Mixed Feelings about Prs. Obama's Speech at Notre Dame
By ParaTed2k
@ParaTed2k (22940)
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
May 18, 2009 9:27am CST
This isn't a discussion about whether or not Notre Dame should have invited Prs. Obama to speak at this year's commencement. To me, the time for that discussion has passed...
This is about what he chose to say in the address.
I'm mixed about what he said because it didn't seem like an appropriate speech for a university commencement. I know he's a politician, but it doesn't seem to me that a commencement address should be political.
When we went to my son's college graduation, the speaker barely brought up anything honoring the graduates. He didn't give much in the way of advice about moving on and making their mark in the world either. His whole speech was about the environment and green living.
Prs. Obama was invited to address and honor the graduates for their accomplishments while attending Notre Dame. He wasn't invited to lecture the school on what is and isn't an appropriate attitude towards abortion.
But I'm mixed because, well... Obama isn't the one that first brought the abortion issue into it. While I don't think he should have brought it up, it's not like the issues hadn't already become a part of the commencement itself.
4 responses
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
19 May 09
I didn't see or hear the speech but I did read the transcript which you can find below:
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/05/17/raw-data-transcript-obamas-notre-dame-address/
I think it was a good speech. I don't think he could have NOT brought up the abortion issue, especially with protesters right in the hall. President Obama hasn't shown himself to be one to ignore the "elephant in the room".
Annie
@Barbietre (1438)
• United States
19 May 09
I think considering the controversy over the issue it was needed to address it.
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
18 May 09
Yup, it was a few seconds of formality, then the rest was all about himself.
@maximax8 (31042)
• United Kingdom
18 May 09
President Obama should have given a speech saying well done to the students and wishing them well in the future careers or further studies. His speech was about green living including caring for the environment. That is important information but I wonder how relevant it was to the students on a day that should have been their celebration. The abortion message is one that is highly personal. People might be pro-life like me or pro-choice. I think that President Obama should be careful what he says about abortion. I don't know much about him but a bit and his ideas on abortion I find quite horrific.
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
18 May 09
His speach was about himself. It had little to do with honoring the graduates.
@nashlix (186)
• Singapore
19 May 09
i believe that he gave that speech on the abortion topic because notre dame is a catholic school. his tone was moderate and i actually do not find it inappropriate that he touched on that topic. the fact that he addressed the issue head on with a cohort of graduates who are mostly catholics is admirable. by giving that speech, he was trying to bridge the differences between the two groups split on the abortion issues. like he always said, noone is pro-abortion. it is just a matter of whether you are pro-choice. by talking about it in an environment supposedly anti-pro-choice, he is telling all americans and all around the world that hey, common grounds can be found and all of us are sisters and brothers who simply disagree on some issues but let's stay united.
