# Brandon Rosario takes the piss out of Jews, gays, women, activists and valedictorians **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 28, 2008, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brandon-rosario-takes-the-piss-out-of-jews-gays-women-activists-and-valedictorians/447188 "2008-04-28T04:37:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2008, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brandon-rosario-takes-the-piss-out-of-jews-gays-women-activists-and-valedictorians/447188/1 "2008-04-28T04:37:37Z")
This debate is pretty obvious. [Here](http://www.canada.com/ch/cheknews/news/story.html?id=9e990dab-2f1a-4c68-a161-c6ca913be8aa&k=93426) is a news article explaining it, and you can see a YouTube video of the speech [here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZoolnsmQ04&eurl=http://lj-toys.com/?journalid=1463561&moduleid=1935&auth_token=sessionless:1209355200:embedcontent:1463561iurl=http://i.ytimg.com/vi/aZoolnsmQ04/default.jpg). So, did he go too far? I for one think he was great, but we do live in a world where people get offended over the stupidest things, and believe that because they are offended that their feelings must be catered to\*. What are your thoughts here? \*Personally, I realize that everyone gets offended at times, the correct response is to just DEAL WITH IT. IMO the mark of maturity is to be able to deal with it in an appropriate way, usually by ignoring it if it was obviously unintentional, discussing it with the offending party if you think it’s more than that or by avoiding that person in the future if it’s a serious offense. Public pronouncements of anger or hatred and demands for retribution are, IMO, childish and pointless, a very immature way of handling offense. This is just MHO, of course. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2008, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brandon-rosario-takes-the-piss-out-of-jews-gays-women-activists-and-valedictorians/447188/2 "2008-04-28T11:56:56Z")
Anyone offended by that deserves to be. The kid has a brilliant career ahead of him! ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2008, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brandon-rosario-takes-the-piss-out-of-jews-gays-women-activists-and-valedictorians/447188/3 "2008-04-28T12:12:29Z")
Did he get to be valedictorian? Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2008, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brandon-rosario-takes-the-piss-out-of-jews-gays-women-activists-and-valedictorians/447188/4 "2008-04-28T12:51:38Z")
American films and TV had taught me that valedictorians are the people who do the best on tests and things - is voting for them a new thing? I thought it was pretty funny, and I don’t think it was all that offensive. It was tongue in cheek mockery. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2008, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brandon-rosario-takes-the-piss-out-of-jews-gays-women-activists-and-valedictorians/447188/5 "2008-04-28T12:55:29Z")
[QUOTE=Shodan] Did he get to be valedictorian? [/QUOTE] He lost the election (and I’ve never heard of an election for valedictorian either). No word on whether or not his parents will sue the school to have the results overturned. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2008, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brandon-rosario-takes-the-piss-out-of-jews-gays-women-activists-and-valedictorians/447188/6 "2008-04-28T13:05:39Z")
It is sad, frankly, that the question is even raised. ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2008, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brandon-rosario-takes-the-piss-out-of-jews-gays-women-activists-and-valedictorians/447188/7 "2008-04-28T13:20:11Z")
[QUOTE=Revenant Threshold] American films and TV had taught me that valedictorians are the people who do the best on tests and things - is voting for them a new thing? [/QUOTE] I think that what was being voted for was commencement speaker. As I understand it, with all of the extra credit, AP and college level courses offered now, some schools wind up with a plethora of valedictorians, all carrying 4.0 GPAs. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2008, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brandon-rosario-takes-the-piss-out-of-jews-gays-women-activists-and-valedictorians/447188/8 "2008-04-28T14:43:06Z")
> [@](#): > > Anybody who knows me knows they can separate what I say from who I am. Anybody who says I’m anti-gay doesn’t know me. I have nothing against gays or anybody else I mentioned. When is the wall going to be broken down? When is it going to be OK to make fun of things. When you’re giving a speech it’s important to know your audience. Does the audience in fact know him well enough to separate what he says from who he is? Generally you don’t just give speeches to people you know you give them to all sorts of people you don’t know. In the case of a valedictorian this would include family members who show up for the graduation ceremony. It was a good speech but perhaps this wasn’t the best opportunity to try out his material. That said, investigation? Seems like a waste of time and I doubt anything will come of it. Marc ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2008, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brandon-rosario-takes-the-piss-out-of-jews-gays-women-activists-and-valedictorians/447188/9 "2008-04-28T14:49:22Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] He lost the election (and I’ve never heard of an election for valedictorian either). No word on whether or not his parents will sue the school to have the results overturned. [/QUOTE] The student himself does not appear bitter about the loss at all: [QUOTE=the linked article] In the end, the Belmont graduating class voted for candidate Craig Lequesne. “I’m really happy about it,” Brandon said. “He’s got a great personality. He’s a good speaker, and he’s done a lot for the school. He’s actually who I voted for.” [/QUOTE] I kinda like the kid. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2008, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brandon-rosario-takes-the-piss-out-of-jews-gays-women-activists-and-valedictorians/447188/10 "2008-04-28T14:50:29Z")
