President Dr. Obama, as he addressed the 2009 class of the University of Notre Dame, was interrupted 4 times by pro-life hecklers. President Obama accepted an honorary law degree and delivered the graduating commencement speech.
"These honorary degrees are hard to come by... so far, I'm only 1 of 2 as President," Obama said joking about not receiving an honorary degree from Arizona State University earlier this month. Instead, campus officials decided to have a scholarship named after him.
It amazes me that some felt that the President of the nation should have never been invited to the campus. His appearance was clouded by pro-life critics - who intentionally were arrested to make a point.
It is extremely disappointing to know that these students who worked hard for many years studying, only to have the biggest day of the end of their undergraduate days interrupted by people who wanted to inject politics into such a momentous occasion. While I agree that people who have strong beliefs should protest, but these protesters went too far.
I absolutely enjoyed watching Father Jenkins (my hero) handle the scene. He said that the community, public officials and students should use the opportunity of the POTUS coming to campus to "engage in responsible and reasonable dialogue". After all, this is what higher learning is all about. Some may side with pro-choice; others with pro-life - this is what makes us a melting pot of ideas.
President Obama said in his speech, "We are not going to shy away from things that are uncomfortable sometimes."
Whether you agree or disagree with abortions and embryonic stem cell research, one thing that we can take away from this is what Father Jenkins said in his introduction of the President: President Obama is not someone who stops talking to those who differs with him.
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