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[mrunionjack]

I think its stupid how upset people are getting over Barack Obama as ND's selection for a graduation speaker. They should only be so fortunate to have him as a speaker during his first year of Presidency. It hasn't been a year and the man has been to our state twice already! Atleast this time its for a joyous occasion (unlike his visit to Elkhart

Comments

[saurencaerthai]

Unfortunately, it seems that the Catholic faction views embryonic stem cell research, an area that could cure many diseases that until now are uncurable, as genocide on a massive scale.

[a_new_machine]

I don't think it's a sign of lower intellect to think that an institution you support with your money, and whose name will brand a large part of your career, should not have, as a speaker and presumed model for its students, an individual with values that are dissonant with those of that institution. That was an awful sentence, but the point stands. Obama's stances on stem cell research and abortion are anathema to the Catholic Church, and people have the right to be disappointed that their institution is granting him a platform to speak, especially as a graduation speaker.

Just because there's something to learn from someone, does not mean that we are required to give him an honored platform from which to lecture. That's generally why we have teachers, and why I don't need to dig up Churchill to learn anything useful from him.

[mrunionjack]

Digging up Churchill could be fun though, just think of those late night hours...the crows...nevermind.

Anyways, I see your point, but I think people are making too big of a deal. I don't know if you've been following the situation at all, but we're talking students want to storm the President's office, etc. and there are some pretty violent discussions for anti-Obama demonstrations at graduation.

The point is, a graduation speaker isn't necessarily coming to push their political views. A couple of the older students heard George Bush give a graduation speech here a couple years back, and they said that he actually gave a really good speech, contrary to how he is portrayed in the media.

Anywho, I digress, yet welcome further discussion on this topic.

[a_new_machine]

So, if I might have the opportunity to make a comparison that might be unjustified: If David Duke got a good speechwriter, and gave a speech about how you should save money rather than spend it, would you think UHa students were unjustified in a similarly violent response? You have to remember, abortion to ardent Catholics is not a political issue, it is *murder.* The exact equivalent of me knifing you repeatedly (worse, your mother is paying me to do it). Same for stem cell research. Political support for abortion is equivalent, in their mind, to trying to make murders that take place after 2AM legal - a mere quibbling over irrelevant details of time

[roneldad]

Hey, we in Elkhart take great pride in our city's unemployment. We celebrating his awarding us the Best in Lost Jobs for 2008 award.

As for visiting NDU, no question they would've allowed Sen. Clinton to speak and she supports the very same policies in question.

If a foreign terrorist supporting president like Ahmadinejad can be allowed to come speak on our soil, than why not the President of our own nation?