By Bill Lieberbaum, Guest Blogger
It’s wonderful to have an opinion. It’s even more wonderful to live in a country where you can express your opinion in public without the fear of being hassled or imprisoned by the government. But are there ever times when political expression should take a back seat to the moment at hand? Of course there are. For example, few anti-war activists (I would hope) would protest the war in Iraq while attending a welcome-home ceremony for our troops. And few of us who voted for George Bush in 2004 favored serious debate and criticism of President Obama the first days of his administration, while this nation was basking in the pride of swearing in its first African-American president.
There are times in the life of our nation where politics and political demonstrations need to take a back seat (not be abandoned, but simply put on hold) to the bigger picture of what our nation represents.
By now you’ve most likely heard that a group of students at Notre Dame are planning to protest President Obama’s visit, which the students say undermines the school’s Catholic identity. According to FoxNews, the demonstration — spearheaded by the student group ND Response — is in protest of the honorary law degree Obama will receive during Sunday’s commencement. The group claims that by honoring Obama, the university is sanctioning his positions on abortion and embryonic stem cell research, which the Catholic church opposes.
We have become a very politicized and polarized nation over the past ten to fifteen years. But since when has it become more important to take a public political stand than to attend your own graduation? Since when did agreeing with the President on your key issue become a prerequisite to inviting him to speak at your function? Among certain members of our society, political disagreement automatically translates to “I don’t want anything to do with this guy.” I would understand this rationale if we were talking about boycotting Fidel Castro or Adolf Hitler. But we are talking about the winner of a democratic election in the United States of America. If your guy lost during the last election (as mine did), it’s time to get over it, agree to disagree, and move on with your life, in a civil and respectful manner.
I believe that the students have the right to protest and I unequivocally support that right. And I also understand that it’s not every day that the national news media is at your back door presenting you with a great opportunity to show the rest of the nation how you feel about your prize political cause. But there’s a time and a place for everything. Skipping your college graduation and missing the opportunity to have the President of the United States address you, all for the purpose of taking a political stand, is admirable. I certainly understand those who want to applaud the personal sacrifice and dedication the students of Notre Dame are exhibiting. But personally, I view these events, as they appear to be about to unfold, differently. To me, these events are a troubling sign of both the political polarization that has evolved within our electorate, as well as the hyper-sensitivity within our population that continues to blind us from the joys and blessings we should be experiencing in life.
I attended college during the Carter and Reagan administrations. I politically despise Jimmy Carter. I think he made a fool of himself with his recent Middle East debacle, and I disagree with most of his views. But if Jimmy Carter would have spoken at my college graduation, I would have put my views of the man aside, just for a few hours. Not just to be present at that milestone in my life, but also out of respect for the office of the President.
{ 4 comments }
Do not waste your time, take the help of submit article service or best article submission services and add your supreme facts about this post faster.
To investigate the this good post was not very simple and perfect way out is to buy essay at the custom writing services.
This is good that we are able to get the credit loans and that opens new opportunities.
Hi this post just describe he situation in USA on Obama wonderful description meilleur casino