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The 19 people arrested Saturday for trespassing during a protest against President Barack Obama speaking at Notre Dame's commencement ceremony Sunday really show how far this country has come.
The ability to protest is one of the many freedoms that Obama, as president of the United States, represents.
Not only that, but it wasn't too long ago black people were forced to the back of the bus, attend different schools and drink out of separate water fountains.
Are we backtracking?
No. Fortunately they aren't protesting his skin color, just his beliefs as a person and politician. While it is our civic duty as citizens to stand up for what we believe in, where has the patriotism gone?
The respect Obama was deemed worthy of the day he won the election and was named our president seems to be missing.
Many are protesting Obama's right to speak at the commencement ceremony because his beliefs concerning stem cell research and abortion directly contradict those of the Roman Catholic Church.
Everyone has a right to their own beliefs, but as Americans we should also remember where the rights to those beliefs come from and who we have to thank for them. If he were anyone else less dignified with the same beliefs, it is undeniable that he would not be invited to speak at such a prestigious commencement.
In many news reports concerning the event during the past couple of months, many have said Notre Dame officials could have picked a better candidate to speak, such as a doctor or a lawyer.
What if they had chosen a doctor they thought worthy because he had fought for his country in Iraq, but later discovered he supported stem cell research because his wife had been diagnosed with cancer?
Would he be replaced as a speaker?
He has the honorable resume and the respect, but would he be considered ill-fitted to speak at the ceremony simply because he wanted to find a cure to save his wife?
What about the pro-life everyone is chanting about? I'd label the man pro-life for wanting to save his wife's life.
This may be a far-fetched scenario, but think about it: A respectable person is turned away from such a great ceremony simply because his beliefs are different.
Gone are the days where such a powerful organization can be so narrow-minded and allow themselves to deny anyone with different beliefs.
So are people at Notre Dame really going to turn away the president of the United States because he has different beliefs?
No. Luckily, someone over there has a brain to know that if the president is willing to make a pit stop by their university and give a speech, they should be thankful.
It is guaranteed that few people at UCF, if any, have exactly the same beliefs.
It is also guaranteed that many people on the UCF campus voted for John McCain instead of Obama, but I know many republicans to still be extremely patriotic, no matter whom they voted for.
It is hard to believe that a UCF student, whether he or she is Catholic or Muslim, democrat or republican, wouldn't feel just a little bit honored when standing face to face with the most powerful man in the world.
He decided to take time out of his 24-hour day job to speak to these students, and they should give him that same kind of respect in return.
Hopefully these protests don't leave the graduates at Notre Dame's next commencement disappointed because their address was given by some stuffy, 100 percent Catholic values good guy.
While that may make for less sign carrying and leave people with fewer jail bonds to pay, it's always better to have an interesting commencement speaker who can keep you awake during those long, drawn-out ceremonies.
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16 comments
In Notre Dame’s case, If you just believe in something you don't have to think about whether it's right or wrong because the bible you read gives you some obscure meaning and you take it to be fact. It's best to do what UCF does and pick some speaker that nobody knows or has ever heard of. That way nobody is insulted and everybody is disappointed. The worst UCF speaker I heard was from some loser telling business majors not to be like American Airlines and to be like Continental. Awe inspiring right? No controversy though. The only memorable thing about that commencement was how boring the speaker was.
The 1st amendment of our great Constitution allows for the freedom to assemble. Plain and simple. As long as no other laws are being broken it should be allowed, and in many cases encouraged, when any issues stands to be debated.
I think, however, the problem most have with this whole situation is not so much whether he should speak at ND but that he is being honored with a degree. I personally could care less but those who have issues with it should be allowed to voice their opinion. They are doing so as are you and I.
Where are your protests about those poor children, allowed to be molested by your religious leaders. The molesters were also not punished, but moved to other areas, to molest more innocent children. Mayu, you are guilty by your lack of protest of supporting these same individuals. Wake up.