<p>So, at S’s graduation last night he and the other Val both had to deliver very short speeches.
The first guy got up there and gave his little speech and at the end added a few lines about WMD and Bush’s IQ. Um, OK.
Then S had to follow amid thousands (literally) of boos. Luckily his speech had no controversy and lots of humor and the crowd laughed several times. </p>
<p>I’m guessing this is not the first time this has happened in recent years, but what are your thoughts on a kid doing that?</p>
<p>there is a way of being “politcal” without having to bring in a specific political view, or religious view for that matter, that kid that said if you didn’t believe in Jesus, so they needed to think about that, wel, he got booed as well</p>
<p>I am glad the audience booed. I find it amazing that any student would use a graduation platform as a basis to promote his or her personal agenda. What arrogance! I understand when guest politians get into politics since their political status is what got them the speaking invitation. Other than that, speakers should stick to topics outside of politics.</p>
<p>When I graduated from high school in 1972, one of my friends at the local boys school gave a moving graduation speech about opposing the Viet Nam war and the draft. It was met with stony silence by the most of parents and faculty, and sincere applause from the rest of us.</p>
<p>It’s hard to ignore the chance to have a bully pulpit.</p>
<p>Many schools insist that speeches be approved in advance for just these reasons.</p>
<p>They had to submit them to both their respective English teachers and the senior vice principal. I’m sure he did not include his last couple lines in that version.</p>
<p>well, Stublen didn’t really pull a “Michael Moore,” did he (if you mean by that a dig at the U.S. administration). Stublen actually addressed the traditional topic at hand – the experience of spending four years at his high school. As a graduate of Charlotte HS, and apparently a bright, active, participating student, Stublen was qualified to speak of that experience. He chose to express the dark side of his experience, rather than gloss over those things that needed to change. Frankly, I’m sickened by the vacuous nonsense that passes for a valedictorian address at most schools – but apparently a gushing speech is the only sort that passes inspection at most schools. How can we expect change if the expert witnesses are silenced?</p>
<p>I feel like the contrarian. I hate boring, canned speeches. If you are valedictorian, I believe you should be able to express what you believe,
popular or not. The remarks are associated with the speaker not the
audience. In my opinion, school newspapers are too edited for substance.
In the absence of racial epithets etc., the more committed the better.
Referring to dmd77, the student was passionate about his beliefs, and expressed them. His goal should have been to pursuade the audience.
He is allowed to be wrong.</p>
<p>This reminds me of the thread, valedictorian or menschadictorian. The latter expresses passion, the former expresses trite repetitious banter, so as not to offend. If you are not passionate about anything at 18, and valedictorian, G_d help us.</p>
<p>I’ve been thinking about what Michael Moore said at the Academy Awards in 2003. We were visiting Costa Rica at the time, a country we had lived in from 1994-1996. It was weird and a little unsettling going on vacation when a war was starting, and then we were out of touch for a week and when we met up with some Americans we really wanted to know how things were going (despite not supporting the war, we did have some idea that maybe it would be over in a few weeks). Anyhow, I recall Michael’s words about a “phony, made-up war.” And how glad I am now that he said them. Perhaps some of those valedictory speeches, when rerun years from now will seem quite wise. Dissent and contrary-ness is part of our national fabric, so if a speech is given that makes people squirm, as long as the speaker respects the audience, I don’t think that’s anything to get upset over.</p>