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John McCain, LU, and the New School

Posted: May 20th, 2006, 11:47 am
by clevelandmike
At least the students at Liberty University have better manners.

You can find the New York Times article at http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/nyregio ... nted=print

I disagree with the NY Times headline saying McCain was "cantankerous" at the commencement ceremonies for the New School. I thought that the senator was about as cool and collected as he could be, after I saw the way the students treated him on CNN.

These students, in their safe little cocoons, have no idea what the real world is like. Liberal or conservative, that is always the case.

I wonder if this Jean Sara Rohe will still have the same beliefs in 10 years. And I think that these students (and even faculty members) who booed McCain and turned their backs on him are simply rude people who can't fathom that anyone would have a different opinion than their own.

Say what you want about Jerry Falwell and his little duchy in Lynchburg, VA; but at least the students there give respect and credit to where it is due. And the nasty belittlers at the New School would call the Liberty students robots, programmed only in the way Falwell wants them to think. Do we honestly think it's no different at a liberal school?

I give credit to Bob Kerrey for inviting McCain to speak, that took some guts. I wonder if these narrow-minded people at Kerrey's school would call him a warmonger, considering that, like McCain, Kerrey served with distinction in Vietnam?

Honestly, whatever happened to dissent without demonization in this country?

Mike

Posted: May 20th, 2006, 12:04 pm
by TDDance234
It's kind of pathetic, really.

If this is the future of the Democratic party, then it's going to be a long road.

Posted: May 20th, 2006, 3:15 pm
by Old School D
I don't think the newsline was referring to McCain being cantankerous, moreso, the reception that he got was cantankerous.

Posted: May 20th, 2006, 7:06 pm
by PeterParker
And the nasty belittlers at the New School would call the Liberty students robots, programmed only in the way Falwell wants them to think. Do we honestly think it's no different at a liberal school?
It just shows the erosion of individualism. Poeple are increasingly more lazy and find it easier to ascertain a persons philosphy and views by who they associate with, rather than taking the time to listen and digest a persons ideas on their own merit. It is the ultimate Ad Hominem arguments that makes it easier for the masses to dismiss the ideas of an individual and to avoid having to really think about what a person says or wrestle intellectually with the ideas he/she sets forth, regardless of the "team" they are on. The whole "I'm on this team, and this is how I am supposed to think" mentality is unfortunate on both sides of the political/social spectrum.

Too bad the days of politicians as well as common men with opposing views could vigorously wrestle with each other's ideas without descending to personal attacks are long gone. The best stories were of the ones of those guys on polemic sides of issues who would have very rigorous discussions/debates and then enjoy comraderie over a drink after.