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Boston College Prof. Quits over Rice Speech
Boston Globe ^ | 05/12/06 | Steve Almond

Posted on 05/12/2006 8:34:30 AM PDT by raccoonradio

An open letter to William P. Leahy, SJ, president of Boston College.

I am writing to resign my post as an adjunct professor of English at Boston College.

I am doing so -- after five years at BC, and with tremendous regret -- as a direct result of your decision to invite Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to be the commencement speaker at this year's graduation.

Many members of the faculty and student body already have voiced their objection to the invitation, arguing that Rice's actions as secretary of state are inconsistent with the broader humanistic values of the university and the Catholic and Jesuit traditions from which those values derive.

But I am not writing this letter simply because of an objection to the war against Iraq. My concern is more fundamental. Simply put, Rice is a liar.

She has lied to the American people knowingly, repeatedly, often extravagantly over the past five years, in an effort to justify a pathologically misguided foreign policy.

(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: bostoncollege; condileezarice; condoleezarice; crybaby; dontletthedoorhitya; girlyman; goodriddance; onedown; punk; racism; stevealmond; waaaaaah; wuss; yipeee
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To: deputac

He is already hawking his book. This is a publicity stunt by a failed pornographer to get 15 minutes of fame.


101 posted on 05/12/2006 9:26:25 AM PDT by massgopguy (massgopguy)
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To: raccoonradio

Wacko Leftist - Steve Almonds

102 posted on 05/12/2006 9:26:42 AM PDT by lormand (...the wrong person came out of the water that fateful night in Chappaquiddick)
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To: raccoonradio
LOL Only a loon would quit a job over a one time speech by someone whose political views he does not agree with.

Sounds like he did the best thing he could do for the students.

103 posted on 05/12/2006 9:26:57 AM PDT by MEGoody (Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.)
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To: raccoonradio
Steve Almond's email address sbalmond@earthlink.net
104 posted on 05/12/2006 9:28:29 AM PDT by lormand (...the wrong person came out of the water that fateful night in Chappaquiddick)
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To: girlangler

He taught Creative Writing which has nothing to do with English. He said on WRKO that he supports Gay Marriage and Abortion. But Condi can't speak because she doesn't have the values of the Catholic Church.
I contacted the school when this started and suggested that if they withdrew the invitation that I would contact Notre Dame where she got her Masters and suggest that they invite her and cancel the 2007 BC-ND game. BC makes a nice chunk of change off that TV revenue.


105 posted on 05/12/2006 9:29:26 AM PDT by massgopguy (massgopguy)
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To: theDentist
I just checked his personal website.

sbalmond@earthlink.net

106 posted on 05/12/2006 9:30:06 AM PDT by lormand (...the wrong person came out of the water that fateful night in Chappaquiddick)
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To: lormand

Now THERE'S a solid-looking citizen!


107 posted on 05/12/2006 9:30:08 AM PDT by seanmerc
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To: raccoonradio

Good riddance to bad rubbish. As suggested, this is a good start. Whatever we can do to hasten the rest of the liberal profs.


108 posted on 05/12/2006 9:31:04 AM PDT by kevinm13 (The Main Stream Media is dead! Fox News Channel Rocks!)
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To: theDentist
Ooo! Good letter! Mine was shorter: "You're resigning? Who cares."

In cases like this, you might as well be as insulting as possible. "Sir, what is Boston College? Isn't that the community college for local kids that couldn't get into Harvard or BU?"

(I know BC is a lot better than that; it's just about making him feel like as much of a meaningless, insignificant sh*t as possible.)

109 posted on 05/12/2006 9:31:32 AM PDT by Dont Mention the War (This tagline is false.)
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To: raccoonradio

Oh no! They've lost an adjunct English professor! Will Boston College ever recover?


110 posted on 05/12/2006 9:32:57 AM PDT by AD from SpringBay (We have the government we allow and deserve.)
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To: massgopguy

Without a doubt this a cheap publicity ploy: his target market is all though saps who bought Michael Moore's book. From a quick read of reviews on Amazon, methinks we have just another mediocre narcissist.


111 posted on 05/12/2006 9:33:37 AM PDT by bjc (Check the data!!)
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To: cripplecreek

YES! Pumping fist up and down.

How about a cross country tour, at institutions of higher learning [sic] east coast to west?

