posted
Each of my older sons graduated with almost 1000 students in their respective classes. Two lines going with alternating names. They didn't stop for anything, and it seemed like I was at basketball game--air horns, hooting, etc. They just pressed on.
Posts: 6550 | Registered: Sep 2005
| IP: Logged |
quote:I say let the audience cheer as much as they want. However, make no pause. If they're still cheering when it's time to announce the next name, the announcer just says the name anyway.
That has to be the worst graduation idea ever.
What if it's your grandchild, and you have traveled many miles to see his or her graduation, and you can't even hear his name due to the screaming masses?
Yeah, awful.
This actually happened to my BIL. His only child was graduating, and he totally missed the diploma handshake, because the sound system was awful, and there were screaming masses behind us.
quote:They didn't stop for anything, and it seemed like I was at basketball game--air horns, hooting, etc. They just pressed on.
I just truly hate when our society caves to the hooting, baboon-like masses.
quote: That has to be the worst graduation idea ever.
Then we will need to agree to disagree.
I know the only reason I went to the two graduations I did go to was because I was bribed. I didn't want to go. The ceremony was for my parents.
So, if it is for the parents or the grandparents, why is it that the boring ones get to set the rules?
Posts: 11023 | Registered: Oct 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
Yup, what SW said, exactly. Aren't there some boundaries that need to exist simply out of decency to everyone in a group, collectively & individually?
Graduations used to be the very soul of decorum & dignity, which may have been too extreme on one end. Y'know, "Pomp & Circumstances" by the school orchestra, solemn & serious grads in caps & gowns, proud families gathered to honor what used to be considered quite an feat. At my HS commencement, "Pomp" sounded like a dirge, & the young ladies & gentlemen wore skirts, dresses, suits, & ties under the gowns.
Then it all started loosening up, which isn't such a bad thing. But why does every single event in our lives need to be a circus or some other form of entertainment?
I have an idea whose time has come, & maybe it should take the place of grads lining up to have their names called & diplomas presented. Of course, have outstanding grads speak, along with a faculty/staff member or two, & anyone receiving an honorary diploma.
If there is a limited number of special honors bestowed at graduation, like summa cum laude, those could be given a mention on the program.
Then have the class stand & admin's walk along the rows & hand out diplomas, accompanied by a respectable musical number (not necessarily Elgar but not the latest rap hit either). Or if facilities allow, show a movie of the class & its activities & achievements. With most high schools now offering journalism, broadcasting, & film, those classes could collaborate to create it from photos or video taken over the years. Be sure every grad is shown at least once, as an individual or in a group. Later, every grad could be sent a copy of the movie.
During the diploma presentation, if folks want to yell & drown out the music, or point out their little darlings (or monsters) on the screen, let 'em. They won't be drowning out anyone's name & denying them their nano-second in the limelight.
Posts: 13221 | Registered: Apr 2005
| IP: Logged |
quote: Must you also be "bribed" to attend sacrament meeting?
The purpose of going to sacrament is not to get a piece of paper with some writing on it. Where the value of said paper gets more and more meaningless as time progresses.
Posts: 11023 | Registered: Oct 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
Yeah, it's all well and good to talk about the way graduations "should" be. The reality is that they're not, and no amount of effort is going to change the fact that when you have a thousand graduates, each with dozen friends and family members cheering, you don't stop and wait for it to get quiet. Unless you want to be there until 2:00 a.m.
Make all the noise you want, we're pressing on. What else can you do? Cancel graduation because the people attending have no sense of decorum? (That's actually a good idea. A small family gathering would have been much more meaningful. Nobody cares about listening to the superintendent and other speakers drone on for 15 minutes each.)
Posts: 6550 | Registered: Sep 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
When my nephew graduated from college, he was only allowed two guests. Seems reasonable to me. When my DiL graduated, any number of guests were allowed. When we arrived 20 minutes early, all the seats were reserved by the early family representative. Very annoying. The audience was told to be quiet, take photos from the side, etc.. All of which was ignored. Not only did we not hear her name but we couldn't see past all the photographers standing in front of the graduates.
Posts: 5188 | Registered: Aug 2002
| IP: Logged |
quote: The reality is that they're not, and no amount of effort is going to change the fact ...
I think that if every graduation began with an appeal to the audience not to behave like trash, eventually, over the years, things would improve.
I hope some day our society tries this and proves me correct. I believe that setting expectations and expressing them can have positive results.
I find it astounding that an LDS person would just cave like you appear to be doing. Maybe it isn't as important as I think it is for there to be some respect and decorum at graduations.
But seriously, when did caving in to bad behaviour become okay?
Actually, the last two high school graduations I attended, at the local high school, were like night and day in this regard.
The first year, there was all manner of unkempt behavior in both the audience and the students. It was held outside on the football field, and the students were actually throwing water balloons during the ceremony.
The next year, there was a new principal. Clear expectations were expressed to the students beforehand, and to the audience at the beginning of the ceremony. It was a good ceremony. None of those awful air horns. No water balloons.
