Posted on 05/27/2005 3:27:38 PM PDT by 11x62
Political news commentator Cokie Roberts stressed the importance of incorporating social justice values into public service at Marquette's 124th commencement exercises.
Roberts, an analyst for ABC News who has won several journalism awards, said Sunday morning at the Bradley Center that the need for social justice values – which are the touchstones of a Jesuit education – and civility in government is great due to increasing political partisanship.
"Those values are so important to bring into public service today," she said.
Roberts addressed the declining popularity of politics as a profession, placing blame on the news media for too often focusing on the wrongdoings of politicians, politicians themselves for campaigning against the institutions they are trying to serve and voters for not allowing elected officials a fair chance to serve their constituencies.
There currently exists in the public a "dangerous atmosphere" that "denigrates the professional politician," she said. "To denigrate the professional is to denigrate the profession."
Government, Roberts said, is the one institution that can serve as a unifying tool in a time when the country lacks a common experience, language and history.
"Nothing binds us together except our government," she said.
The fact that governmental institutions are increasing their ethnic and gender diversity "is an even greater reason to have respect for them," she said.
Roberts' address also bordered on the light side, using the debate over the university's nickname for fodder.
"I promise you I won't do what last year's speaker did," Roberts said in reference to Marquette's board of trustees vice chair Wayne Sanders.
Sanders set the nickname debate into motion when at last year's graduation he announced in his commencement address that he and another board member were each prepared to donate $1 million to the university if it changed its name from Golden Eagles back to Warriors – its previous moniker.
Roberts said she empathized with university officials who were tired of the constant stream of media coverage on the issue.
Much of the coverage in the last three weeks has been negative, poking fun at board of trustees' temporary decision to change from the Golden Eagles to Marquette Gold, which triggered fierce criticism from both supporters and opponents of the Warriors name.
"I just had this conversation with Tom Delay the other day," she said jokingly, referring to the House Majority Leader who has come under fire in the media after allegations arose that he misused funds.
Aside from Roberts' comment, the ceremony was devoid of any other references to the nickname debate that has divided members of student body and alumni during the past year.
Two weeks ago the board of trustees announced it was temporarily reverting back to Golden Eagles and introduced a new process that will allow members of the Marquette community to vote on the school's nickname.
The university's recently created Nickname Advisory Committee – comprised of students, alumni, faculty and staff – on Monday released its first list of 10 names, which will be narrowed to two.
Roberts, who won the Edward R. Murrow Award for her work as a senior news analyst for National Public Radio and was the first broadcast journalist to win the Everett McKinley Dirksen Award for her work covering Congress, was one of five people receiving honorary degrees Sunday.
In addition to Roberts, Jerry Kleczka, former representative of the Wisconsin's 4th U.S. Congressional District, and Richard Teerlink, retired chairman and chief executive officer of Harley Davidson Motor Company, received honorary doctor of law degrees.
The Rev. George V. Coyne, director of the Vatican Observatory, and Isiah Warner, a leading analytical chemistry researcher, received honorary doctor of science degrees.
Really?
Surely she's not suggesting mixing religious values with government work? Oh, say it isn't so!
"Nothing binds us together except our government," she said."
With chains, if she had her way.
So she hasn't been reading the best political science writers. She is still the best, most balanced, and fair of the Leftist journalists.
"Social justice" = Euphemism for socialism.
"Professional politician": There should be no such thing as a professional politician. Term limits!
Cokie goes to a Jesuit University and says this?
"Nothing binds us together except our government," she said.
What an idiot. She really believes this drivel.
Maybe she doesn't have more insight into things, but she seems to have access to decisionmakers.
I agree with you. While I disagree with most of what she says, she usually offers up her incorrect thoughts in a civilized and genial fashion. She doesn't deny her biases, and she seldom resorts to name-calling.
Was "Cokie" a nick-name from college??
It helps when you are:
1) Liberal
2) Married to a former NYT reporter
3) Daughter of a former Democrat Speaker of the House
4) Sister of a Democrat Activist.
You would think these nitwits would come to realize that it's not race, gender, and diversity that bond people it's common beliefs, values, and most importantly morals. How many more multicultural experiments have to die a horrid death before the liberal progressives realize diversity along these lines causes hatred and intolerance not harmony. Nobody can be this stupid, so one can only assume it's a more calculated position for reasons of power.
Of course Kookie, after you leftists DESTROYED our common experience, language and rewrite history.
Oh...P.S. Cokie - our hatred for you leftist and your drivel bind us together pretty well!
At least she's pro-life.
Granted, a lot of doors were open to her. We should all be so fortunate, but it is good that she made something of it, and with style.
I get the impression that she's so hysterical that, if her girdle snapped, she'd wipe up three states.
That's why she went to a Jesuit school to say it. Not much to do with religion there!
Thank you for addressing that point.
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