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Posted on 05/08/2005 5:18:59 PM PDT by rpage3
Stephen King exhorts UMaine grads to stay Boston Globe ORONO, Maine -- Delivering the commencement speech at his alma mater, the best-selling author Stephen King counseled University of Maine graduates yesterday to be voracious readers, to donate a tenth of their earnings to worthy causes, and to carve out their careers in Maine. May 8, 2005 -->
ORONO, Maine -- Delivering the commencement speech at his alma mater, the best-selling author Stephen King counseled University of Maine graduates yesterday to be voracious readers, to donate a tenth of their earnings to worthy causes, and to carve out their careers in Maine.
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King, a member of the class of 1970, spoke twice, because rain forced officials to move the 203d commencement to Alfond Arena. No indoor facility could accommodate all the graduates, friends and family members, and staff, so two ceremonies were held.
After he was introduced by Robert Kennedy, the university president, King joked that if he faltered on the first speech, he would be the one introducing Kennedy in the afternoon ceremony.
King said he remembered speaking to the same class in the fall of 2001, when they were ''freshpeople." He had told them he would be back when it was time for them to graduate.
''I never thought you would make good on your word -- I guess Kid Rock and Donald Rumsfeld were busy," he said.
When the time came for King to impart advice, he rattled off a ''top 10" list, urging students to hug and kiss whoever had helped them get to this point, to read as much as they could, and to give away a dime for every dollar they make.
''If you don't, the government is just going to take it for you," said King, who is known for his own generosity to the university. ''You go out broke. . . . You're not an owner in this life, you're just a steward."
The last four points of his list were the same: Stay in Maine.
Despite his celebrity, King has chosen to live in his native state for most of his life. He makes his home in nearby Bangor.
''This can be home if you want it to be," he said. ''If you leave, you will miss it, so you might as well skip the going away part."
The university awarded honorary doctorates to journalist Douglas Kneeland, a Lincoln native and University of Maine graduate whose career included work at The New York Times and the Chicago Tribune, and Andrew Shepard, president and CEO of the Maine Winter Sports Center.
King and his wife, Tabitha, received honorary doctorates when he addressed Maine graduates in 1987.
This year's commencement was the university's largest, with 1,923 graduates, including 33 at the doctoral level.
"Maine, a blue state ..."
Maine is an Islamic State. They import Muslims and the taxes are out of control.
I'm not sure if he comes close to 1/10 but he does donate a lot. He's a big lefty but he puts a lot into the community here. He spoke out against the war but also donated a bunch of books to our troops returning home from the war. The local hospital would have waited much longer for a new pediatric unit without a big chunk of money from him. He has also put up a lot for sports, and the local library.
Concur your analysis. "The Stand" stands as probably the most exciting novel I've ever read. IMHO, Steven King peaked with this opus. I also read the updated version whilst lolling on the sands at Myrtle Beach in 1990.
http://www.stephenking.com/index_flash.php
oh his official website his faq describes him as a democrat but a christian
I like King. He writes some intersting stuff
I have read a great many of his books but none of the newer ones.Insomnia and The Green Mile were about the last.
Still like to read some of his short story collections.My favorite is the short story called "The Mist"(I think that is the title,without going to look).
A gifted and somewhat demented literary mind.
I live in Western New York. Here taxes are out of control, yet nearly every level of government is running huge deficits. Here, too, they are begging college graduates (heck, young people in general) to stay. Nevertheless, they are fleeing the state, heading for better opportunities - ususally to the red states. Good economies don't have to beg people to stay.
The STand is actually a haunting piece of work. I have only seen the movie; it is perhaps the only good stephen king movie out there.
I want to read the book although I am reading dreamcatcher at the moment.
At certain points in the movie "the stand" i got the feeling king might have a few conservative feelings. The movie was somewhat anti-big brother in parts.
Here, it's difficult to sympathize with right-to-lifers. The opposite story goes for choosers. Many readers found this bias unforgivable and felt pissed off at King. Although I share their point of view, I do not share their feelings.
All things serve the beam.
He pushed the "not one damn dime" while having construction done on his property the same day.
When Socialist Security starts taking less than 10% I will donate the difference. So now I just tell everyone I gave at the office.
My son and daughter-in-law left MA. to pursue what they thought would be a better way of life in Maine.Not so. She's an attorney who was making big bucks in Boston and took half when they moved to ME. He went to work for LL Bean. He's decided to go back to school for his MBA and they're moving back to MA. Salaries in ME are pretty pathetic.
They like the Maine lifestyle but wages and taxes just don't compute. MA might be a high tax state but frankly there are worse. They will do a whole lot better here.
As an aside...my former accountant recently advised me to avoid relocating back to Maine because of the back-breaking taxes. So why the hell would these students want to stick around?
Seriously, I have read every book in the series except for the last one--haven't got around to it yet. I've liked some of his other work better, but enjoyed the series.
King is a contrast. He's liberal. But unlike most liberals, he's generous to charities. He is pro choice. He is anti tax.
He likes baseball.
A screaming lefty.
He is very generous with his own money however, unusual for a lefty.
Maine is the highest taxed state in the union, and becoming more anti-business every day.
The state is like garlic to a werewolf for any business considering moving here, and is driving off existing businesses.
King seems unable to comprehend why local college graduates would run screaming from the scene.
BTW, if you made all your money out of state and you were a quadmillionaire, its a great place to live. Otherwise, you'll be lucky not ot be on food stamps.
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