The fall-out from an incompetent and war-loving President.
As a freshman at Furman University, I have been surrounded by the ongoing debate about President Bush speaking at Furman's graduation ceremony May 31.
As you might know, more than 200 faculty and students (but mostly faculty) have signed a petition titled "(W)e Object" in protest of his coming to commencement, citing reasons such as the Iraq war and the economic deficit as grounds for basing said petition. Rumors that faculty might boycott the graduation have only fanned the flames. Obviously, such a protest has caused no small dissension among and between Furman faculty and students.
Although I am not graduating, I can see the problem many of the Furman seniors have with the faculty objecting the president coming to the campus. It seems to me that graduation should be about the students who are graduating, and I think it is only right that the professors who invested their time and effort into these students should show them respect by coming to graduation and sharing in such an important event in their lives.
I will concede that there are many Americans who disagree with much of what Bush has done during his past two presidential terms, but I hardly think that attending graduation endorses or supports what he has done or his presidency.
Of course the faculty and students do not have to agree with President Bush, but the least they can do is respect the office he represents, and respect the students who have put in the time and money over their four years at Furman.
Will Wright, Evans
Comments
The fall-out from an incompetent and war-loving President.
Very well said Mr. Wright. I have been disappointed in President Bush's performance and disagree with his handling of many issues. However, he is the PRESIDENT, the highest office holder in the land! There should never be protests about his appearance at any non-political event. Regardless of party affiliation, your faculty needs to show respect to the office, and as you have stated, to their students. At some point, we have got to start having respect for each other again, or a respectful discourse will never happen.
Very well said too. Aunox.
Nonsense. The right to protest is a basic American right and the President is not exempt.
Posted by aunox on Wed May 28, 2008 7:28 AM "There should never be protests about his appearance at any non-political event." He will talk about the wars and the economy and he will infuse his ramblings with other political carping about those that disagree with his wisdom free decisions
Nice letter Will, whoever thought a former all-area defensive back would have such concerns. If the faculty protest, maybe Bush should hand out the degrees and call out the names of the graduates too.
Crackertroy implies that Bush can read. Reading the graduates' names would be one form of public humiliation, although that hasn't yet stopped Bush. A better form of protest, instead of a boycott, would be a well-organized, majority-supported loud and resounding "Boo" when Bush is introduced and continued until he has to leave the stage. A very public, visible, and humiliating outcry, not allowing him to speak, might send him home with some more realistic public opinion on his performance and let him know how unwelcome he is. Once Bush has left, the Furman graduates can resume with the dignified ceremony they deserve, supported by their faculty and fellow students.
I see where the former press secretary has now jumped ship as well in his new book. What a mess we have.
I see where the former press secretary has now jumped ship as well in his new book. What a mess we have.
GoGreen, on Rants and Raves you say you broke your silence and posted along with others, whon you have demeaned. Then you post garbage like the above. I find that to be quiet ironic.
GoGreen that is possibly the worst advice I have ever read in my entire life. Even if you do not respect the man, you should respect the office and country that he represents and show a proper level of decorum and respect. Why would you ruin someone's graduation just to display your personal political views? That is so selfish and yet so typical of today's thinking.
Apparently, only conservatives are the grown-ups in this scenario. They don't stand up like whiny little {female dogs} when a liberal speaks at a commencement. .....which happens ALL THE TIME. Guess to liberals, they're supposed to be allowed because it's their God-Given right. Conservatives? Oh, hell no. We're supposed to just sit back and be quiet, right? Liberalism, All for me, none for thee. Hypocritical {something I'm not allowed to say}.
Let me get this straight...You want a President to come to your graduation and talk about political issues rather than encourage you to what you are about to face for the rest of your life? And graduation means absolutely NOTHING to you, I would never don a gown and cap for some political agenda!
We don't know that his speech will carry a political agenda. What I heard of his Memorial Day speech did not. Oh, by the way, I did hear a political speech at a regular assembly meeting at my college my freshman year by Teddy Kennedy. Granted it was not graduation, thank goodness. He was proclaiming all of the reasons we should be in Viet Nam fighting against the threat of Communism and discussing how he had been so wrong to be against us being there before his brother was elected President. Define the word politician.
The only one they need: http://boortz.com/more/commencement.html
The Augusta Chronicle ©2012. All Rights Reserved.
