So, Dick Cheney is speaking at the BYU graduation. A big deal, having the vice president come. The white house actually called BYU up and asked if Cheney could speak (isn't is supposed to work the other way around?). Guess they figured that BYU was one of the few large universities where Cheney would be able to make himself heard above the boos.
I think this is riskier than BYU initially thought. Only history will tell. Cheney's been accused of a lot of evil things, and many, including BYU students, believe those things.
My dad believes Bush is a decent guy but not too bright. I (risking the ire of more conservative readers) agree. Maybe I've read too much fiction, but it seems that someone who's both dumb and powerful will attract friends that are smart and manipulative. People pulling the strings. Cheney could certainly fit this bill...and his buddies (Haliburton) are one of the few groups that are benefiting from the war in Iraq.
The first presidency of the LDS church had a hand in the decision; to those who say that everything they say and do is directed by God (and that statement has been made), I reply: they're human. They make mistakes. They're good men, they receive inspiration from God, but not every decision they make is directed by the Lord.
A few years ago, this would've been a great decision. Now...thousands of students, friends, and alumni have signed a petition in opposition, and a couple of protests are planned. BYU, to their credit, is allowing some protests (unbelievable as that may seem), and they've announced that Reid (the most politically powerful elected Mormon ever, not to mention a Democrat), will be speaking at a forum this next fall. Still, having someone widely regarded as a warmonger as a commencement speaker is a poor choice.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
One concern I have is with those who want to make this a partisan issue, and there are a good number of both Democrats and Republicans on campus (among faculty and students alike) who see the debate as such. Those who think the problem is in having a prominent Republican visit campus really don't have an argument to make. There is no commencement speaker that BYU could enlist that would perfectly represent the ideals (political or otherwise) of an entire graduating class.
I am also worried that many who presume that protesting Cheney's visit constitutes a challenge to the divine authority of the First Presidency, which is absolutely not the case.
Wow. Super fast comment. I agree. I think a lot of Democrats view Cheney like they view Nixon...and most wouldn't have a problem with another Republican (for example, any of the forerunners for president in 2008)speaking. They may not agree with those men, but they don't see them as being evil warmongers.
There was a NY Times article run today about the on-campus protest to Cheney's visit.
Awesome. And way to go Sharon! Not every day a friend gets her comments in the New York times!
Post a Comment