"Condi Live In Leather" or something.


112 posted on 05/12/2006 9:33:40 AM PDT by little jeremiah
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To: massgopguy
He taught Creative Writing which has nothing to do with English. He said on WRKO that he supports Gay Marriage and Abortion. But Condi can't speak because she doesn't have the values of the Catholic Church.

Did he happen to say how the Boston Glob just happened to get a copy of his resignation letter?

113 posted on 05/12/2006 9:33:59 AM PDT by Dont Mention the War (This tagline is false.)
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To: raccoonradio
from Boston Globe, May 3
Two leading theologians at Boston College have written a stinging letter objecting to the college's decision to invite Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to speak at graduation and to give her an honorary degree. Nearly 100 faculty members have signed the letter, according to the theology department, which declined to release their names.

Kenneth Himes, chairman of the department of theology, and the Rev. David Hollenbach, who holds the Margaret O'Brien Flatley chair in the department, titled their letter ''Condoleezza Rice Does Not Deserve a Boston College Honorary Degree," and sent it to the entire faculty inviting members to sign on. The writers said they were distressed with the university's decision to invite Rice to commencement May 22.

''On the levels of both moral principle and practical moral judgment, Secretary Rice's approach to international affairs is in fundamental conflict with Boston College's commitment to the values of the Catholic and Jesuit traditions and is inconsistent with the humanistic values that inspire the university's work," the letter said. It pointed out Pope John Paul II's opposition to the war in Iraq.

''I have no objection to her coming here to speak -- I am in favor of free speech -- but I don't believe we should be honoring her with an honorary degree," Hollenbach said.

The debate over the Rice invitation underscores the tensions between liberal and conservative Catholics. Both camps yesterday accused the other side of selectively invoking Catholic teaching in their arguments.

''This is the only time these people have cited Pope John Paul II on anything," said the Rev. Paul McNellis, who is an adjunct professor in the philosophy department.

Student activist Reena Parikh, a senior English major, found a contradiction in BC's taking a Catholic teaching stance against abortion and gay rights, while at the same time inviting Rice to accept an honorary degree.

''Boston College has selectively chosen which Catholic teachings it's going to privilege and which ideas of Catholic teaching it's going to censor," Parikh said.

Other faculty members and students supported the invitation, saying that having such a notable speaker is an honor for the university. Political science professor Marc Landy said the letter was a ''grotesque mistake" and sent a letter asking colleagues not to sign the Himes-Hollenbach letter.

''This isn't about agreeing or disagreeing with Condoleezza Rice," Landy said. ''She is the secretary of state of the United States, and there is a presumption in favor of according a warm and dignified reception to arguably the third most important executive officer." ''Given that Dr. Rice's schedule allows her to make only one commencement speech per year, we are pleased that she has chosen to address graduating students at Boston College etc

114 posted on 05/12/2006 9:34:24 AM PDT by raccoonradio
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To: Dont Mention the War

It was an "open letter" and of course the Glob eagerly published it.


115 posted on 05/12/2006 9:35:21 AM PDT by raccoonradio
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To: bjc

And a smarmy punk as well. Not the healthiest attitude to have when one is left coast hairy palm living in Somerville MA.


116 posted on 05/12/2006 9:36:25 AM PDT by massgopguy (massgopguy)
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To: raccoonradio

Thanks for posting even more proof that American academia is in horrible shape these days. David Horowitz does a great job of enlightening the masses on how publicly-funded universities present liberal bias as education. So does this guy: http://www.dradams.org/


117 posted on 05/12/2006 9:36:31 AM PDT by floozy22
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To: raccoonradio

Racist Leftist A**H**e!


118 posted on 05/12/2006 9:37:27 AM PDT by Clock King ("How will it end?" - Emperor; "In Fire." - Kosh)
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To: raccoonradio

Was he around when Janet Reno got her honorary degree from BC? No hysteria then. The Jesuits really know how to pick them. How will the school ever be able to survive without the esteemed author of "My Life in Heavy Metal"?


119 posted on 05/12/2006 9:38:16 AM PDT by Dionysius (ACLU is the enemy)
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To: floozy22
You're welcome! To tie in the name of the B.C. mascot, it's tough to fly with EAGLES...

...when you work with TURKEYS

120 posted on 05/12/2006 9:39:09 AM PDT by raccoonradio
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