What, Bob Jones University doesn’t want him? Brigham Young University does. Vice President Dick Cheney is speaking at the BYU commencement exercises on April 26. Isn’t that special?
It doesn’t sound like a slam dunk, however. Even the BYU spokesperson sounded tentative in the Salt Lake Tribune article,
“I think he’ll find the audience to be very accommodating and very receptive and very hospitable,” says Kelly Patterson, director of BYU’s Center for the Study of Elections and Democracy, when told of the vice president’s scheduled visit. “It’s an honor when a vice president or the president comes to speak at a university. There are only a limited number of these engagements they can do.”
Yes, only a limited number. Thankfully.
Whaddya suppose they have to say on BYU NewsNet, hmm? Let’s see (I’ve bolded my favorite parts):
Our commencement speaker should be someone who gives advice and encouragement as we enter the next phase of our lives. I don’t believe a vice president whose closest advisor was convicted of a felony only two weeks ago has the moral authority to do so. I doubt any other university in the nation would tolerate such a speaker. At very least, I hope the university is not using tithing funds to encourage him to come.
Ryan Frei
I was pleased to hear Vice President Dick Cheney will honor our campus by giving the commencement address next month. I am glad BYU has remained above the irrational hatred and intolerance directed towards the Bush administration. You can disagree with the decisions and opinions of Vice President Cheney, but to allege he has “frequently demonstrated his lack of ethics, morality and respect for human rights” as stated in a letter Friday is simply a lie.
Joshua Cutler
I believe the current disdain for Vice President Cheney is baseless and cliché. Vice President Cheney has been a tireless public servant and I believe he is a patriot.
Kordel Braley
And my personal favorite–
Far be it from me to disagree with the prophet, but I wonder what he could have been thinking when he invited Dick Cheney to speak at commencement in April.
His qualifications? He’s the most reviled vice-president in history. He has been a drunk, a college dropout, a draft dodger (five deferments from Vietnam; “I had other priorities”), a politician (that is, a liar), a liar (even more so than most politicians), a war criminal (Iraq, torture), a hypocrite (he’s against gay marriage and adoption, unless his lesbian daughter is involved), a war profiteer (Halliburton) and a serial abuser of power (the list is far too long for this space). He shot an old man (Harry Whittington) in the face and obstructed justice (his Secret Service detail refused to let the sheriff see him, for “security reasons”). He is arrogant and he is unrepentant. He is wrong about everything (”greeted as liberators,” “last throes,” “best Defense Secretary in history,” “we’re winning”). He told a United States Senator to go f— himself.
I cannot think of any public figure whose life and work is less in accordance with the values BYU and the Church claim to espouse.
Whatever the prophet was thinking when they invited him, we as moral people cannot tolerate his presence here on our sacred campus.
Peter Johnston
Oh-no-you-di’nt! I’m thinking Peter Johnston might be getting a visit.
Okay, one more:
In response to the woman who is “shamed” that BYU would invite Dick Cheney to speak at BYU’s April commencement, I’m deeply sorry she feels that way. As a student graduating this April, I am now more excited about graduation, and I cannot wait to hear our vice president speak. I hope he does not get political like some of his liberal counterparts tend to do during commencement speeches, but I know he will give us graduates sound advice as we start a new phase in our lives.
Chris Killion
Those wacky college kids. What will they think of next?
Comments 10
I flew in once to help with a recruiting presentation at BYU. The company I worked for at the time had a sizeable contingent of Mormons (in no small part due to Mitt) so BYU had been put on the list of colleges from which we recruited. Honestly, I couldn’t get out of there fast enough. Couldn’t put my finger on it, but the vibe was just so, so weird. I had been to a number of colleges at that point (mainly Ivy League) for these recruiting presentations and BYU was in a league of its own, for sure. I flew in late afternoon/early evening (the airport was already a ghost town by that time of day!), drove to BYU, drove back to my hotel room, looked out the window, saw the mountains, and flew out the next morning.
I’m glad to see there are a few students like Peter Johnston who haven’t drowned themselves with Kool-Aid. Keep hope alive.
Posted 27 Mar 2007 at 2:43 am ¶There are actually quite a few Peter Johnstons in the Mormonhood, but it’s a tough row to hoe. I admire his integrity and obvious devotion to “the Church,” and I hope he doesn’t get too much backlash for speaking out. He does have some company, but I’d be surprised to see a groundswell of support for an anti-Cheney protest.
Posted 27 Mar 2007 at 7:35 am ¶I keep trying not to think about this. But SOME of those comments give one hope.
Posted 27 Mar 2007 at 11:34 am ¶Never been to Salt Lake myself, but my Mormon cousins have told me enough to give me the heebie-jeebies. I’m pretty sure they actually use brainwashing techniques such as subliminal messages at their Temple rites. Really. And one of my cousins went away on his mission a smart, funny kid with a strong analytical mind, and came back a nodding godbag. Very sad.
Anyway, don’t you love how messages are “political” only when one disagrees with them? Otherwise, they’re “common sense” or “good advice.” Guess BYU isn’t turning out too many critical thinkers.
Posted 27 Mar 2007 at 4:59 pm ¶Exactly! I said just this thing to a student today when we were discussing this issue. Even high school seniors who are planning to attend BYU are dismayed over this choice.
Posted 27 Mar 2007 at 6:35 pm ¶Maybe he’ll bring his shotgun with him…….
Posted 29 Mar 2007 at 6:47 am ¶Hey, just discovered that Kyle Sampson is a BYU graduate and was yearning to be U.S. Attorney in Salt Lake. It was suggested he might try getting the asst U.S. Attorney job first. Oh, the places e-go.
More on his woeful lack of experience here:
http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/002912.php
BYU may not be churning out critical thinkers, but if Kyle Sampson is any indication, they’re quite good at training wily bullshitters.
Posted 30 Mar 2007 at 12:35 pm ¶Thanks for bolding your “favorite part” of my letter to the editor. It was one of my favorites too
Posted 20 Apr 2007 at 8:05 pm ¶Certainly, Kordel. The reactions to the VP’s visit continue to fascinate me; those of your perspective as well as those who disagree.
Posted 20 Apr 2007 at 11:08 pm ¶Ne v dengah ne v muzejnoj pyl. Lise Folami.
Posted 19 May 2007 at 5:01 am ¶Trackbacks & Pingbacks 1
[...] known as the home of BYU and the reddest county in the country in the last presidential election. As I mentioned before, BYU invited Vice President Cheney to speak at this year’s commencement; an [...]