Posted on 05/18/2008 5:43:49 AM PDT by kellynla
ST. LOUIS -- Some felt the silent protest with white armbands and the dramatic turning of backs was disrespectful. But those who took part said it was a fitting way to show their disapproval that Washington University was honoring a woman whose views and life’s work they strongly disagree with.
For her part, Phyllis Schlafly, the 83-year-old at the center of the controversy, said she thought it was "juvenile" of students who were "raining on their own parade." But it didn’t ruin her moment, she said.
At today’s commencement ceremony held on a sunny Brookings Quadrangle, Schlafly did not seem to notice the hundreds of backs turned to her while a citation heralding her accomplishments was read. A tense hush settled over the gathering of more than 14,000 people. Schlafly responded with a tranquil smile she held for several minutes as she was given an honorary doctorate of humane letters.
Margaret Bush Wilson, a retired civil rights attorney, volunteered to introduce Schlafly as faculty and students were calling on the university to rescind the degree. Wilson said after the ceremony that while she does not agree with many of Schlafly’s views, she is a strong advocate of free speech.
"Vigorous, free-flowing debate is the cornerstone of our American life," Wilson said at today’s ceremony.
(Excerpt) Read more at stltoday.com ...
Without a transcript, we don’t really know is she injected politics into the speech or not. The article didn’t mention that she’d said anything along those lines.
My husband graduated from Wash. U. back in 1961. It was left leaning even then, and expensive. He was immediately drafted, but managed to get into Air Force Officer Training School.
In the years since then, Wash. U. has tracked us down and made pitches for money on a regular basis. We have never given anything, but they never give up.
After my husband retired from the AF, we had a son starting college. No way could we afford to send him to Wash. U. but they kept on calling and sending appeals for funds.
I am so glad we never weakened and sent them one red cent!
I find the use of the word juvenile most interesting.
When liberal/leftist students do the same thing, or worse, to conservative speakers it is a sign of their maturity and the wrongness of the conservative position on whatever ….
But, when conservative and centrists students do it to a liberal speaker…..
Reminds me very much of the 1994 national elections when MSM reader of scripts (news anchor is an incorrect term) frowned and remarked that the American Electorate had a “temper tantrum” because they turned to the incorrect (aka Republican) candidates.
And the MSM both print and video wonder why they are bleeding money.
My grandfather graduated from Wash. U in 1900. It was a fine academic school. I entered college in 1969, and I never gave it much consideration.
The commencement speech “is supposed to be about the accomplishments and potential of the graduates ....”
... And the speaker is to share his/her philosophy and experiences that helped him/her achieve the success that brought him/her to the podium that day. You don’t want a speaker who’s enjoyed no success up there. Preferably, you’d have someone who’s had some distinct failures and risen above them.
It is highly unlikely that Ms. Schafly talked about her political philosophy so much as her philosophy for success in life. The introducer would have spoken to Schafly’s accomplishments, not her.
Lately a few have refered to the nightly MSM folk as “News Readers”.I used the term the other day and was greated with stares.....I relayed thats all they are “readers” with an ear bud taking direction from the producer.
What do you expect from a society where one out of four teenage girls has a venereal disease? These kids obviously do not value, respect or understand Schlafly. Come to think of it, they probably don’t value, respect or understand themselves either.
How is it any different if the law school invited, say, Michael Moore, as a commencement speaker? Both are solely partisan speakers, and add nothing to the ceremony but contraversy.
In that particular case I would have to say it was a strong principled and profound statement...not a hissy fit made by puerile disrespectful snot nosed brats.
One of them is a political activist,
the other is Michael Moore.
If there is a reason to allow all the foreign workers that people like Bill Gates want to come into the country, this is it. These scum do not deserve protection from foreign competition.
The pies will fly.
Sounds like if Washington University is aiming to sell a “liberal” arts degree for $40,000 a year or so...some students should be requesting their money back...they’re more close-minded than they probably were at admission!!
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