Oh The Places You'll Have To Sit And Wait

 It's an interesting thing, this commencement speech. We bring in some old guy to talk to a bunch of people we have just spent more than a decade preparing to go out and think for themselves. We have them sit in nice orderly rows in identical robes and ask them to sit still for just one more lecture. The powers that be need one last shot at getting you to conform. 

Is it any wonder that some of these young people just get up and walk out?

Like they did at Duke University last week. As comedian Jerry Seinfeld took the stage there he was roundly booed and a stream of freshly minted graduates showed their disdain for his newfound stands against woke culture and Israel's war in Gaza. Jerry did not show up as the hip voice, ready to rap with these kids. He showed up as a relic of another time. He was, to put it mildly, a rerun. 

Then there was the address given over the weekend at Benedictine College, a liberal arts school in Kansas. They were able to line up local football hero, Harrison Butker of the world champion Kansas City Chiefs to talk to their graduates. When I say that it was a liberal arts college, I suppose I should include the other modifier: Catholic Liberal Arts College. I will pause here only briefly for you to ponder just what a Catholic Liberal Art might be. If that image is not already fixed in your mind, let me share with you some of the wisdom laid down by Mister Butker: “While COVID might have played a large role throughout your formative years, it is not unique. The bad policies and poor leadership have negatively impacted major life issues. Things like abortion, IVF, surrogacy, euthanasia, as well as a growing support for the degenerate cultural values and media all stem from pervasiveness of disorder.”

He addressed the women in the crowd directly: "I think it is you, the women, who have had the most diabolic lies told to you. Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world but I would venture to guess that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world."

Congratulations on that college degree sweetums, now back into the kitchen with you!

All of which points to that most misunderstood notion: free speech. Sure, you get to sit out on the football field in the sun for an hour or two, listening to words that will soon be part of your past, but they aren't free. Cap and gown rental ain't cheap. And then there's the tuition paid and airfare to get your parents there to listen to this drivel. 

Say what you want, but I hope these kids won't turn around in ten years and want to lecture the next generation about how they ought to be. The speech is over. Go blaze your own trail.