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Ear to the Ground

Student Tells Why She Ripped McCain as He Listened

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Posted on May 20, 2006

Jean Rohe, the graduating senior at the New School University who spoke just before John McCain’s commencement speech explains why she “tore McCain’s speech apart before he even opened his mouth.”

Huffington Post:

When I was selected as a student speaker for the New School commencement about two months ago I had no idea that I’d end up on CNN and in Maureen Dowd’s column in the New York Times, among other places, when it was all over. One day after the big event I’m still reeling from all the media attention and emails from professors, students, and other supporters from all over the country, so forgive me if my writing is a little scattered.

In my speech yesterday I had hoped to talk about social responsibility in a time of war, but in much more oblique terms. I wanted to speak about communication, and how I have found that one of my strongest and most enjoyable methods of communication is music. I wanted to talk about the New York City public school preschoolers with whom I work each week and how they’ve been empowered through music, how they’ve been able to learn linguistic and social skills by singing together. I wanted to talk about my grandfather, who, despite the fact that he has Alzheimer’s disease and cannot remember even my name, still knows all the songs he sang in his youth. I wanted to talk about music as a powerful tool for peace. I wanted to encourage everyone to identify his or her talents and to always use them for the greater good.

Unfortunately, a certain not-so-dynamic duo of “centrist” politicians foiled my standard graduation speech and forced me to act. Until just the day before commencement I really hadn’t understood the gravity of the situation. I suppose I should tell the story.

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By Hilding Lindquist, May 22, 2006 at 5:25 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

In response to Frank Schneider (Comment #10000) Kristoff Rand (Comment #10004):

I know, I know we should only cheer at the public performances of our leaders. (oops! sorry ... I was looking at the wrong manual ... I’ve been doing some research on communist dictatorships ... gawd, I really am sorry about that ... now where were we?)

Actually, I would have compared the audience to maybe a sports crowd and a zip-10 losing season for the home team. That’s an analogy I could live with.

Or we could go with, “Young people should only make noise when shooting their weapons at our enemies.” or something about cannon fodder might fit whenever we talk about the 18 to 25 year-olds.

And what the hell, I voted for Nixon in 1960! I have never voted for a Clinton and won’t in the future. My view on McCain is that he is a becoming a comic book character in US politics.

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By Kristoff Rand, May 21, 2006 at 7:49 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

just another chance for Democrazies to show that they’re crazy…

I have never spoken with a sane democrat… mmm wonder why that is?

I agree with them on many issues however they only see red when talking to me…

I think it’s because they are too angry to have foresight… bush blew up the trade center, the pentagon was a tomahawk missle… buch planned Iraq before he was elected… bush stole the election..

why is it that you’re all so fraking crazy.. is it a requirment for DNR membership?

I think this girl proves they just want attention.. good attention or bad thats all they want…

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By Frank Sc hneider, May 21, 2006 at 6:41 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

I don’t understand why the school would someone to your school then be rude to them because you disagree with some of their beliefs. It appears to be extremly rude or just plain ignorant.

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By Tim Bickford, May 21, 2006 at 9:46 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

Thank God, for youth like this.  She is fighting the good fight for PEACE.  In America today there is so much pressure to accept misimformation as fact that ethics are almost nonexistant.  Our ongress has sold it cheap and our media usually will aid in selling the deceptions.

It is inspiring to see the youth speak Truth and not sell their self respect to the wealthy interrests that have bought our Congress on both sides of the isle.

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By Hilding Lindquist, May 20, 2006 at 6:02 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

After reading Jean Rohe’s complete post, including her speech, over on huffingtonpost.com (see link above), I can enthusiastically repeat myself from an earlier comment at “McCain Is Booed at Graduation Speech” (Comment #9932 by Hilding Lindquist on 5/20 at 5:41 am):

“Thank god for the young people at The New School. There is hope for a renewal of our humanity.”

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