Waiting for an apology - WestConn protester says speech shouldn't have been political [graduation]

THE NEWS-TIMES ^ | May 24, 2006 | Heather Barr

[LurkedLongEnough]

The article contains a link to Crier's flaming speech.

Note the Bush supporter is a "protester".

[Gordongekko909]

When I graduated from Loyola New Orleans, Senator David Vitter spoke. It was pretty good.

Then I found out that LSU got the President. Lucky b******s. >: (

[randog]

At the same time, universities and other groups have struggled to balance free-speech rights for their selected speakers with the feelings of students who don't want their day ruined by a commencement star with an agenda.

Uhhhhh, right. That's why 95%+ of commencement speakers are left wing? Some balance.

[randog]

When I graduated from Loyola New Orleans, Senator David Vitter spoke.

Couldn't tell you who my speaker was--didn't go. I didn't want to spend any more time in the liberal cesspool than I had to.

[sinkspur]

Lawyers in Dallas used to laugh at Crier when she was a State Judge there.

She would file and trim her fingernails right in the middle of arguments. A friend of mine said they were all shocked that such a lightweight would be viewed as a serious legal mind.

[Doctor Raoul]

I get you and your little dog too!!!!

[Doctor Raoul]

I'll get you and your little dog too!!!!

[Argus]

Some faculty members and students at Columbia University and New School University in New York City protested McCain giving their graduation speech

At Boston College, some faculty members didn't want Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as commencement speaker

"Some" = 99%.

[Michael.SF.]

Last Saturday I attended my son's graduation from the U of Arizona (Tucson), in the graduating class for Phd's and Masters degree's were about a dozen members of the military, all in dress uniforms, not cap and gowns. They always come up in bunches of three's or fours and they all got the loudest cheers from the crowd.

[Tamar1973]

"In an ideal world," she said, "it be great if you could sort of propose different points of view, engaging in ideas, engaging in healthy debate."

Newsflash: Most people don't go to a graduation ceremony to engage in any kind of debate, political or otherwise. They just want to see their loved one get their hard-earned diploma and then go celebrate! Graduation is supposed to be one of those days you can get away from politics, not wallow in it.

[rlmorel]

Good God. This infuriated me, but at the same time filled me with respect for that woman.

When Krista Lindstedt said her heart started pounding, I knew exactly what she meant.

What really pissed me off, were the comments of Catherine Crier:

"..."I wasn't completely surprised (at the protest). I didn't walk away upset because it wasn't perfect. "In an ideal world," she said, "it be great if you could sort of propose different points of view, engaging in ideas, engaging in healthy debate..."

What the HELL does she mean by that? This was the crowning moment of achievement in the lives of many of those graduates out there, and she took their day of celebration, tossed it to the dirt, and made it all about her. She made THEIR day HER soapbox.

This Catherine Crier thinks everything is about herself on that day. A TYPICAL LIBERAL. It's all about ME.

She thinks that this commencement ceremony is just a place to have a debate with someone. This woman is just damned disgusting.

Now my heart is pounding.

[rlmorel]

I wish I could have seen that. It must have been wonderful.

[evad]

Western Connecticut State University graduate Krista M. Lindstedt wants an apology from commencement speaker Catherine Crier.....

Don't hold your breath darlin'. You'd do better to take it up with the people in scheduling.

Snakes will bite, ducks will quack and liberals will diss any conservative value.

It's what they do..
it's all they do..
and they won't stop..
EVER!!

[rlmorel]

I had Admiral Grace Hopper deliver the speech at my graduation. (For the uninitiated...she is the one credited with coining the term "bug" when relating to computers...) She was very personable and gave a nice speech. I liked her immensely.

[rlmorel]

"...Snakes will bite, ducks will quack and liberals will diss any conservative value.

It's what they do..

it's all they do..

and they won't stop..

EVER!!"

You've got great prose!

[MplsSteve]

I graduated from the University of Minnesota three years ago and my commencement speaker was Judge Thomas Burgdahl from the Intl Court of Justice.

His speech was not as political as Crier's - but he made it clear that the US was a violator of intl law and needed to work harder to build bridges with the "international community".

Many of the students stood up and applauded when he made a comment about war being wrong. I remained in my seat as did a student next to me. I looked at him and rolled my eyes. He nodded in agreement.

I would have much preferred that my long-overdue graduation from college not be marred (sp?) by a one-world idiot judge from a body that no one listens to.

[evad]

You've got great prose!

Thanks.

Actually, what I have is a good memory. It's a paraphrase from "The Terminator" ;-)

[xjcsa]

Billy Graham spoke at mine. Very cool.

[mojo114]

You are so correct. Crier went there with rage and a rant that just would not stop.

[Kimmers]

Yours was a graduation well worth attending....