Clearly, these people are going to hell:
Calvin College may be predominantly Republican, but a visit from President George W. Bush on Saturday is stirring up some discontent among students, faculty and alumni…
And about 100 students are expected to adorn their graduation gowns with armbands and buttons bearing the slogan: “God is not a Republican or Democrat.”
“I’m definitely worried about a Christian school being affiliated with the Christian right,” said Elise Elzinga, a 22-year-old Lambertville resident who will graduate Saturday with a degree in political science and international relations.
Four years of college, and she doesn’t know anything. If you don’t vote for everything the GOP believes in at the moment- you can’t believe in God.
BTW- I should add I do think these guys are jerks for protesting at all- I would have been thrilled to have Bush or Clinton or anyone like that at my graduation, but I do find it somehow amusing the religious wars the nuts in my party have started is getting thrown back in their faces.
*** Update ***
Now, I don’t know about you, but when the President does anything, it’s political. It’s pretty damn impossible for the highest-ranking elected politician in the land to make any series of public statements and not bring all of his political baggage with him. And to answer John’s accusation that they’re jerks for protesting – one of the big things about being the President is that you’re the President wherever you go. Particularly when you’re invited somewhere by virtue of being President and are most likely coming to aid your stature as President. Now, I believe he has the right to speak, but our Constitution doesn’t have a “be quiet and be honored clause” for political speech. They’re not jerks. They’re Americans.
True enough- maybe jerks is too harsh. But then again, being a jerk and being an American are not mutually exclusive. I am, after all, exhibit A.
At any rate, I think it is in bad taste, and love ’em or hate ’em, Bush speaking will be memorable and they should consider themselves lucky to have such an A-list speaker. We had Mr. Rogers at a recent commencement at WVU. I don’t even remember who spoke at my graduation. although I do remember being out until 5 am, so there is a good chance I wouldn’t have remembered anyway. That and I found out a week before graduation I was missing a cluster and had to go to school for 6 more weeks in the summer to take “The History of American Women,” so I was in a generally surly mood anyway.
RW
Actually, it’s the NYT editorial page that told you so.
Speaking of telling, that’s rather telling.
Neo
Another great example of the tolerance and open mindedness that we should all have in this great country.
The irony in this story goes in all directions.
Jay
What a bunch of whiny babies. Here’s a chance to have the President of the United States speak at their graduation and yet they’re the ones choosing to make this a political event.
TJ Jackson
Such open minded individuals. And they call themselves Christians?
Sav
I can’t find where Frist said anything like that either.
Meanwhile, one of the Dems biggest lobby groups, NARAL, is looking through the financial records of Bush judicial nominees. Why?
Naral is is concerned about “out of touch theological activists” becoming judges according to Naral president Nancy Keenan.
Good to know religion plays no part in this.
Nash
Richard Lugar was the speaker at my high school graduation. He was still mayor of unigov Indy at the time. I leave it to you to do the math, if you like.
FredW
My understanding was that it was Bush who initiated things: that is, the White House called and said Bush wants to come and speak. Of course, they said yes — think of all the free publicity. Not that makes a big deal, but I am a picker of nits.
FredW
My understanding was that it was Bush who initiated things: that is, the White House called and said Bush wants to come and speak. Of course, they said yes — think of all the free publicity. Not that makes a big deal, but I am a picker of nits.
Nancy
Justice Harry Blackmun delivered the commencement address at my graduation from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1979.
He was A list alright. In what is a large moment for most graduates, we ( and our family and friends) had to walk a gautlet of screaming protesters to enter the graduation.
They must have organized because I think every protester had a fake bloody infant, charming.
Nancy
Justice Harry Blackmun delivered the commencement address at my graduation from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1979.
He was A list alright. In what is a large moment for most graduates, we ( and our family and friends) had to walk a gautlet of screaming protesters to enter the graduation.
They must have organized because I think every protester had a fake bloody infant, charming.