If I were graduating, I wouldn’t be too happy about that. After spending all that time and money to get a degree… only to be talked to by a hand puppet.
But it could have been worse, much worse.
All kidding aside, really a muppet as a commencement speaker? Liberal universities have sunken very far.
Idiocracy
How utterly childish.
These days, a muppet (per British slang) delivering a commencement speech is not uncommon.
For what it’s worth, it’s not exactly ‘out of the blue’. Jim Henson is one of the famous alumni of the University; there’s a statue of him and Kermit on Campus:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/farrelley/3710068751/
If I were graduating, I wouldn’t be too happy about that. After spending all that time and money to get a degree… only to be talked to by a hand puppet.
But it could have been worse, much worse.
Ridiculous
If you think Kermit the Frog is bad as a commencement speaker let me tell you I had it much worse. My daughter graduated from UVM in 2009 and Howard Dean was the commencement speaker. Flushed with Obama’s victory Dean laid it in thick how Obama will transform the world. The speech left me in a dark and miserable place.
I graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2003. I was older (maybe 15 years older) than the rest of the graduates. I went thru with Commencement because it was a promise I made to myself. I wanted to hear my name called as I walked across the stage.
Our Commencement speaker was a judge from the International Court of Justice, Tom Buergenthal. His whole speech was a pantload of borderline anti-US statements about how we needed to respect the laws and avoid conflict. This was during the time of the invasion of Iraq by Bush II.
Many of my fellow graduates ate it up and were cheering him. Many rose and gave him a large round of applause when he finished. I sat there with my arms crossed - as did the kid next to me. After the ceremony was over, I looked at him, nodded and wished him good luck.
So to make a long story short, I’d just as assume have Kermit The Frog as my Commencement Speaker. It would have been more amusing than being pontificated to by an un-elected judge.
It ain’t easy being green
Imagine putting in the hard work to graduate with an actual good degree and having to listen to a puppet as your commencement speaker. 🙄
It’s not easy being green.
From the song Bein’ Green, 1970
Life’s like a movie, write your own ending.
From The Muppet Movie, 1979
Someday we’ll find it, the rainbow connection, the lovers, the dreamers, and me.
From The Rainbow Connection, 1979
I guess it’s just not easy being a frog. Or maybe it’s just not easy being me.
Paraphrased from various Muppet appearances
As long as there are folks who believe in dreams, there’ll always be a place for the Muppets.
From various interviews and specials
You know, it’s amazing. You are 100 percent of yourself when you’re with the right people.
From modern Muppet media
FEAR THE TURTLE!!!
Could the graduates understand him?
I had no regrets having missed that academic charade.
In anticipation of another Great Leap Forward.
An infantilizing message for infantile brains.
What’s green and smells like Miss Piggy?
Jump out of the hot water, Kermit! LOL
Just goes to show what a joke those college degrees are.
The white supremacist frog.