Alum responds to protestors at Bush speech

I was disappointed (but hardly surprised) to read accounts of the "protest" against President Bush's participation in the Fares lecture series. How curious that those who purport to be the champions of open mindedness, racial and cultural sensitivity and gender neutrality are the first to make every effort to quash any idea that does not conform to their own. How can anyone simultaneously desecrate this nation's symbol while running for cover behind the first amendment of the document it represents without recognizing the inherent hypocrisy of their actions? These are not voices of dissent, but infantile cries for attention.

I say I'm not surprised because almost exactly 20 years ago, I watched these same idiots shout down Henry Kissinger for the crime of accepting an invitation to speak at the Fletcher school. Never mind what he might have had to say, it surely wouldn't have conformed with the leftist world view required by his detractors. None benefited that night from his perspective, whether or not they agreed with it, as Mr. Kissinger declined to continue his address rather than suffer the indignity of being peppered with profanity. No one was exposed to the thoughts and opinions of a man who, for better OR worse, had a hand in shaping late 20th century history. No one, pro or con, would ask a question about his role in the Viet Nam conflict, normalizing relations with the world's most populous nation or the machinations of the Nixon Administration. Thank heaven we were kept safe from exposure to what ever horror might have emanated from this man's mouth.

So the next time your $30,000 per year education affords you the privilege of hearing first hand the thoughts, opinions and perspectives of a person who has likely accomplished more than you ever will, borne responsibilities that you will never know, faced decisions that impact an entire nation, if not the world, shut up and listen. Then, by all means, ask difficult, pointed (and hopefully intelligent) questions. You may not agree with the answers, but you'll most assuredly learn from them. Isn't that why you're there in the first place?



Lon Swain

(LA '84)