So, I guess it is possible to improve things. Of course, there were teachers standing among the students watching for contraband. But there wasn't any.
It just takes some competence among those planning and putting on the event, I suppose.
posted
There's way too much letting things slide these days because "we can't do anything about it". What happened to respect? I'm with SW on this one.
Posts: 5673 | Registered: Sep 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
I think the root of the problem is expectations of what a graduation should be. In the past graduations, and often currently, graduations are boring affairs with much pontification about what a bright future these people represent.
More recently, seems like people are looking at graduations as a celebration of an accomplishment. So, is this another case of just because it's different it's bad? This is not a case where an acknowledged all wise person (e.g. God) has set forth a standard. This is a man made institution.
As such, it is subject to change.
Posts: 11023 | Registered: Oct 2004
| IP: Logged |
quote:...So, is this another case of just because it's different it's bad?
....
As such, it is subject to change.
Perhaps I am too traditional. I offered that as a possibility earlier.
I think the different entities should sit down and actually think about what they want to accomplish with their graduation and other ceremonies, and then plan accordingly.
Perhaps they could have a big old party, and then mail out the diplomas. No problem.
I am not opposed to change. I am not opposed to doing things differently.
I am opposed to just saying "we need to do it differently," and then blowing an air horn into Grandma's ear with no thought as to how one or two families' goals affect the entire audience. That isn't what I would call a positive change, frankly.
I think there is enough variation within graduations and ceremonies to allow each and every high school and college to be its very own special snowflake.
At my personal graduation, we changed a whole lot of things. We kept it short. We had only student speakers. We had tryouts for the speeches beforehand to make sure they would be good. We had three musical numbers. I loved it. But then, I was head of the committee, so of course it was done correctly. Suffice it to say that (even at that time in my life) very few dared to ruin "my" ceremony with an air horn.
quote: I am opposed to just saying "we need to do it differently," and then blowing an air horn into Grandma's ear with no thought as to how one or two families' goals affect the entire audience. That isn't what I would call a positive change, frankly.
Reminds me of a situation a couple years ago. There is a lady who is very good at presenting the aura of I'm a very righteous person (keeping in mind when I say good at, I'm saying she's able to do this without giving the impression that she's saying I'm better than you).
And because of this most excellent skill at presenting her thoughts as being the right thoughts (and still not communicating to the listener any form of one up manship). She can convince people that cooperating with her wants and desires is a good thing (gee this sounds so much more evil when I type it, but really she's not).
OK, the particular scenario is that her son was in cub scouts, and the meeting time was inconvenient for her. So, she talks to the den leader. So, what happens is the den leader agrees to change the time right off the bat. No, I understand your conflict let me poll the other parents to see if we can find something mutually beneficial.
Just to be clear, it's the last sentence, of the previous paragraph that was keyed in my memory. But, that would have been meaningless without the preamble.
posted
Getting back to the original theme of this thread, now we've seen it all.
The life cycle of every corrupt or destructive custom or tradition in society looks something like this: First we deplore, then we tolerate, then we accept, then we approve, & finally we celebrate.
quote:A letter from the school was sent to parents explaining the incident, officials said. Lynn D. Brown, the school’s principal, wrote: “It is unfortunate that adults chose to resolve a conflict in this way in front of our youngest boys and girls.”
posted
And we thought Little League having to keep parents behind a fence was bad.
A melee over sharing a cap & gown? And I imagine these "adults" are the first ones admonishing their kids to share & cooperate, right?
The linked article said someone suggested the brawl was really about a man. More . When I was 5 years old (& when I was 10, 15, & 25), the last thing my parents would have fought about (because it's the last thing they would have thought about) was a "third party."
posted
What makes me go hmmm is the kick stand. He's stranded in the desert and he's going to take the time to add a kick stand?
Posts: 11023 | Registered: Oct 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
And it looks like there had to be some welding. If not, there had to be some way to make some pretty heavy clamps, and that would require some cutting and bending. I'm skeptical. You don't get stranded in the desert with an acetylene torch and a sheet metal brake.
Posts: 6550 | Registered: Sep 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
Well, this IS Portland. Such antics pass for free speech there & in places like San Francisco, Berserkly, Santa Cruz, & maybe Madison, Wisconsin.
OTOH, if you speak out for traditional marriage, you get accused of Hate Speech.
posted
BSA and Chick-fil-A both know which side their bread is buttered on. In the case of BSA, the LDS church is the largest single sponsor of scout units. The LDS church has publicly stated that it will withdraw from the scouting program if forced to accept openly homosexual leaders. In the case of Chick-fil-A, the majority of their customer base are Christians who support the business's commitment to conservative Christian principles, like closing on Sundays.
Posts: 6550 | Registered: Sep 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
Chick-fil-a rocks. Like unimaginably rocks. The recent Waldo Canyon fire here in Colorado Springs put a street behind the evacuation line containing both my job and a Chick-Fil-A. I was eagerly waiting news on when I could go back to work. My job was constantly updating information. I also had news shows, live feeds, around-the-clock reporting - the best the internet and broadcast media had to offer.
