The Laughing Wolf

Hedges, Take Two

I had written a fairly lengthy rant yesterday on this subject, which included a letter to this person that began with the line “You sir, are an arrogant ass.” This came after I listened to his entire screed courtesy of a link on InstaPundit. That link was one of several I followed yesterday, and there is now even a video link for those that want it.

But you know what? This guy is not worth it. He is simply yet another “I hate myself, I hate America, we deserve whatever punishment we get” sixties wanna-be with a Fuhrer complex. He was so full of his own ego that he could not even be bothered to acknowledge his audience in any way, shape, or form. Not even a “Graduates, staff, families, and friends,” much less a thanks for “allowing” him to speak.

Someone with a stronger stomach than mine needs to transcribe his half-baked bilious screed and give it the fisking for which it so richly calls. I listened to the audio of the entire speech, and have no plans to listen to that drivel again.

If I were the university, I would demand my money back. After all, there is a reasonable expectation that the speaker will at least acknowledge the audience and not simply be condescending as hell to them. If someone had paid me $5,000.00 for 18 minutes of work, I would have acknowledged them, tried to give them a good speech, and been willing to shake every graduates hand as they came across that stage. If nothing else, it is called courtesy.

If I were a parent, I would be asking the president of the college to personally reimburse me for every dime I spent on that fiasco, from cap and gown rental to travel costs. Said president failed the test of leadership at every turn, and leadership carries with it responsibilities. To you I say, step up to the plate and be a leader, or step aside.

To the one faculty member quoted in any story as being upset with the booing and such, and to the local paper I say: Get over it. Where was your moral outrage when speakers at university events around the country were being booed, chanted out, blocked, and worse simply because they held a different viewpoint? Where was that keen sense of right when people were blocked from speaking simply because they were conservative, libertarian, or some other stripe that the radicals were so scared of that they would not even allow them to be heard? Got to remember, them memes is dangerous things and might actually infect someone with the concept of thinking for themselves.

Graduation is not such an event, it is a ceremony where the speaker is paid to address the audience. Not only are they to provide a given number of minutes of speech, there is a reasonable expectation that the person will craft something at least reasonably appropriate. That was not met, and it is clear that he did not expect the revolting peasants to expect such of someone like him.

To the students, parents, and faculty who objected I would say that you were within your rights on your special day, and of a speaker for whom you paid, to be upset. You wanted and expected more. My only suggestion is that the actions, while a pale shadow of what has been done by the so-called left, are not the best way to deal with it in the future. Me, I would have walked out and begun proceedings to collect my money from those responsible. Those that stood and turned their backs did take the high road, one not followed by the speaker or those like him. You are to be applauded for it.

What happened was a disgrace, but the students and families bear no shame from it. They wanted and expected more, and should have had it. They, not the university, paid for it and as customers they deserved far better. What fault there is here truly lies with the speaker and with the president of the university. Both should be ashamed of themselves. From the reaction of Hedges to the events as quoted in various news sources, I can only end with one line.

You sir, are an arrogant, unrepentant, ass.

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