Posted on 05/16/2004 5:45:34 PM PDT by veronica
A keynote speaker at State University College at Oswego's graduation ceremony Saturday was drowned out by booing, hissing and foot-stomping after he criticized President Bush.
Theodore C. Sorensen, a lawyer and author who served as special counsel to President Kennedy, never said Bush's name. But he took the president to task for going on vacation after warnings of terrorist attacks surfaced, declaring war without allied support and gloating about a victory.
Sorensen compared the ways Kennedy handled the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962 to the methods Bush used to handle the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
"President Kennedy did not proceed unilaterally, without obtaining the support of our allies and without recourse to the United Nations," he said.
As Sorensen spoke, one student's mother stood up and ordered him off the stage. A graduate yelled, "Are you serious?" but another quickly chimed in, "Let the man finish his speech."
The noise got so loud that Sorensen, who spoke into a microphone, at times could not be heard. More than half his speech was overpowered by audience rumbling and shouting.
College President Deborah F. Stanley moved next to Sorensen as he spoke through the chaos. Stanley thanked the audience for being respectful "in a place where ideas, information and understanding reign supreme." She said after the ceremony that her comment was as much a criticism as a compliment.
"People, I think, understand that Mr. Sorensen has led a political and policy-oriented life," Stanley said. "But the way he chose to express that was, perhaps, surprising."
"It was just like a slap in the face," said Mary Sheldon, of Lorraine, Jefferson County, whose daughter Johanna Besaw graduated Saturday with an English degree. "We came here to be supportive of our kids and their achievements. It wasn't the time or the place for politics."
Sheldon's son, David Dreier, 25, received notice Thursday that he will be shipping out to Iraq with the National Guard. The family left Romney Field House, where the ceremony was held, midway through Sorensen's speech.
Charlie Vecchio, 25, a former army soldier originally from Manlius, disagreed with Sorensen's views but had more of a problem with the audience.
"People's reactions were a little outrageous," he said. "I have friends who died so we could say what we want. That's part of why our soldiers are over there, for our right to freedom of speech."
He's lucky he wasn't pepper sprayed.
Let's hope so, Ronnie. "As Sorensen spoke, one student's mother stood up and ordered him off the stage."
Good for her. Are we seeing shades of things to come?
I agree. Not a single tomato was thrown. Conservatives are too restrained. His vile 9/11 comments deserved an ass-stomping.
Nope, I disagree. This is a good sign. Despite the 24/7 leftist brainwashing, the kids are wising up. And they're not willing to sit still for more leftist papulum being shoved down their throats.
I don't understand why these kind of speakers are chosen for Commencement Day ceremonies.
The Day should be for celebration of the graduates and their families.
I understand the freedom of speech rights, but the pendulum swings both ways.
We conservatives are tired of being passive. It was best said on 9/11.............LET'S ROLL!
We don't know what he said or how long he went on. There are limits to impropriety.
Plus .. he way lying about Kennedy and the UN. When JFK went to Cuba, he did not have congressional approval (which the dems DEMANDED of Bush, and he did not have a UN resolution (which the dems DEMANDED of Bush).
But the parent was right. This was a graduation .. not the campaign circuit. I'm glad to see people objecting to this kind of grandstanding by the dems. They still think they can do whatever they want with impunity.
I no longer just disagree with them. I fervently hate them and want to see them destroyed... Broken...
***
"Our diversity is our strength." -WJC
Ain't diversity grand?
I agree 100%!
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SORENSON had to know of JFK's many SeXual Affairs that constantly endangered an American Catholic's Presidency during a world wide "Cold" War..?
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Excellent! The left has had these students for four years, tax-supported PBS has had this left-wing scum on television forever and he deserves everything he got ... and more.
farting in his general direction would be good, but that's easier for oldsters than youngsters to do.
"We came here to be supportive of our kids and their achievements. It wasn't the time or the place for politics."
She's got a point ..
I can't even tell you how sick I am of having to explain to people that the first amendment is solely a restriction on government activity, and places no obligation on people to listen to what others have to say. It is such a basic concept, yet vast swaths of society don't understand it. This man's right to free speech was not violated. End of story.
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