Salty

iTrader: (14)

somehow went there for business too. lol who knows...

Anyways, I went there for my sister-in-laws graduation from NYU. It's no Berkeley but it's damn close for those of you that didn't know.

Had the ceremony at Madison Square garden with a ton of family and friends of the graduates filling the seats. I was surprised as to how full it was.

So after about a full hour of the professors giving each other reach arounds on how wonderful they are, they wrapped up the professor's speeches with a professor from the political dept.

He was introduced by the Dean of Gallatin School as an accomplished blogger (lol) and someone who basically poured coffee for Clinton a few years back. Needless to say, it wasn't a very impressive resume for a professor.

So he starts his speech with, "Not much has changed since I graduated college... a man named Bush was President and our economy was in the toilet." The speech was bad. It also dealt with social issues as if they (the professors and students) were victims.

By the time he finished about 20 students from the middle isle gave him a staged standing ovation and one professor gave him a high five.

The funniest part about it is that hardly anyone in the huge audience clapped. About 80% of people had their arms crossed and those that did clap were reserved. Almost as if they were clapping because he finished his speech.

Why do people feel the need to stand on the soapbox when it's totally inappropriate? Here you have an audience that's put a child (or a couple children) through school at $30-$40k per year. And they think those parents care to listen to socialized and economic rhetoric when they've obviously worked hard enough to provide an education for their children? Save it for the weak and lazy.

HellaDumb

iTrader: (3)

My graduating class and quests were the victims of a similar liberal spewing.

One of the actors from MASH and the author of Dead Men Walking ranted about the death penalty... how inspirational!!!!!! WTF?

Needless to say, that college will never get another dime from me.

MVWRX

iTrader: (1)

Same thing happened at my UCLA graduation last spring. Even as a liberal person, I was peeved at the propaganda that was used. It turned the grad from everyone being happy to everyone being on the defensive. Definatly an overused and porely timed place for liberal propaganda.

gpatmac

iTrader: (3)

Indiana University isn't the largest University in the states, but the graduation is about 5 times the size of my hometown.

Anyhow, my parents went; I didn't.

I think they said Jane Pauley (alum) spoke.

Then, I wouldn't have cared much what would have been said. Now, I am highly sensitive about hearing anyone's 'opinion'. I don't believe anything I hear...until it's been soundly substantiated.

Anyone who starts off with "We're all victims because of GHW Bush..." creates an instant barrier to communication within myself. I have a tremendous distaste for Clinton, but even if a speaker or professor or whomever were to start of his speech the same way but talking about Clinton would turn off my internal microphone as well.

Salty

iTrader: (14)

Yeah.

And it's not just the left either.

I mean we can all agree that universities are primarily liberal. Even on a Jesuit campus for the most part. When I went to Subaruguru and my Wife's graduation from Georgetown University a few years back they had an awful speaker. It wasn't the person who was awful but the content of the speech was way inappropriate for a graduation.

It was Cardinal Francis Arinze of Nigeria who was a likely pick for Pope a few weeks back. The entire speech was extremely conservative. He tackled abortion with an iron fist and slammed homosexuality. Many people booed him and numerous letters were sent to the Georgetown faculty urging them to proof-read speeches in the future.

gpatmac

iTrader: (3)

The whole key to life is in eliminating anything and everything about your person that instantly creates barriers to communication.

There are many liberals and conservatives with good ideas and great intentions. Unfortunately, they aren't heard from because those that they are trying to convince immediately form some sort of barrier to communication based on first impression.

That's why this forum can be fairly interesting at times, because many of us generally know the political leanings of the others, and are quick to form the opinion that what the other guy has to say is to be disregarded because it's either liberal jargon or conservative mumbo jumbo. It gets interesting, though, when someone surprises you with an openness that you didn't see coming based on all of their previous posts.

dub2w

^^ great articulation. we should sticky that response above every thread! fo rizzle

1reguL8NSTi

COL McKnight spoke at my commissioning ceremony and I don't think I could have asked for a better speech. I don't think I had to worry about any socialist rants with a room full of military people.

FUNKED1

Graduation ceremonies are ***.

gh0st shad0w

iTrader: (9)

When people have a captive audience they feel the need to preach personal ideals upon them. Why is that you ask, well put simply no one will listen to them otherwise.


btw NYU & the village area kicks Berkley's **** ten fold
:captive audience and I'm spreading my dogma:

gpatmac

iTrader: (3)

Any of y'all remember the song by Baz Luhrmann that came out a few years back? I think if you're going to be giving a graduation speech with the intent of arming the graduates with some common sense experience you've gained through the years, that's the best way to do it.