So, this has been an interesting and ongoing conversation that I've been having with family and friends for the past couple of weeks or so. And of course, many of you know that I'm a recovering Democrat (which I became following my terrible bout with Republicanism). So, let me throw that out right away so you don't think I'm just another one of those liberal nutjob Mormons who "wandered from the flock."
In the event that you didn't know, Vice President Dick Cheney is scheduled to give the Commencement Address at BYU next week.
I know that he told Sen. Patrick Leahy to "GFY" on the Senate floor. I know about the Valerie Plame/Scooter Libby ordeal, and if anyone hasn't heard of Halliburton by now...where have you been? So let's also set this aside...the guy isn't the most representative of LDS standards (but then again, neither are a lot of LDS folks...we know we're not perfect).
And, the LDS Church typically advocates exercising our right and obligation to vote, but they remain politically neutral...
So, rather than spew a bunch about what I think...
I want to know ...what do you think?
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7 comments:
alright you know how i feel about george bush and his friends/cronies. and BYU being what it is, people are going to interpret this as some kind of--at least tacit--endorsement of cheney/the gop/the administration/the war/whatever. that annoys me, yes.
BUT, i don't really care that much. sure mr. cheney has a boatload of moral issues that would/should offend any upright person, but seriously, he's the vice president. he doesn't really DO that much. but this is one of the things he does. speak at commencements. whatever. i think it's unfortunate that a politician would ever be invited to speak at an academic commencement, but really, who better? a celebrity? this is a tradition that i don't find terribly offensive, so i'm willing to throw up me hands.
when i was a kid i went to the air force academy (my dad was a professor there) commencement and george bush (dad) spoke. that's appropriate, he having been the commander-in-cheif and whatnot, but seriously, there are certainly dissenting opinions within the ranks of the cadets. some i'm sure disagreed bush ideologically, but that's just it. ideology. clinton spoke at the AFA commencement when he was president, too. and that's great.
MOST IMPORTANT THING I HAVE TO SAY:
in a lot of ways i think this has been a positive development for BYU. this is the first time in many years, possibly ever, that BYU administration has allowed any kind of protest or demonstration on its campus. and that's a very positive development. lo, a dissenting voice! i would have loved to have been able to participate. but i would not have attended the commencement. on ideological grounds, sure. but i also just don't like commencements.
ALSO:
i think that it's unfortunate that it's this VP at this time. because this is such a polarizing figure, and like i said before, BYU being what it is, this is obviously easily interpreted as an endorsement, which makes me sad because for a lot of the people at BYU (and mormondom in the US in general) cheney is someone that they've supported and voted for and whatnot, and probably in a lot of cases still would stand behind. so even if there was no intent to endorse on the First Presidency's part (they are basically the board/executive, and extended the invite from my understanding), it can in some way rightly be seen as an endorsement from BYU's general constituency. (i don't know if that made ANY sense at all, but i'm watching wallace and gromit right now.)
but also (pretty sure the rest makes sense), would they have invited Al Gore? what if Kerry/Edwards had won in '04? would they have invited Edwards? i'd like to think the answer is yes, but it's probably not. oh well.
and:
i'm very surprised that BYU allowed the demonstrations. i don't know what the motive was and i'm sure it was done begrudgingly. but i think that, regardless, it is a good thing for the students, the school, and everyone.
I think it's a good thing that our VP is coming to speak at my alma matter. He's the VP for pete's sake--not the devil as so many would suggest, he's no worse than Clinton/Gore and all the lies they told while in office. I also agree with the official statment released by the Church in response to all of this, that they don't care, Cheney is welcome, and it's not an endorsment of any politicts.
The people who are protesting, have the right to do so, however, I think people whose tuition subsidized by the tithing funds of the Church should find better things to do with their time. I find it very embarassing that there have been protests on campus. If it bothers them that much, don't go to commencement. If people who sympathize with the left, would put as much energy into helping others, or finding some worthy cause with positive benifts as they do into hating Bush/Cheney, I think they might have more legitimacy in the public eye. I don't take many of these mad students seriously--how can I?
