Replies

Letters to the Editor of the Globe, from earlier this week:

May 8, 2006

AS A STUDENT at Boston College, I find myself with conflicting views toward the impending commencement speech and honorary degree for Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (''Invitation to Rice debated at BC," May 3.) While I support free speech and acknowledge that Rice is a good role model for women, especially African-Americans, I believe that this decision by the BC administration is not purely motivated.

This past year, many have noted the college's increased valuing of a Jesuit education and policies in line with the teachings of the Catholic Church. However, the administration has become increasingly hypocritical in terms of what groups it allows to be heard on campus. For example, most attempts by prochoice or gay-rights groups to organize in an official capacity have been shut down. Now, possibly the third most influential person in the Bush administration, which is responsible for a war denounced by the Church, is about to receive an honorary degree. This essentially condones her actions; I strongly oppose the decision and hope that BC realizes the hypocrisy.

CHRISTINA MARSHALL
Watertown

I AM GRADUATING from Boston College on May 22 with a master's degree in nursing. Condoleezza Rice is an amazing woman with a string of impressive accomplishments and skills. I wouldn't mind a seat next to her at a dinner party, but I do not want her representing me or my graduating class. For those of us who are shocked by BC's choice, we are forced to choose between attending our own party (one we have earned, paid for, and deserve) or conceding that the BC corporate machine has again disappointed us and declining official celebration. It's not right. As my mother asked when I told her who the speaker is, ''Would it be poor etiquette to be both the mother of a graduate and a protester?" Mom is coming into town for my graduation. She'll be spending the morning at the IHOP on Soldier's Field Road. Now I need to decide where I'll be.

AMY O'MEARA
Newton

THE FALLOUT resulting from Rice's selection to deliver this year's commencement speech at Boston College seems highly politicized when juxtaposed with an unopposed 2004 commencement speech at BC's law school that was delivered by Walter Dellinger, a law professor at the Duke University School of Law who served in the Clinton administration. Dellinger has championed NARAL Pro-Choice America's cause and chaired NARAL's 1992 commission to defend Roe v. Wade in direct conflict with Roman Catholic values. Are we therefore witnessing another dissenting group struggling to maintain the religious character of a Catholic institution or another virulent strain of red state-blue state discord?

MARK D. CONSTANCE
Roxbury

increasingly hypocritical [snip] For example, most attempts by prochoice or gay-rights groups to organize in an official capacity have been shut down. Now [a person] responsible for a war denounced by the Church [snip] hypocrisy.

CHRISTINA

Dear Christina,
Abortion is a mortal sin, sodony is a sin no bible based church will condone sin. A nation figthing at war after being attacked is not a sinful, it leaders are not commiting a sin by choising to fight. Maybe "the church" does not like the war, what chruch does, but fighting a war is not a sin. Simple as that, no hypocrisy here.

Mom is coming into town for my graduation. She'll be spending the morning at the IHOP on Soldier's Field Road. Now I need to decide where I'll be. AMY O'MEARA, Newton

Dear Amy. Cry me a river, babe. When I graduated from BC in 1993, we had Queen Noor of Jordan as our commencement speaker--and a more vapid, self-serving, socialist-laden heap of platitudinous poppycock I have never heard.

I don't agree with Condi Rice on every issue. But she is 100x the woman anyone currently on the faculty at BC ever could be. You should be counting your blessings rather than wondering if you should be hanging out with your moon-bat mom at IHOP.