US College campuses are too often an environment of intolerance, parochialism, and outright hate

[KarlGauss]

@Marley23

Whee, making up examples and then shooting them down is fun. You know that commencement speakers do not have to withdraw just because someone is protesting, right?

Well, if they would rather the students experience and remember the event as a non-confrontational, ‘enjoyable for all’ event, yes, they will withdraw rather than spoiling it by having what should be a day of celebration for all turn into a day of animosity.

Whee to you, too.

[Marley23]

@KarlGauss

That said, much of my sentiment noting intolerance, narrow-mindedness, and the like, still applies. Indeed, one expects to find more tolerance on a university campus than in almost any other place, not less.

One does: political protests are also tolerated, you see.

[MOIDALIZE]

It’s clearly a horrible attack on free speech that important people are being denied their right to receive lavish speaking fees for delivering generic platitudes to a disinterested audience.

[KarlGauss]

@Marley23

One does: political protests are also tolerated, you see.

You don’t think their speeches would be disrupted? Or are you suggesting that would that be an okay degree of political protest at a commencement speech at a university?

[silenus]

@KarlGauss

So, basically, at future commencement addresses, there will be no more politicians, or in fact, anyone who’s ever represented any government, or the military, or any other institution that may have done something deemed ‘evil’ by someone. That leaves who? Entertainers, scientists, . . . But wait, entertainer X offended that group in the comedy sketch he performed last year, and that scientist used to work for Dow, and well, we all know about Dow, and that mathematician was rumoured to work for the NSA, . . .

Sporting stars have a good future in more ways than one, it seems.

Or they could do away with the speeches completely and just get the ceremony over with. Nobody listens to commencement speeches anyway.

[Procrustus]

@KarlGauss

You don’t think their speeches would be disrupted? Or are you suggesting that would that be an okay degree of political protest at a commencement speech at a university?

I think protests are certainly possible without disruption:

More than 367,000 individuals signed The Cardinal Newman Society’s petition opposing President Obama’s 2009 commencement address and honorary degree from Notre Dame, and 83 Catholic bishops publicly criticized the honor. In 2004, the U.S. bishops approved a policy banning Catholic honors and platforms to individuals who oppose fundamental Catholic teachings.

[Marley23]

@KarlGauss

You don’t think their speeches would be disrupted?

My impression is that disruptions of actual speeches are less common than protests outside the venue or somewhere else on campus.

[KarlGauss]

@Marley23

My impression is that disruptions of actual speeches are less common than protests outside the venue or somewhere else on campus.

Well, that’s the answer to a different question. But at least it contains the implicit acknowledgement that the speech might be disrupted - something which a considerate commencement guest might wish to prevent or avoid.

[Marley23]

Yes, disrupting a commencement speech might be termed inconsiderate. That’s the same thing as parochial, intolerant, and outright hateful, right?

[KarlGauss]

@Marley23

Yes, disrupting a commencement speech might be termed inconsiderate. That’s the same thing as parochial, intolerant, and outright hateful, right?

If you believe that a commencement speech is a part, and an important, traditional one, of a celebratory day for all then, yes, its disruption for political purposes is exactly that.

[Inner_Stickler]

The school simply shouldn’t be choosing commencement speakers who are so politically volatile.

[Miller]

@KarlGauss

If you believe that a commencement speech is a part, and an important, traditional one, of a celebratory day for all then, yes, its disruption for political purposes is exactly that.

But if I don’t believe that, then I can protest a commencement speech, and it won’t be parochial, intolerant, and outright hateful?

Or are you trying to say that, if I protest a commencement speech that you’re attending, and you think a commencement speech is an important tradition, then my protest is hateful etc. But if you don’t think commencement speeches are important, then it isn’t. Right?

What if you and Marley are both at the commencement speech, and one of you thinks the speech is important, and the other doesn’t. Am I only half as hateful, as I would be if you and Marley both thought the speech was important?

Man, this is complicated.

[Buck_Godot]

Wait I need a score card…

Speaking at commencement = free speech
Criticizing the selection of a commencemnet speaker = hate and intolerance
Writing an article against the criticizing of commencement speakers = Free speech
Writing on a message board criticizing an article that criticizes those who criticize commencement speakers = ???

I need to know before I post.

[Marley23]

@KarlGauss

If you believe that a commencement speech is a part, and an important, traditional one, of a celebratory day for all then, yes, its disruption for political purposes is exactly that.

Being inconsiderate is nowhere close to being hateful. I’m sorry that weakens your claim, but at least it’s accurate.

[Buck_Godot]

The other thing to remember is that for most students commencement is the end result of 4 years of hard work, and something that they are only going to do once int their lives. I can empathize with those who are up in arms upon finding that this acknowledgment that all you have accomplished going forward is to be overseen by someone they personally deem to be a vile human being. Sort of like being told that Pat Robertson is going to officiate at your wedding.

For them this isn’t just any commencement address, it’s their commencement address.

[Voyager]

@KarlGauss

If you believe that a commencement speech is a part, and an important, traditional one, of a celebratory day for all then, yes, its disruption for political purposes is exactly that.

A speaker chosen to be part of a celebratory day shouldn’t be someone who is clearly going to be disliked by a large portion of the people celebrating, right?

I’d have to look it up, but I hope you were equally vehement about the Tea Party protesters at town meetings a while back.

[Voyager]

@silenus

Or they could do away with the speeches completely and just get the ceremony over with. Nobody listens to commencement speeches anyway.

Click & Clack gave the commencement address at MIT a while back. People listened to them. (MIT does not give out honorary degrees, by the way.)

[Omar_Little]

@Inner_Stickler

The school simply shouldn’t be choosing commencement speakers who are so politically volatile.

If this is really a growing trend, the fault lies with the school administration that is clearly out of touch with their current student population. Said administrators get a failing grade for connecting with their customers.

[BrainGlutton]

@Chief_Pedant

They’ll have fun with it; eventually join the work force, and realize that the intensity of college debate over Correct Thought has little to do with working for a living and being productive.

So? No one ever thought it did.

[The_Hamster_King]

@Omar_Little

If this is really a growing trend, the fault lies with the school administration that is clearly out of touch with their current student population. Said administrators get a failing grade for connecting with their customers.

Many college administrators see their primary goal as courting patronage from the rich and powerful. Serving the educational needs of the students is secondary. This courtier behavior extends to choosing commencement speakers. The primary motivation is landing a speaker who will burnish the reputation of the university among elite donors.