[QUOTE=NinetyWt] The student himself does not appear bitter about the loss at all: [/QUOTE] I know, and personally - without having viewed the speech - I’m strongly in his corner. I was making a joke about a well-publicized case from a couple of years ago wherein a student sued her school district for the reason I mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2008, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brandon-rosario-takes-the-piss-out-of-jews-gays-women-activists-and-valedictorians/447188/11 "2008-04-28T15:05:16Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] I I was making a joke about a well-publicized case from a couple of years ago wherein a student sued her school district for the reason I mentioned. [/QUOTE] How sad is it that I expect people to do that type thing now? No one case stands out - I took your comment as a generic bash of such practices. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2008, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brandon-rosario-takes-the-piss-out-of-jews-gays-women-activists-and-valedictorians/447188/12 "2008-04-28T15:20:52Z")
I haven’t watched the video, but from the article I would have to say he has little common sense. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2008, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brandon-rosario-takes-the-piss-out-of-jews-gays-women-activists-and-valedictorians/447188/13 "2008-04-28T15:32:18Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] I know, and personally - without having viewed the speech - I’m strongly in his corner. I was making a joke about a well-publicized case from a couple of years ago wherein a student sued her school district for the reason I mentioned. [/QUOTE] I remember that case. The school was trying to say her bonus grades didn’t count because she had so much extra time on tests and projects due to an Asperger’s diagnosis or something. I believe she was home schooled for the majority of her high school career as well, meaning that the tests she took were not the same as the other kids and that the school was in the right to name someone else valedictorian. She was later kicked out of college for plagarizing a paper. I smiled a bit at that one. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2008, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brandon-rosario-takes-the-piss-out-of-jews-gays-women-activists-and-valedictorians/447188/14 "2008-04-29T05:00:13Z")
It’s not the speech that I object to. A little humor and a healthy attitude can go a long way. It’s the way your post is worded, **Weirddave.** – all of the vinegar and none of the wit. ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2008, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brandon-rosario-takes-the-piss-out-of-jews-gays-women-activists-and-valedictorians/447188/15 "2008-04-29T06:38:13Z")
[QUOTE=Zoe] It’s not the speech that I object to. A little humor and a healthy attitude can go a long way. It’s the way your post is worded, **Weirddave.** – all of the vinegar and none of the wit. [/QUOTE] Gee, I’m sorry. Better vote for someone else for commencement speaker then. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2008, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brandon-rosario-takes-the-piss-out-of-jews-gays-women-activists-and-valedictorians/447188/16 "2008-04-29T07:24:34Z")
I 'unno, the speech is a little too close to stereotypical white guy rage about how the black lesbian paraplegic is getting preferential job treatment. I got a mild chuckle here and there, but nothing I’d consider particularly shocking or particularly clever. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2008, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brandon-rosario-takes-the-piss-out-of-jews-gays-women-activists-and-valedictorians/447188/17 "2008-04-29T07:46:59Z")
I agree. I kinda wish I had my seven minutes back. It wasn’t very fresh, it didn’t offer a new perspective, it didn’t really make a point other than that the speaker is not particularly active in his school. Frankly, I found it rather boring. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2008, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brandon-rosario-takes-the-piss-out-of-jews-gays-women-activists-and-valedictorians/447188/18 "2008-04-29T19:44:56Z")
> [@](#): > > Personally, I realize that everyone gets offended at times, the correct response is to just DEAL WITH IT. IMO the mark of maturity is to be able to deal with it in an appropriate way, usually by ignoring it if it was obviously unintentional, discussing it with the offending party if you think it’s more than that or by avoiding that person in the future if it’s a serious offense. Wise words. I remember how you said the same things during the recent discussions about Jeremiah Wright. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2008, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brandon-rosario-takes-the-piss-out-of-jews-gays-women-activists-and-valedictorians/447188/19 "2008-04-29T20:35:18Z")
I was bored too. But I’ve been such a grump lately I figured it was me or the mood I was in. (Heck, it still could be.) ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2008, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brandon-rosario-takes-the-piss-out-of-jews-gays-women-activists-and-valedictorians/447188/20 "2008-04-29T21:09:48Z")
I am disappointed that I didn’t get to see the nice rack. The video camera panned around, but then just went back to him. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brandon-rosario-takes-the-piss-out-of-jews-gays-women-activists-and-valedictorians/447188.md?page=2)