Laying the smack down in the Daily Northwestern’s Forum
Northwestern University, my alma mater, has invited Sen. John McCain (R, AZ) to speak at this year’s Commencement. Sure beats the heck out of Wendy Chamberlin. (Yeah, she didn’t exactly inspire me to attend the ceremonies my year.)
But in good Northwestern fashion, some whiner decided to write in to the Daily and complain. Seems Sean Padraic Holland thinks the invitation of McCain won’t impart the right “values” on NU’s 2004 graduation class. I quote:
As a current Northwestern senior, I must question the university’s decision to invite Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) as commencement speaker for my graduation. What values does the university wish to instill in their latest graduating class? McCain has become synonymous with selling out all of your values for potential political gain, with his complete about-face in regard to President Bush.
It does pain me to read drivel like this, so I decided to speak up this time and write into the Forum. Since NU students are lazy in addition to being whiny, I doubt anyone else bothered to speak up and the editors picked my letter. I was impressed that they didn’t editorially hack it to bits. A snippet:
So my question boils down to this: Is Holland suggesting that he has the moral authority to render judgment about the political actions taken by McCain after the 2000 election? More authority than McCain himself? It sounds like Holland is doing a better job of feeling sorry for McCain than McCain.
I suggest you read the letter in its full glory. I still feel like a badass when I get something printed in the Daily!
UPDATE 2/8/05: And Tim Ahmed reps the ‘04 set.
February 20th, 2005 at 10:45 pm
I will be happy to speak at graduation, are you formally inviting me?
Also, how exactly were you defending McCain by calling attention to his dirty campaign tactics?
February 20th, 2005 at 10:57 pm
Ah, but if I only had the power!
How was I defending McCain? I wasn’t. I was defending Bush. The other thing I was saying is that McCain is in a position to judge whether he was wronged by Bush—you aren’t. If he’s moved past the 2000 Republican primary—and whether that’s out of political expediency or forgiveness is really immaterial—then it’s absolutely his right to campaign for Bush.
Bottom line is this: You ask “Is NU suggesting that graduates should do anything possible to advance in their career, despite any personal thoughts to the contrary?” You and I can’t answer that, but John McCain already has. Furthermore, it would probably strengthen your argument to stake out a real position on McCain and Bush instead of tiptoeing around that.
February 20th, 2005 at 11:05 pm
I’m sorry to say that your reply to Holland made little, if any, sense. A patriotic citizen can and should render judgment on a politician’s actions on the campaign trail. Sean is well within his rights to say he doesn’t want a sellout to address his class at graduation.
Also, your opinions on Wemdy Chamberlin showcase a fair amount of the Northwestern whining you seem to so despise.
February 20th, 2005 at 11:15 pm
Good to see Sean has e-mailed his buddies this link. I’m always up for a little tiff on the blogs.
Render judgment? Sure. But what does it mean to be a “sellout?” What does that even mean? Politicians makes promises to get votes—that’s pretty much what it’s all about. Is that selling out? If so, every single politician is a sellout, because no politician can stay true to his/her pure, personal agenda.
You can’t have your cake and eat it too. If you want to impugn John McCain for being a “sellout,” fine; obviously you can use the evidence from my letter to do so. If you want to say he’s a decorated and respect-worthy Vietnam vet, fine; obviously you can use the evidence from Holland’s letter to do so. But both? Pick your poison.
And as to Wendy Chamberlin? Let’s just say that I’d rather not have to look up my class’ speaker on Google to figure out who she is. Sounds like that invitation was some sort of payback to the alumni office or something.
February 22nd, 2005 at 11:13 pm
For what it’s worth, Sean did not email me this link. I graduated in 2003 as well, so I’m long gone from the area.
Perhaps, too, sellout is the wrong word. Hypocrite is more accurate. McCain was openly critical of the Bush administration during the campaign, and then threw his support behind it presumably (and granted this in an inference) to obtain funding to further his career. This is different, in my opinion, from other politicians merely tempering their views to suit their audience.
Wendy Chamberlain was not a good choice to speak at our commencement, that is for sure. I can’t even remember what she said because whatever it was was instantly forgettable.
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