This forum is hosted for free by Boardhost. Create your own free forum!
1 of 1- Rongone
- Sentient Being
Offline 
- From: Keeping Calm, Sailing On
- Registered: 1/31/2015
- Posts: 2,872
R. E. S. P. E. C. T. Betsy DeVos finds out what it means
Betsy DeVoid . . . Errrrrr, I mean DeVos just can't get any respect. find out what it means to me
Maybe because she just doesn't deserve any as a totally unqualified Secretary of Education.
Sock it to me.
DeVos booed speaking at historically black university
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Many of the graduating students turned their backs on Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and boos nearly drowned out her commencement speech Wednesday at Bethune-Cookman University.
DeVos carried on with her keynote address to the historically black university, praising its founder Mary McLeod Bethune as someone who "refused to accept systemic and repulsive racism," and had "the courage to change old ideas."
"Let's choose to hear one another out," DeVos said, reading her prepared text in a measured tone despite continuing waves of boos, catcalls and scattered applause.
"I am here to demonstrate in the most direct way possible that I and the administration are fully committed to your success and to the success of every student across this great country," she said.
As the crowd kept trying to shout her down, university president Edison Jackson briefly took over the microphone to lecture the students before she continued.
"If this behavior continues, your degrees will be mailed to you. Choose which way you want to go," Jackson warned.
DeVos, a Republican fundraiser without classroom experience, offended many African-Americans in February when she said historically black colleges are the "real pioneers when it comes to school choice." After a storm of criticism, she acknowledged that these colleges were "born, not out of mere choice, but out of necessity, in the face of racism."
DeVos has continued since then to cite historically black colleges as alternative options for quality education, her stated goal for promoting the diversion of tax money to private and charter schools.
Some alumni and African-American leaders had called the invitation insensitive and misguided. Students gathered petitions demanding she not be allowed to speak. Before the address, activists lined a sidewalk. One sign said "DeVos is not worthy."
Jackson had been accused of selling out the school by inviting DeVos.
Before she left, he gave her a hug, then took back the podium to comment on the spectacle.
"As we have said repeatedly, be careful of the people you let in your place," Jackson said, acknowledging the criticism. But he said "Bethune-Cookman University can't do it alone. We need everyone to be a part of this continuation of our institution."
Last edited by Rongone (5/10/2017 3:26 pm)
- Goose
- Cogito ergo sum
Offline
- Registered: 1/29/2015
- Posts: 13,427
Re: R. E. S. P. E. C. T. Betsy DeVos finds out what it means
And, just days ago her boss suggested that the funding of historically black colleges is unconstitutional.
Did she expect a ticker tape parade?
We live in a time in which decent and otherwise sensible people are surrendering too easily to the hectoring of morons or extremists.
- TheLagerLad
- Exchange Beer Snob
Offline
- From: Bucks County, PA
- Registered: 1/29/2015
- Posts: 2,055
Re: R. E. S. P. E. C. T. Betsy DeVos finds out what it means
Goose wrote:
And, just days ago her boss suggested that the funding of historically black colleges is unconstitutional.
Did she expect a ticker tape parade?
Not a ticker tape parade, but I thought what the students did was totally over the line.
They could have walked out, or turned their backs. But what they did to an invited guest of their school was beneath the level of adult behavior.
I think you're going to see a lot of different United States of America over the next three, four, or eight years. - President Donald J. Trump
- tennyson
- Exchanger
Offline
- Registered: 2/06/2015
- Posts: 6,654
Re: R. E. S. P. E. C. T. Betsy DeVos finds out what it means
And, just days ago her boss suggested that the funding of historically black colleges is unconstitutional.
Did she expect a ticker tape parade?Not a ticker tape parade, but I thought what the students did was totally over the line.
They could have walked out, or turned their backs. But what they did to an invited guest of their school was beneath the level of adult behavior.
The thing is we still have the right to protest and whatever form that takes as long as it is not violent should be protected no matter what you think of the behavior. That is the foundation of our country. I agree there certainly were alternate methods to show their displeasure, but it sure did get the message across with their displeasure with Devos and Trump's signaling that he may not implement construction funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities due to supposed constitutional concerns.
Last edited by tennyson (5/11/2017 11:03 am)
"Do not confuse motion and progress, A rocking horse keeps moving but does not make any progress"
- Rongone
- Sentient Being
Offline
- From: Keeping Calm, Sailing On
- Registered: 1/31/2015
- Posts: 2,872
Re: R. E. S. P. E. C. T. Betsy DeVos finds out what it means
"Not a ticker tape parade, but I thought what the students did was totally over the line.
They could have walked out, or turned their backs. But what they did to an invited guest of their school was beneath the level of adult behavior.". Lager
Speaking as someone who spent the mid to late 60's in college, I thought the students purported themselves well, demonstrated their disapproval with no violence, and got their point across to DeVos and the school administration that invited her to speak at the student's graduation.
- •
Thread Starter- TheLagerLad
- Exchange Beer Snob
Offline
- From: Bucks County, PA
- Registered: 1/29/2015
- Posts: 2,055
Re: R. E. S. P. E. C. T. Betsy DeVos finds out what it means
And, just days ago her boss suggested that the funding of historically black colleges is unconstitutional.
Did she expect a ticker tape parade?Not a ticker tape parade, but I thought what the students did was totally over the line.
They could have walked out, or turned their backs. But what they did to an invited guest of their school was beneath the level of adult behavior.
The thing is we still have the right to protest and whatever form that takes as long as it is not violent should be protected no matter what you think of the behavior. That is the foundation of our country. I agree there certainly were alternate methods to show their displeasure, but it sure did get the message across with their displeasure with Devos and Trump's signaling that he may not implement construction funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities due to supposed constitutional concerns.
Of course their right to shout at Betsy Devos should be protected.
But you are assuming that everyone attending that ceremony, and particularly the graduates, were in lock step as it pertains to Betsy Devos, Donald Trump, or politics in general.
Shouldn't those students be able to enjoy their graduation and the speaker without an unruly mob disrupting the proceedings?
I think you're going to see a lot of different United States of America over the next three, four, or eight years. - President Donald J. Trump
- Goose
- Cogito ergo sum
Offline
- Registered: 1/29/2015
- Posts: 13,427
Re: R. E. S. P. E. C. T. Betsy DeVos finds out what it means
And, just days ago her boss suggested that the funding of historically black colleges is unconstitutional.
Did she expect a ticker tape parade?Not a ticker tape parade, but I thought what the students did was totally over the line.
They could have walked out, or turned their backs. But what they did to an invited guest of their school was beneath the level of adult behavior.
Yea, Kinda like yelling "You lie!" at the President of the United States during the State of the Union Address.
Where would students ever learn to be so rude?
Last edited by Goose (5/11/2017 2:21 pm)
We live in a time in which decent and otherwise sensible people are surrendering too easily to the hectoring of morons or extremists.
- tennyson
- Exchanger
Offline
- Registered: 2/06/2015
- Posts: 6,654
Re: R. E. S. P. E. C. T. Betsy DeVos finds out what it means
Not a ticker tape parade, but I thought what the students did was totally over the line.
They could have walked out, or turned their backs. But what they did to an invited guest of their school was beneath the level of adult behavior.
The thing is we still have the right to protest and whatever form that takes as long as it is not violent should be protected no matter what you think of the behavior. That is the foundation of our country. I agree there certainly were alternate methods to show their displeasure, but it sure did get the message across with their displeasure with Devos and Trump's signaling that he may not implement construction funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities due to supposed constitutional concerns.
Of course their right to shout at Betsy Devos should be protected.
But you are assuming that everyone attending that ceremony, and particularly the graduates, were in lock step as it pertains to Betsy Devos, Donald Trump, or politics in general.
Shouldn't those students be able to enjoy their graduation and the speaker without an unruly mob disrupting the proceedings?
I hope I did not imply that everyone (or even most) were in lock step with the vocal protesters. I really don't know. I did agree that they certainly could have found a more adult way to protest, but my main point is that this is what allows us to set ourselves apart from other places, our ability to use our protests in any form we choose. As I said, it certainly got their point across. I am sure it upset some if not many of the attendees. What really blows my mind is that she was invited to speak there.
Why does anyone here think she was specifically chosen to speak ? It just seems like it was asking for trouble.
"Do not confuse motion and progress, A rocking horse keeps moving but does not make any progress"
- Just Fred
- Duke of Cortona
Offline
- Registered: 1/29/2015
- Posts: 3,863
Re: R. E. S. P. E. C. T. Betsy DeVos finds out what it means
rongone is right. This day was supposed to be about the student graduates, not Betsy DeVos. If the administration wanted to have her speak, they could have invited her another time. The focus was to be about the graduates, not the heir to an Amway pyramid scam who never attended a public educational institution.