Posted on 05/11/2002 4:03:09 PM PDT by prisoner6
CHARLESTON, S.C.- America's war on terrorism is not only just, but will end with terrorists surrendering, Sen. John McCain told graduates of The Citadel on Saturday, as college students around the nation were given their traditional send-off.
"Our enemies are weaker than we are in arms and men, but weaker still in causes," the Republican from Arizona said at the state military college.
"They fight to express an irrational hatred of all that is good in humanity, a hatred that has fallen time and again to the armies and ideals of the righteous," McCain said. "We fight for love of freedom and justice, a love that is invincible. We will never surrender. They will."
Twenty women were among the 298 graduating cadets, including seven black women, the first to graduate since the school opened its gates to women six years ago.
In Oxford, Miss., 40 years after James Meredith was escorted through an angry mob to become the first black to enroll at the University of Mississippi, his son, Joseph Meredith, graduated as the business school's top doctoral student.
"I think there's no better proof that white supremacy was wrong than not only to have my son graduate, but to graduate as the most outstanding graduate of the school," Meredith said in an interview.
"That, I think, vindicates my whole life."
New Hampshire Gov. Jeanne Shaheen, a Missouri native who earned her master's degree in political science from Ole Miss in 1972, gave Saturday's commencement speech to about 2,200 graduates. She said she realized "politics does matter" when President Jimmy Carter brought Israel and Egypt together in 1978.
"I urge you to consider the value of public service in our American experiment," she said. "Don't be afraid to get involved. Run for office. You won't win every battle, but the only way you'll truly lose is if you choose to sit out the debate."
Elsewhere, graduates of the fledgling Appalachian School of Law, where a former student gunned down three people in January, were urged to stay near the Grundy, Va., campus and serve the small surrounding mountain communities.
"This law school, made by your hands here in the deepest recesses of Appalachia - and you as individuals - will emerge from this tragedy stronger," said Jesse L. White Jr., co-chairman of the Appalachian Regional Commission, a federal agency that oversees the region.
Members of the school's third graduating class were led into the campus courtyard by a team of bagpipers. Before entering, the 32 graduates dropped roses at the base of three saplings planted on the front lawn in memory of the shooting victims, Dean Anthony L. Sutin, professor Thomas Blackwell and student Angela Dales.
Failed law student Peter Odighizuwa has been charged with capital murder in the Jan. 16 shootings.
"We don't think about him much anymore," said Tracy Bridges, 26, one of several students who tackled Odighizuwa on the front lawn. "In fact, I think I'm even going to miss this place."
prisoner6
Big talk for an American traitor. The guys gotten as socialist as his friend Bill. He must have copied this from a real patriots bumper sticker on the way to the ceramonies.
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