Bush To Grads: Be Responsible

The President Addresses Furman University Grads In South Carolina As Faculty Stage Silent Protest

(AP)  President George W. Bush, ignoring faculty members who stood in silent protest of his commencement speech, admitted Saturday that when he left college, thinking about how to be a "model citizen" was the furthest thing from his mind.

Yet that was the goal the president set for the 2008 graduating class of Furman University.

"As you move ahead in life, you will find temptations and distractions that can take you off course," Bush said. "You might also find that years may pass before you learn some important truths: That who you are is more important than what you have. And that you have responsibilities to your fellow citizens, your country, your family, and yourself."

Scores of Bush supporters lined his motorcade route and the crowd gave Bush a warm welcome as he strode into the university stadium for the outdoor commencement ceremony. But about 15 members of the faculty stood in silent protest during the president's speech. They wore white T-shirts emblazoned with "We Object" to show their opposition to Bush's policies on the Iraq war, global warming and other issues.

Bush, who has about eight months left in office, urged students to vote in the upcoming race to succeed him.

"I know the democratic spirit is alive in our country because there was a big vote recently: The new American Idol got about 55 million votes," Bush said. "I hope we see an even bigger turnout this November.

"For some of you, this will be your first presidential election. I ask you to get involved in the process and do your duty and vote. By the way, if you are wondering who to vote for this year, the governor and I would be happy to offer a few suggestions."

Bush offered one self-deprecating line about his frequent verbal gaffes. Noting that his father, former President George H.W. Bush, spoke at the university's commencement 25 years ago, Bush said, "This is a great step forward for the Bush family, and a great step backward for your English Department."

But the backbone of his speech was to urge the 655 graduates to be responsible and accountable to both themselves and the nation. He said he remembers how he felt at his college graduation.

"At the time, I must confess that the last thing on my mind was how to be a model citizen. Just ask my mother," Bush told the students and several thousand guests. "Yet I found, as you will, the world has a way of helping you grow."

Bush said volunteerism was on the rise in America. He noted the compassion and camaraderie displayed in Greensburg, Kansas, after last year's tornado; the work that community and religious groups do help the needy; the military service of U.S. troops; and the U.S. effort to help fight disease in Africa.

"As you leave this campus today, my call to you is this: Strengthen this rising culture of responsibility in America by serving others, contributing to our civic life and being accountable to yourself and your families," he said.

The president also urged the graduates to resist the temptations of drugs, alcohol and promiscuity.

"There was a time in my life when alcohol competed for my affections, but I found salvation in my family and in my faith," he said. "There is no shame in recognizing your failings or getting help if you need it. The tragedy comes when we fail to take responsibility for our weaknesses and surrender to them."

In addition to the silent protesters, 31 other professors were granted "conscientious objector" status, allowing them to skip commencement exercises in objection to Bush's visit. There are 230 full-time professors at Furman.

Part of the animosity comes from the faculty's disagreement with Furman's president, David Shi. They say he failed to consult them before inviting Bush, breaking a tradition of having students give commencement speeches. University spokesman Vince Moore said Shi agreed with professors who voted this month to admonish him for not first consulting them.

About 20 protesters also gathered near the stadium, where one woman handed out armbands and asked attendees to clap for the graduates but not for the president. A handmade coffin protested the Iraq war and one protester held a sign that read, "The end is near." Next to the protesters and anti-war signs, a woman sang "God Bless America." Others waved American flags to welcome the president.

[komoncents]

Our brave soldiers and now graduates are being deluded by an administration which is the very definition of pure evil. The soldiers defend not our freedom but a sinister plot resulting in the single largest transfer of wealth the world has ever known - all thanks to Bush.
If this guy is trying to help our country or "be resposible" where is the leadership in organizing our incredibly powerful nation to act together to drive the price of oil down? (Not one word of unity on this situation has escaped his lips).
If you believe one word Bush spews forth like toxic waste then you are apparently not ready to be "unplugged." You probably even refuse to believe your own eyes when you witness the twin-towers falling in an obvious controlled demolition.
Evil truly lives in the heart of the Bush/Cheney/Saudia crime syndicate - but you dont have to follow them to hell !

[quetzalcrist]

Welcome to the Republican Party Catherine.....
....

you left out the part about the Corporate GOP Welfare,

[ianlou]

And the Liberal academia once again spoils what should have been a memorable event in these student''''s lives.
As if their spewing leftist propaganda instead of education wasn''''t bad enough.
Posted by DemWatcher

DemWatcher,
Will you have the same opinion when a similar protest is waged against President Obama?
Or is this a partisan opinion of yours masquerading as genuine concern for student memories?

As for "Liberal academia" we have now all seen what you get when you fill the White House with graduates of Bible Colleges.

