day, the college campus was a place that celebrated the diversity of ideas. Pure argument was our guide. Staking out an unpopular position was admired -- and the admiration, in turn, provided excellent training in the virtues of tolerance on the one hand and, on the other, integrity.

Your generation, I am pleased to say, seems to be doing away with all that.


TOPICS: Education
KEYWORDS: education; freespeech
Short and to the point.
1 posted on 05/17/2014 8:46:28 AM PDT by Excellence
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To: Excellence

Great! It would be even greater if he had the opportunity to actually deliver it.


2 posted on 05/17/2014 9:10:26 AM PDT by aquila48
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To: Excellence

I’m starting to feel like a counter culture “hippie” with respect to the current insanity coming out of the so-called establishment these days.

Perhaps the seeds are being planted for another revolution in that regard.

Nah, what was I thinking.


3 posted on 05/17/2014 9:11:07 AM PDT by headstamp 2 (What would Scooby do?)
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To: headstamp 2

I would be the person they were protesting against back in 1968.


4 posted on 05/17/2014 9:17:32 AM PDT by Excellence (Marine mom since April 11, 2014)
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To: Excellence

Yes, and it almost seems like the shoe is on the other foot now.


5 posted on 05/17/2014 9:29:33 AM PDT by headstamp 2 (What would Scooby do?)
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To: Excellence
I've always enjoyed the articles and books I've read by Stephen L. Carter since the early 90s, who is centrist, deeply intellectual and Christian. The photo with the article is of the IMF president, Christine Lagarde. Here is Dr. Carter:


6 posted on 05/17/2014 9:41:56 AM PDT by Albion Wilde ("The commenters are plenty but the thinkers are few." -- Walid Shoebat)
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To: All

I’m confused - is he or is he not mocking them? First, he seems to be grateful to them for inviting him and NOT rescinding the invitation. Then, he goes on to talk to them as if they HAD rescinded the invitation. What gives?


7 posted on 05/17/2014 10:28:48 AM PDT by jackibutterfly
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To: jackibutterfly

I’m confused - is he or is he not mocking them? First, he seems to be grateful to them for inviting him and NOT rescinding the invitation. Then, he goes on to talk to them as if they HAD rescinded the invitation. What gives?

+++++
Sarcasm.


8 posted on 05/17/2014 11:03:06 AM PDT by InterceptPoint
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To: InterceptPoint

Oh.


9 posted on 05/18/2014 7:23:28 AM PDT by jackibutterfly (In this world when the body can be taken at any moment, it would be wise to reconnect with your soul)
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To: Excellence
Political Correctness = Intolerance

Intolerance = Tyranny

10 posted on 05/18/2014 8:03:40 AM PDT by SamAdams76
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