When we open our hearts and our minds to those who may not think like we do or believe what we do — that’s when we discover at least the possibility of common ground.
– President Barack Obama, Notre Dame graduation ceremony
Isn’t it funny how when liberals come to campus voicing controversial views, there are immediate calls for civility. For the most part, Barack Obama was afforded such civility. The mainstream media covered this speech, for the most part to see if the president would be treated rudely or not.
Notre Dame president Father John Jenkins began the commencement by calling for civility during these kinds of controversial campus visits.
We honor all people of good will who have come to this discussion respectfully and out of deeply held conviction.
Too bad most college officials seldom practice what they preach.
When conservatives are invited to speak on campus, is the media so eager to witness the typical liberal rudeness? How many times have we seen on CBS, NBC, ABC, MSNBC, or CNN, conservative and/or Republican speakers heckled, shouted down, and sometimes pied by those who refuse to seek such common ground?
Was President Obama booed? Did students opposing his message stand and turn their backs at him as has been done numerous times to President George W. Bush for the speech’s duration? For the most part, no. Christian students who opposed his receipt of an honorary degree didn’t behave (en coordinated masse) in such a typically rude manner towards Barack Obama. The Notre Dame students opposing him showed civility; they very civility the left never granted President Bush.
So, while the president of Notre Dame patted his university’s back for it’s embrace of the self-celebrated ‘free exchange of ideas”, it was only because Barack Obama, abortion notwithstanding, is one of them. The partisan rift on campus hasn’t been healed thanks to Obama’s speech. It was tempered because the majority of those on campus didn’t wish to see one of their own humiliated publicly.
Had Barack Obama been a pro-life, conservative Republican, Notre Dame or not, the outcome of his visit today would probably have been entirely different.
It wouldn’t have mattered how many people were protesting. Knowing how arrogant Obama is, he’d just assume they’ll all magically stop after they hear him speak, and be enlightened through him.
Birds of a feather flock together.
One more thing: it looks like the Pope should dust off his Excommunication hat
Bush gets slammed for going to Bob Jones University, but Liberals don’t slam Obama for going to Notre Dame?
Bush would have likely been slammed by the press for going to Notre Dame, too! In that unlikely event, the press would have harsh words to say about Notre Dame, IMHO.
Read the Maclectic thread:
http://maclectic.com/Forums/index.php?topic=4581.0
The Obama Notre Dame Commencement speech (and spectacle) has certainly brought this issue again into the national lime-light. I haven’t had time to review it yet, although this is the first time that an entire Commencement Ceremony has been televised live from start to finish. If you saw it you might have noticed the water-mark stating Notre Dame TV.
Clinton did allow funding of over-seas abortions, and I believe that it was not simply for the military either. It’s been referred to as the Mexico City rule. Bush stopped that policy, and on day one or two Obama fired it back up again.
Notre Dame’s president, the Rev. John Jenkins stated in no uncertain terms before Obama spoke that the Church is opposed to embryonic stem-cell research and abortions, both positions that Obama supports.
Norma McCorvey, who is the original “Roe” in Roe v Wade, was among the fifteen or so arrested for trespassing today among some 300 or so demonstrating at the gates to the campus on Angela Street. She has for years proclaimed publicly her regret for her role in the landmark SCOTUS decision. Dr. Alan Keyes was arrested twice last week, and I believe that he is a Catholic. I did not hear that he was arrested again today. I expect that the Judge had a stern comment for him. He was released on bail again Saturday, when initial reports on Friday indicated that he would not get another hearing until Monday morning.
Concerning the polls, that’s a huge Gallop poll swing from one year ago. For those who mention the ND student approval/disapproval numbers, which were mostly in favor, I’d like to point out that not all of the student population are Catholic.
As for the rest, I’d say that it’s over-all a good thing that this debate has once again become front and center in the national dialogue.
A Gallup survey released Friday found that 51 percent of those questioned call themselves “pro-life” on the issue of abortion and 42 percent “pro-choice.” This is the first time a majority of U.S. adults have identified themselves as “pro-life” since Gallup began asking this question in 1995.
Just a year ago, Gallup found that 50 percent termed themselves “pro-choice” while 44 percent described their beliefs as “pro-life.”
A ten point swing since Obama took office.