Comments on: First responders

By: Ann Marie Nehme '70

Ann Marie Nehme '70 — Mon, 28 Aug 2006 20:03:34 +0000

I am very disappointed that BC would select Condolezza Rice as an honoree at Commencement. Although I fully support a free exchange of ideas and exposure of controversial people and topics at the University, inviting her to commencement implies a certain honor to this person whose values run counter to many basic Jesuit ideals. I am truly disappointed.

By: Meredith Porter

Meredith Porter — Wed, 24 May 2006 15:07:15 +0000

The debate is not about Rice being black or being a woman, it is about to whom BC extends invite to their commencement and honor with a degree. Though I applaud the debate which has ensued, in that it means we have an actively political and highly involved alumni community, can we please re-focus our questions on holding our leaders accountable for domestic and foreign policy that do not reflect our country’s values and culture? This is what needs to be addressed, and what confuses me about the choice of Rice as speaker and honoree: we are not examining whether or not it is appropriate to welcome someone to campus and ask her to address the graduates and their families, someone that has not yet been held accountable for her actions. People are dying in our war everyday, and though I understand the issues to be far more complicated than this mere fact, we need to ask ourselves if an arm of this administration should be welcomed and lauded in this manner. It surprises me that people are so incensed that Rice has been met with debate: do those people close their eyes and ears when the news displays the number of dead men and women each night? Or, perhaps they only expose themselves to mainstream media, so that their already narrowly focused vision for America can be affirmed by lapdog talking heads that regurgitate White House commentary like “mission accomplished” and “there is no Civil War in Iraq?”

By: James F. Stapleton, Esq.

James F. Stapleton, Esq. — Mon, 22 May 2006 13:19:11 +0000

Why is there a debate over the invitation to the Secretary of State? Do our professors and students only like successful black women when they are liberal Democrats?

By: James M. Droney Jr., Class of 1974

James M. Droney Jr., Class of 1974 — Mon, 22 May 2006 13:17:01 +0000

I find it incredible that such an accomplished woman, and a minority at that, has spurred such hatred and negativity from the faculty of my Alma Mater. I suppose the bottom line is that it demonstrates clearly the insidious and selectively intolerant leftist culture that has affected most college campuses, even the supposed inclusive and worldly perspective of our Jesuit institution. When cop killers, strident feminists, atheists and anti-Catholics are openly welcomed to campus, but a woman of Ms. Rice’s stature is excoriated, I can only think of two words to aptly describe the situation: FOR SHAME!

James M. Droney Jr., Class of 1974

By: Elizabeth Kennedy La Grua MEd '65

Elizabeth Kennedy La Grua MEd '65 — Mon, 22 May 2006 13:16:16 +0000

In the future, please do not call me or send me mail requesting a donation. I cannot in good conscience support a university that awards an honorary degree to someone like Condolezza Rice. She may be a very powerful woman but she strongly supports a corrupt government and an unjust war that even the Pope has condemned.

Elizabeth Kennedy La Grua MEd ’65

By: Jay Conklin, Class of 1966

Jay Conklin, Class of 1966 — Mon, 22 May 2006 13:14:54 +0000

It is an insult to BC students, faculty and alumni to have Condi Rice receive an honorary degree from BC. She represents one of the worst administrations in our country’s history. The Iraq war will be seen in the same light as Vietnam, a tragic waste. She played an instrumental part in creating and maintaining this fiasco.

Jay Conklin, Class of 1966.

By: Michael Daniels A&S '76

Michael Daniels A&S '76 — Mon, 22 May 2006 13:13:12 +0000

I strongly object to Ms. Rice speaking at a day for celebration. A forum for debate and open discussion is much more appropriate. Moreover, selecting Ms. Rice is a strong implication of support for war and death which are not the values I learned at Boston College. Right person for debate, wrong venue.

Michael Daniels A&S ’76

By: Robert B. Carr '58

Robert B. Carr '58 — Mon, 22 May 2006 13:10:49 +0000

Please extend my thanks to Fr. Leahy for his decision to honor Dr. Rice. I was embarrassed and upset to hear the outcry of those who profess to be open minded and non-discriminating. I only hope that Dr. Rice’s address to the graduating body will be poignant and inspiring in support of her views and those of the Bush Administration and are shared by me

Robert B. Carr ’58, Sanford, Maine

By: Frank C. Zolli

Frank C. Zolli — Mon, 22 May 2006 13:08:12 +0000

I like your new product. Keep up the good work. I am going to take a moment to sound off on one of your stories.

Many of my closest friends in the class of 1962 went into the military. We followed a long tradition at The Heights of doing so. The Jesuits had no difficulty supporting our efforts at that time. As a Navy officer I served at sea during the Cuban Missile Crisis and during the tragic times surrounding the assassination of President Kennedy. On my ship there were more junior officers from BC than from any other university. At the risk of sounding like I speak for my friends, I can say we gained an appreciation for national security not presently available to most other college graduates.

I returned to BC for graduate studies in 1965. I was there for most of the early upheavals related to the Vietnam War. I am sorry to say that I see some of the same behavior being elicited now regarding the Secretary of State as I did then. Passionate utterances, devoid of any understanding of broad national interests are perhaps excusable in the undergraduates. They are simply irresponsible in faculty members.

The problems in the Middle East are the culmination of 50 years of greed and self-interest: European countries sold their principles for oil and access to markets; despots gladly insured their continuing dynasties for trade. The people were ignored. It can’t continue.

There are some 500 million young men in third world countries around the world who will never hold a job in their entire lives because their economies and governments are unable to provide them. What happens when the oil runs out will be the spark that detonates the chaos. Unless freedom, democracy and open markets are allowed to take root, the present problems in the Middle East will pale before the destruction the world will see in that grim future.

Secretary Rice understands this and is asking us as a nation to face up to what must be done. It is an unpleasant request, designed to shake us from our materialist self-confidence. For this alone, she should be honored.

Previous graduates of BC have contributed their lives to keep both this nation and the world free. It is not too much to ask one to remember that, and to consider carefully the implications of positions that feel good but accomplish little.

Respectfully,
Frank C. Zolli
AB, ’62, MA, ’70

By: David de la Tour

David de la Tour — Mon, 22 May 2006 13:05:56 +0000

I am ashamed that BC could have a controversy about the first African-American Female Secretary of State. I am embarrassed as an alumnus.