[kevzgrl]

"As you move ahead in life, you will find temptations and distractions that can take you off course," Bush said. "You might also find that years may pass before you learn some important truths: That who you are is more important than what you have. And that you have responsibilities to your fellow citizens, your country, your family, and yourself."
I''d say it''s a pity Mr. Bush never learned that lesson himself - appears all he ever learned was how to duck and cover and lie and rubber-stamp everything put before him, regardless of how it would affect his "fellow citizens and his country"

[forthepeopl1]

In an interview with the German magazine Der Spiegel on Saturday, Warren Buffett opined that the United States is already in recession, even if it''s not in the sense that economists would define it: two consecutive quarters of negative growth.

Furthermore, Buffett argues the recession "will be deep and last longer than many think."

Sounds pretty ominous. After all, Buffett is now the world''s richest man %u2013 he recently surpassed Microsoft chairman Bill Gates %u2013 and is easily one of the planet''s most successful investors.

If Buffett himself thinks the economic outlook is lousy, the average punter thinks, maybe I should get out of the market.

If you have money in the stock market that you will need in the next few months ahead, you should. (Not because the market is about to go down %u2013 although it may %u2013 but because money earmarked for short-term expenditures shouldn''t be in the market in the first place.)

THIS IS WHAT BUSH DID TO THIS COUNTRY

[quetzalcrist]

SHRUB is laughable.
Giving a speech to graduates, for one,
then going on about responsibility,

this is a Classic South Park Episode.....

only its actually happening,

[feelfree4u]

"you can''t love anyone, if you can''t love yourself".

Posted by brianbwb

Amen.

[brianbwb-2009]

Posted by FeelFree4U

No, there is no one that s-temper doesn''t hate, he even hates himself.

It is obvious from his posts that someone destroyed his sense of self worth as a child, it often happens from twisted interpretations of religion telling him since he was very young that he is a dirty sinner, and only Jayeezusss can save his soul.

This is no way to develop a sense of self love, self respect, and self esteem, in the face of such indoctrination, and you know the old saying goes "you can''t love anyone, if you can''t love yourself".

[feelfree4u]

Hey S_Temper,

Is there anyone that you don''t hate?

From another thread:

"Hey, stupid American Jew "journalists" - there is NO PLACE for any woman in the Muslim terrorist movement! Get it through your stupid JEW heads!!!"

Posted by S_Temper at 12:48 AM : Jun 02, 2008

[rickstas]

This assshole has a lot of nerve telling other to be responsible. If he and *****, the vice president, were responsible, they''d be hanged along with Saddam!

[messiahx4eve]

I remember way back in 1998 when the lil'' pudsmack came to our campus in texass looking for potential voters, he approached me and my service dog and asked me "if mah dog was one of them thar eye watchin'' dogs?" I burst out laughing and he got sort of flustered and apologized but I said it was okay, and I thought to my self that no one in their right mind will vote for this clown, at least not legally knowing they were.

[demwatcher]

And the Liberal academia once again spoils what should have been a memorable event in these student''s lives.

As if their spewing leftist propaganda instead of education wasn''t bad enough.

[mikekleber]

What a hypocrit, Talk about responsibility, Bush was given the task of running our country, after eight long years, his irresponsibility has destroyed the USA and it will take a long time to get back what he lost due to greed, his own and all of the people around

[sasi1-2009]

Crying shame he never took his own advice! It is unbelievable that he actually graduated from college, and amazing that this college wanted him as a speaker!

[norcalruss]

O yeah, %u201Cbe responsible%u201D real meaningful words coming from one of the most lying, incompetent, corrupt, and morally reprehensible world leaders in modern history. He is a fine one to speak about being responsible. Was George Dimwit Bush responsible when he lied this nation into war? When he repeatedly and flagrantly violated international law, the Geneva Convention, domestic law, the will of the people, and violated the integrity and honor of the office of the US presidency? It%u2019s just seven more months, thank God, before this lying sack of Texas trash is back where he belongs, chopping wood on his ranch.

[fireceos]

The entire college should have simply failed to show up at this graduation and held another one. That would have been cool.

[hungry1968]

step on a nerve did i?

Posted by jamesm12341 at 09:46 PM : Jun 01, 2008




You give yourself credit for "actually being relevant".

Trust me - you aren''t.

[hungry1968]

nope...he never said that

Posted by jamesm12341 at 09:12 PM : Jun 01, 2008




Another stinging retort from the intellectually challenged.

[j-whitman]

Bush To Grads: Be Responsible,,,, ROTFLOL straight out of the horses asss

[sgtrds-e4]

Bush to grads, "be a drunken loser, unless abstaining means winning votes from evangelicals, and ride your daddies coat tail, and if you can steal from the country to make your friends stinkin'''' rich, then go for it".

Posted by iphyt4u at 09:04 PM : Jun 01, 2008

Oh and you forgot "Shovel fist-fulls of coke up your nose so you''re sooooooo stoned you don''t dare take your flight physical and then go AWOL. Don''t worry, daddy will buy your way out of it."