Ok, so I happen to be at the Yale University graduation this past weekend where Bush was giving the commencement speech. Apparently, a lot of students and guests felt that since Bush was giving the speech, it was an opportunity to make their voices heard in protest.
Now, I am of the opinion that the graduation ceremony is their to celebrate the accomplishments of the graduates and shouldn’t be used as a political forum, regardless of what you think of the speaker. I’m pretty sure if I saw someone running around at my graduation with a placard and T-shirt, I would have been tempted to punch him in the head.
So my question is, do you think it’s appropriate to use someone else’s graduation ceremony to voice your political opinions?
It would be appropriate if the school’s owner allowed it, but not otherwise. In the case of so-called “public property”, the matter is hopelessly unclear.
Isn’t it also the protestors’ ceremony (assuming the protestors are students)? The choice of commencement speakers sometimes involves a political choice, so why not shouldn’t students be allowed to express themselves? That doesn’t mean they should be allowed to disrupt the ceremony, but protesting can be done without disruption.
Also, I think it’s appropriate for this topic to be in IMHO.
Libertarian - It’s not ‘public property’. A park is public property. Yale University is a private college.
I am not sure if they should actually be prevented from protesting (unless its distruptive). I don’t even have a problem with subtle protests like a ‘Lower Taxes’ sticker on your cap. I just think it’s a little rude to show up in a ratty protest T-shirt or with a big sign with a plastic fetus nailed to it (didn’t actually see this one, I’m just arguing the principle of it).
The way I see it, it sends a message “Congratulations on your degree, however, I just want to draw attention away from you for a little bit so I can forward my cause.” It just seems rude somehow.
It was a general question for (less than great) debate, not a statement of my personal oppinion. I’m sure the moderators would move it if they felt it was appropriate.
Some possible GQ questions would be: “What are some examples of political protest at other graduations?” or “What is the history of graudation protests?”
A possible GD question would be: “Is protest at graduation really an effective vehicle for whatever causes the protestors support?”
But
is IMHO material. I’m sure a mod will be along shortly.
“<i>So my question is, do you think it’s appropriate to use someone else’s graduation ceremony to voice your political opinions?</i>”
If it is someone else’s ceremony, then no, I don’t. But I think the students that are graduating have every right to protest.
But what I think is even worse than a political protest of the commencement speaker, is a commencement speaker that uses the speech as a political podium. For instance, Bush the younger’s speech commencement speech on Sunday at Notre Dame was nearly irrelevant in a graduation setting. Even worse was Bush the older’s 1992 commencement speech at Notre Dame, which was just a rehash of his stump speech during the election.
If the school you’re going to speak at is going to give you a degree, the least you can do is spend a few hours to earn it. God knows the people you’re speaking to have spent a few more hours to earn THEIR degree.