The Silencing of Dissent on Graduation Day

[willy_ph]

This is unbelievable. In a part of society that ought to possess open minds, a New York Times reporter was silenced as a result of his beliefs and research before he even managed to get his message across. Absolutely incredible.

Linky

[M_Six]

More blind stupidity disguised as patriotism.

I've heard that if you put a frog in a pan of water and turn up the heat, the frog will sit happily in the pan and boil to death. He never realizes the trouble he's in until it's too late. Many, many "patriots" in the US are like the frog. Pretty scary.

[ben-the-slacker]

What an a-hole

[vass0922]

Hmm I'm wondering whos making comments against whom here...
Willy seems to be on the side of the speaker having a chance to speak his mind (correct me if I'm wrong) while M Six and ben seem to be on teh side of the students.

Myself I think they hired the WRONG person to do a commencement altogether. IMO a graduation commencement should hire a speaker that can focus on the strenghts and achievements of others. Whereas this guy a KNOWN outspoken Anti War person that has just released a book was hired to do it and instead of focusing on positives, focused on the failures of others *in his opinion*. While yes he has full rights to speak his mind I really dont' believe a graduation commencement was the correct place to do this. Not to mention they said he took like over an hour for this thing Give me a break, its a commencement not a lecture. I think the whole situation was just heading for bad news from the beginning they hired the WRONG person IMO.
He shouldnt' of been there in the first place.

[Cyclone2]

Have to agree completely with Vass on this one.........they picked the wrong guy to have a commencement speech.
He should be a Rah Rah cheerleader or someone to aspire to be telling his/her tale, not someone lecturing them with their one-sided beliefs especially on a subject as potentially volitile as that

[Siliconjunkie]

I am amazed that the school didnt want a copy of his speach upfront to make sure it was "appropriate".

[osprey4]

It should be pointed out that this is happening to speakers on all sides of the issue. So let's not get to giddy just because it a NYT reporter.

[M_Six]

...correct me if I'm wrong

You are most definitely wrong about me, vass, although reading my post again now, I can see where it could be taken either way. My apologies.

I feel that those who refuse to listen to dissent on the grounds of "patriotism" are more dangerous than those who dissent. But in this case, I think you have a valid point. This wasn't the best choice for a commencement speaker. A commencement speaker should leave the graduating students with a sense of hope and excitement for the future, not a sense of shame for the past.

[Theophylact]

Did anybody bother to read Chris Hedges' commencement speech, or his book War is a Force That Gives Us Meaning? If you did, you'd know that he's no blind antiwar liberal but someone who has seen war firsthand, many times, in the worst places in the world, and understands its dreadful attraction.

Those who tried to silence him, the college Administration that hustled him away for his "protection" but did nothing to stop the offenders, and those who defend the silencers in the name of patriotism are enemies of academic freedom, freedom of speech, and the liberties that make America a worthwhile country in the first place. And to those of you who approve his muzzling: look back at the leftwing hecklers of the sixties who silenced speakers like Robert MacNamara and remember what you said about them.

Hypocrite lecteur, mon semblable, mon frère...

[Mntsnow]

People & students were perfectly within their rights in boo-ing him off stage.

What a freaking A-hole to do that type of speech at a graduation.....Futhering HIS own agenda....

Lets not forget who caused the grief and commotion to start with people concerning this issue :rolleyes in disgust at ny reporter/speaker: