In the Rockford (Illinois) Register Star, Carrie Watters reports Speaker disrupts RC graduation: A New York Times reporter delivers an antiwar speech that offended many:
New York Times reporter Chris Hedges was booed off the stage Saturday at Rockford College’s graduation because he gave an antiwar speech.What is it about a commencement that brings out the political wingnuttery? Why do schools hire political whiners to grace what should be non-political events? Yeah, I'm real sure Phil Donahue and Jessica Lange have important life messages to impart.
Two days later, graduates and family members, envisioning a “go out and make your mark” send-off, are still reeling.
...
Hedges began his abbreviated 18-minute speech comparing United States’ policy in Iraq to piranhas and a tyranny over the weak. His microphone was unplugged within three minutes.
Voices of protest and the sound of foghorns grew.
Some graduates and audience members turned their backs to the speaker in silent protest. Others rushed up the aisle to vocally protest the remarks, and one student tossed his cap and gown to the stage before leaving.
...
“War in the end is always about betrayal. Betrayal of the young by the old, of soldiers by politicians and idealists by cynics,” Hedges said in lecture fashion as jeers and “God Bless Americas” could be heard in the background.
After his microphone was again unplugged, Pribbenow told Hedges to wrap it up.
In any case, stand by for the swoons over "chilling of free speech", but it looks to me like there was a lot of free speech going on at Rockford College.
