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May 23, 2006
Player of the Week - 5/22 - Jean Rohe
This is graduation season in colleges all across the country. Distinguished individuals receive honorary degrees, and graduates sit through sometimes interesting and more oftentimes boring ceremonies and speeches extolling the virtues of hard work, promises of journeys to unknown destinations, the value of friends and family, hopes and dreams, plus all the other usual stuff. Very occasionally however, something unusual happens. Whether a protest, a speech, or some unforeseen occurrence, the commencement transforms into a special event. At The New School, in New York City, that happened. Jean Rohe, one of two student speakers, re-wrote her speech and spoke directly to Sen. John McCain, confronting his record and the appropriateness of his speech at commencement. She contended that his remarks had more to do with a Presidential political campaign than a graduation ceremony. In addition, she felt that his intended remarks were anti-thetical to the values of the school. It was a reasoned speech and remarkable for its audacity and honesty. (HP)
Senator Mc Cain will also tell us about his cocky self-assuredness in his youth, which prevented him from hearing the ideas of others. In so doing, he will imply that those of us who are young are too naive to have valid opinions and open ears. I am young, and although I don't profess to possess the wisdom that time affords us, I do know that preemptive war is dangerous and wrong, that George Bush's agenda in Iraq is not worth the many lives lost. And I know that despite all the havoc that my country has wrought overseas in my name, Osama bin Laden still has not been found, nor have those weapons of mass destruction.
The speech created quite a stir. Seldom does a student confront such a celebrated, and invited guest. The reaction was swift on both the left and right. Those on the left congratulated her for her courage and honesty, while those on the right vehemently attacked her as an immature radical. What else would you expect from such a liberal institution in New York City? Perhaps her actions would have been more remarkable at a school outside of New York, especially one which is not considered so radical. However, it was a significant speech, which should make all of us think more about our political actions, or lack thereof. Jean wins this week's Political Sports Player of the Week Award.
Posted by Chip Spear at May 23, 2006 8:46 AM
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