Commencement is the pinnacle of any student's academic career. The moment that caps your four (or so) years of cramming, partying, and growing as a person. It is a bitter sweet day for every student as you and your respective university are saying good-bye to each other. Now the actual ceremony is long and boring but is high-lighted by the orator. In bringing in the guest speaker the university presidents hope to send the soon to be alumni off with one last great memory.
The University of Notre Dame is one of America's most prestigous universities, and with that being said the university is also able to enlist the speaking skills of some of the most prominent and powerful people in the world. From Prime Ministers such as Lester Pearson (Canadian) to Presidents of foreign countries, Jose Napoleon Duarte (of El Salvador) and other high ranking officials in the government (J. Edgar Hoover). But the feathers that most likely stick out of their hats with the boldest colors are the United States Presidents. Notre Dame students have been fortunate enough to have five Presidents speak at their commencement. John F. Kennedy, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, Dwight Eisenhower and George W. Bush have all take to the podium. It is without a doubt an astonishing list that this year became more astonishing when Notre Dame president, Fr. John Jenkins, named current president Barack Obama the speaker for the 2009 spring commencement. The resume of a Barack Obama speaks for itself and does not need to be stated here. Which ever side your political views fall on, be it left right or in the middle, I would hope you would agree Obama and his story are incredible. Therefore making those students, who have the opportunity to sit and listen to inspirational and promising words from the President, some of the luckiest people in America.
But not everyone sees it that way. Infact there are some 200,000+ online petitioners within the Notre Dame community who have expressed disappointment and even outrage to the extent of a boycott. Being a liberal Catholic such a reaction from the community is lost on me, but had my political views or religion do not influence my thoughts on the subject whatsoever. Just like actor/comedian Sasha Baron Cohen did not represent what Harvard stands for when he spoke to their graduating class in character as Ali G (one of his personas).
The invitation of Barack Obama to speak is in no way shape or form a reflection of the views held at Notre Dame. Obama is not using the stage provided to fundraise or push any certain agenda, he merely accepted an invitation to help create a memorable experience for the Notre Dame seniors. And that is what faculty like Ralph McInery forget when they claim, "Notre Dame has forfieted its right to call itself a Catholic University." Or when South Bend Bishop John D'Arcy calls for a boycott and denounces the choice made by the university president.
Thankfully the students were not forgotten by Fr. Jenkins, instead he has used reason in stating that although Obama the school and church do not agree with all the policies of a Obama, it is still an extreme priviledge to be able to host him at their commencement. He understands as all those who are up in arms that there is no one who is a better choice for this honor than Obama.
The inability of those to cast their political views aside is just flat out sad. Differing with Obama's politics is one thing but pick and choose where and when you fight that political battle. If you're in opposition to Obama's views join a picket line, write your senator, draw a light on the issue without stealing the thunder of graduates who have worked extremely hard to reach this, the students. Soapboxes come in all shapes, sizes and forms but this is not a soapbox. So I recommend all of those grandstanding against this invitation step down and let the students have their moment and show some respect.
3 comments:
I agree with Beans, but i do not fault the priest or the other 200,000+ for taking issue with Obama speaking. I think it's great that Notre Dame is trying to distance itself from an old way of thinking about Catholicism;one that adheres to such a rigid and strict doctrine and subsequently dictates all of the university's administrative actions.
But if you're that priest, and I'm assuming he's been there for a while, ND used to represent everything that was Catholic, and it took pride in representing Catholicism on all fronts first, and adapting their administrative policies to that. Even though that sounds regressive, that is straight up what strict Catholics believe in, the University has just progressed at a quicker rate than the priest.
Though he is wrong because the rough times we are in demand progressive thinking and action, I'm glad he spoke up because otherwise, it would have been just another great man and president added to the list of ND commencement speakers. This reminds us, that religious views on morality still permeate through American minds. I think Obama is so likable, and so fervent on fixing the economic crisis, that his controversiel views on moral issues go unnoticed from time to time.
Like the views of other presidents Notre Dame has invited, Obama's views do not completely match Catholic doctrine. But a university depends upon having an environment in which academic freedom prevails. A Catholic university's identity must stand on the values it promotes, not the ideas it bans.
well said, Beto.
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