But guess what - the first I heard about the evac order lifting, came from my cell phone. The local Chick-Fil-A sent me a text message saying "We will be open for lunch Friday", and giving street directions to avoid closed streets and roadblocks.
Ever think McDonalds will be that cool? I don't think so.
quote: BSA and Chick-fil-A both know which side their bread is buttered on.
It couldn't be that they just had standards. BSA hand has been forced to make a stand, whereas Chick-fil-A could have just stayed silent. Had CFA just remained silent, the business would have stayed out of the target zone but the CEO willingly stepped into the line of fire. That says something.
Posts: 5188 | Registered: Aug 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
"It couldn't be that they just had standards."
Indeed. Everyone has some sort of standards or "standards."
Some people get their moral & ethical directions from a weathervane, others from a compass. For some people, their greatest dread is to be on the "wrong side of history" as the philosophies of man "evolve." For others, their greatest reward is to be on the right side of an omniscient God.
posted
I've read a few news articles which discuss how this tragedy will affect the film's earnings for this weekend. Those people need a Chuck Norris style roundhouse kick to the head. We're inescapably lost when profitability becomes the measure of humanity.
Posts: 6550 | Registered: Sep 2005
| IP: Logged |
We knew this would happen. When a major company (say, Starbucks) speaks out in favor of the "gay rights" agenda, they get pats on the back & praises about being Progressive & Tolerant & Open & Accepting, blah blah blah.
But let a business owner speak out for Biblical standards of right & wrong & see where tolerance & acceptance go. The "progressives" & "liberals" are such hypocrites. They aren't even happy with Target, which has donated to conservative & gay causes as part of its community involvement. It isn't enough that they contribute to "gay" this or that - the bigots on the left want them to stop donating to anyone who does not cater to the gay agenda.
BTW, before I forget to mention it, the Pentagon has given permission for uniformed military personnel to march in San Diego's "Gay Pride" parade. It's gotten to the point in this country where it's OK for U.S. government personnel to flaunt their official status at a "Gay" event but it's a grave offense for a private business owner to say he agrees with God. May God help us all.
Posts: 13221 | Registered: Apr 2005
| IP: Logged |
quote:Boston Mayor Thomas Menino waded into the debate, vowing to block Chick-fil-A from opening a franchise in his city.
“Chick-fil-A doesn’t belong in Boston. You can’t have a business in the city of Boston that discriminates against a population. We’re an open city, we’re a city that’s at the forefront of inclusion,” he said.
Somebody give that man a dictionary. Have him look up "discriminate." And while he's at it, have him look up "inclusion."
Posts: 6055 | Registered: Feb 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
Chick-fil-A doesn't prohibit gay people from eating at their restaurants, so how can it be discrimination? Oh, I guess it's discrimination if a person professes a certain conviction. No actions involved, just speech. Which, last time I checked, was still protected. We're almost 30 years past 1984, so Big Brother has been a bit delayed in developing punishment for thought crimes.
quote:Decrease the belief in God, and you increase the numbers of those who wish to play at being God by being 'society's supervisors.' Such 'supervisors' deny the existence of divine standards, but are very serious about imposing their own standards on society. - Neal A. Maxwell
posted
"No actions involved, just speech. Which, last time I checked, was still protected"
This is just what we've been talking about. Speech is selectively protected. If you want to use the tool of speech for something not politically correct or approved by the tolerance Nazis (we can say that because we're way past page 2), your speech is not protected.
The military personnel flaunting their uniforms & their lifestyle choices in San Diego's "gay pride day" are protected, their choices celebrated by a POTUS who vowed to uphold the law of the land but threw DADT & DOMA into the garbage. The owner of Chick-Fil-A displeased the extremists who want to canonize same-sex "marriage" as a civil right & shove God out of public life, & so he is not protected.
posted
They've never seen a disaster, misfortune, atrocity, or American war casualty that they didn't like, & they're at it again. Of course you know who I mean.
Can we just call Orkin?
Posts: 13221 | Registered: Apr 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
Lying to people that you have a Medal of Honor is protected free speech.
Picketing a soldier's funeral with signs reading "God Damn the United States" is protected free speech.
Spending your own money on a television advertisement criticizing an incumbent politician within 30 days of Election Day is not protected free speech. It is regulated by McCain-Feingold, which was upheld by the same Supreme Court that was all cool with lying about your military decorations and throwing out hate speech at a stranger's funeral.
This kind of nonsense can't go on forever. Which means it won't.
Posts: 1121 | Registered: Apr 2011
| IP: Logged |
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
Printer-friendly view of this topic
![[Dont Know]](graemlins/dontknow.gif)
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
Suffice it to say that (even at that time in my life) very few dared to ruin "my" ceremony with an air horn. ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
![[Cool]](cool.gif)
![[Grumble]](graemlins/grumble.gif)
Can we just call Orkin?
![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
