Barack Obama was the commencement speaker at my alma mater today. A great fuss preceded this event, and promises to continue now that it is done. I wrote about it on Los Angeles Moms Blog today. I find that it doesn’t matter how I feel about the issues raised – it just makes me homesick for Notre Dame.
Nice post.
I too felt the homesickness when I watched the speech (at least the part I could hear when not attending to loudly playing children). My wife and I were moved to tears when they presented a copy of the famous picture of Fr. Ted and Rev Martin Luther King Jr. to President Obama. Fr. Ted once said Notre Dame is where the Church does its thinking (poorly paraphrased, yes). To think, one must be open and one must be still. That is what I miss about Notre Dame – a place to be open and a place to be still.
kimmy –
I tried to express nearly exactly your sentiments last night at our book club, make up of mostly Catholic moms, but all of whom attend mass regularly and are all fairly spiritual.
Obama is an inspiring man, whether you agree with his politics or not. I am sure each of us could find something morally wrong with nearly every commencement speaker.
And kudos for remembering it was a newsman. I had drawn a complete blank, except to know that Clinton spoke at my sisters the year before ours, and Bill Cosby spoke at my brother-in-laws’ the year prior to hers.
I could use some time by the lakes, at the Grotto and/or the reflecting pond this week…..
I smell mini-reunion at a game this season?
Hey, Suz… It wasn’t Clinton the year before. It was George Bush Sr. And people wanted to protest that one for two reasons (1) election year (against Clinton) and the first Iraq war and (2) the Laetre Medal (however you spell that) was awarded to Sen Patrick Moynahan (however you spell that!) and he was Pro Choice.
I guess people want reasons to complain. My graduation had a Pro-Life president who was objected to and a Pro-Choice award winner who was objected to… can’t win. At least the school allows the discussion and debate.
LisaD
I agaree on the ND homesickness front. Can we do a mini-reunion? I’m in..