I read on a blog the other day, that instead of Cheney, Harry Reid should have been invited to commencement. As usual the liberals don't see the hypocracy in this. If inviting Cheney is seen as partisian, how is inviting Reid, not partisian? And Reid has been invited to speak in the Fall 07 term at some point. Will the College Republicans hold protests and such? No, they won't they'll give Mr. Reid respect as a member of the US Senate (Although IMO--he is an embarassment to Mormons everywhere.)
In the end will Cheney talk about politics in his speech to the graduates? No, he's going to talk about life and other "graduation". It's an honor to have the Vice-President of the United States speak at BYU.
i don't know. between their pro-life/anti-abortion and anti-gay-marriage/marriage preservation crusades, people who "sympathize with the right" spend -- or "waste" if you'd prefer -- as much of their time demonstrating/protesting as do those who "sympathize with the left." BYU being a private school can choose to disallow political demonstrations on its property. and that's fine with me, but i think it's a good thing to let the students demonstrate to make their voices heard. the right to peaceable assembly as enumerated in the constitution is a good thing and hardly a waste of time, no matter which side you're on.
i don't want to defend sen. reid, because i don't like to get into that sort of thing, but i also wouldn't be so sure about the reception he'll will get at BYU if/when he goes to provo. BYU's conservatives are not known for cordiality or kindness. helen thomas, a prominent reporter who was a member of the white house press corp and is quite liberal, spoke at a forum at BYU about 4 or 5 years ago and the audience was not kind, cordial, or respectful in any way. reid is not the divisive figure thomas is, but i still wouldn't expect a much better reception for sen. reid.
As a December BYU graduate, I will actually be attending the graduation ceremonies in April and have a couple of things to say. I mostly agree with the previous 3 comments, but have just a few things to add. First, as a school that is overseen by General Authorities, I don't think it was politically motivated in any way, and I'm sick of people talking about it like it's some kind of Republican conspiricy against Democrats. Sorry, but it's a decision that was approved by Apostles of the Lord, so no. It is simply what the Church said it is: a once-in-lifetime chance to hear what the Vice President of the USofA has to say about graduation and life moving on. Second, people always point out that since his moral standards are not what BYU and the LDS Church promotes, that he's not exactly a good example or someone who should be giving advice to members of the Church. But when has BYU EVER required that all guests and speakers live the exact same standards as members of the Church? Never. Because it's not realistic and it's extremely closed-minded. And like east of eden said, if it was Barrack Obama, or Al Gore, or some other Democrat that was invited to speak, Democrat students would see absolutely nothing wrong with it, and I seriously doubt that any Republican students would throw a big fuss about it and protest.
When I graduated from Weber State many years ago, the commencement speaker was Gordon B. Hinckley. Many people on campus made a BIG deal that he being invited as the commencement speaker was somehow an endorsement of Mormonism and that there should be a separation of church and state when it came to commencement speakers. Hinckley came and spoke. Not a word of his speech was religious in nature. He told the graduates to work hard be an asset to the communities they lived in – basically the same thing any commencement speaker says.
Those who are opposed to Cheney speaking at BYU are following the same lapse in logic as those opposed Hinckley speaking at Weber State. They don’t get that just because someone is invited to speak at commencement, doesn’t mean the school endorse them their political, religious, or other views. Quite simply the goal of the school is to get the most high profile speaker that will send off their graduates on a high note. When Cheney speaks at BYU and his speech won’t be political. He’ll tell the graduates to work hard and be an asset to their community.
Instead of whining how the world is coming to an end like many did at Weber State, BYU graduates should be honored that such a high profile person accepted BYU invitation. It helps raise the profile of their school to have such a speaker. Agree or disagree with his policies, Cheney isn’t there to make a policy speech or give us an update on the Iraq war. He’s there to inspire the graduates. If he does that than it was worth the effort for BYU to invite him to speak.
Man, I hate politics.
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