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kpete

(71,996 posts)
Mon Dec 18, 2017, 08:29 PM Dec 2017

Students turn their back to Betsy DeVos during commencement speech

Last edited Tue Dec 19, 2017, 09:42 AM - Edit history (1)



Graduates protested Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos during a commencement address at the University of Baltimore on Wednesday.

Students stood and turned away from DeVos during her speech, The Baltimore Sun reported.


One woman who stood had “#Not my commencement speaker” written on the back of her cap.

A faculty member on the stage also protested DeVos, and several graduates raised their fists.







http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/365483-university-of-baltimore-students-protest-devos-during-commencement
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Students turn their back to Betsy DeVos during commencement speech (Original Post) kpete Dec 2017 OP
I hope DeVoss takes it personally Ilsa Dec 2017 #1
What Feelings? ProfessorGAC Dec 2017 #3
She probably paused and wondered what everyone was looking at. Gidney N Cloyd Dec 2017 #4
K&R BumRushDaShow Dec 2017 #2
DeVos as a member of the Destruction Cabinet is doing nothing good for America. democratisphere Dec 2017 #5
Is she still here? I thought she would have gone home to her mansion in Michigan by now. Irish_Dem Dec 2017 #6
But she still has the Lord's work to do, TexasTowelie Dec 2017 #9
They do evil in God's name. It is like a form of blasphemy. Irish_Dem Dec 2017 #19
She said last week that she is just getting started. secondwind Dec 2017 #12
Oh no. :( Irish_Dem Dec 2017 #20
Love it. Way to RESIST the nonsensical Trump Administration iluvtennis Dec 2017 #7
The Secretary of Education... IluvPitties Dec 2017 #8
She doesn't care. Kajun Gal Dec 2017 #10
Why do these colleges invite these morans? ProudLib72 Dec 2017 #11
Gutsy kids SpankMe Dec 2017 #13
BRAVO graduates! NastyRiffraff Dec 2017 #14
We did the same in the late 60';s and 70's dixiegrrrrl Dec 2017 #23
I know, I was at the "infamous" Berkeley! NastyRiffraff Dec 2017 #24
I wouldn't have even shown up to walk if I had known ahead of time... Volaris Dec 2017 #15
Good for them...she's horrible... Upthevibe Dec 2017 #16
They should have mooned her Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Dec 2017 #17
The Perfect Response! Collimator Dec 2017 #18
I wish she would hurry up and resign fescuerescue Dec 2017 #21
You can be sure that trump radical noodle Dec 2017 #26
why in the HELLLLLLL was that useless twit even invited ti speak in the first place? niyad Dec 2017 #22
Why would she continue to accept - given the humiliation. she must be really stupid. Laura PourMeADrink Dec 2017 #25

Ilsa

(61,695 posts)
1. I hope DeVoss takes it personally
Mon Dec 18, 2017, 08:38 PM
Dec 2017

because that is intended.
I hope her feelings were hurt. Snowflake.

TexasTowelie

(112,250 posts)
9. But she still has the Lord's work to do,
Mon Dec 18, 2017, 09:23 PM
Dec 2017

or the devil's. There is much work to do.

To DeVos, the whole protest equals a "whatever".

Irish_Dem

(47,131 posts)
19. They do evil in God's name. It is like a form of blasphemy.
Tue Dec 19, 2017, 11:10 AM
Dec 2017

Yes they could care less about what the people think.

ProudLib72

(17,984 posts)
11. Why do these colleges invite these morans?
Mon Dec 18, 2017, 09:37 PM
Dec 2017

Oh please most hated sec of education that has ever been, come speak at our commencement and we will give you a check for a bazillion dollars. Whoever decided it was a good idea to invite her needs to be fired. Students don't want to hear her crap.

dixiegrrrrl

(60,010 posts)
23. We did the same in the late 60';s and 70's
Tue Dec 19, 2017, 09:30 PM
Dec 2017

Esp. after the killing at Kent State.
Our whole university walked out that week.

NastyRiffraff

(12,448 posts)
24. I know, I was at the "infamous" Berkeley!
Tue Dec 19, 2017, 11:28 PM
Dec 2017

Yes, there were walkouts, student takeover of the student union, lots of protests.

Volaris

(10,272 posts)
15. I wouldn't have even shown up to walk if I had known ahead of time...
Mon Dec 18, 2017, 10:37 PM
Dec 2017

Let that mental deficient play to an empty room and I'll pick up my piece of paper in the morning.

Upthevibe

(8,053 posts)
16. Good for them...she's horrible...
Mon Dec 18, 2017, 11:29 PM
Dec 2017

I heard that she's trying to do away with loan forgiveness for students who were ripped off from some of the for-profit schools.

Collimator

(1,639 posts)
18. The Perfect Response!
Tue Dec 19, 2017, 12:37 AM
Dec 2017

Calmly and firmly turning one's back is the best message that can be sent.

I have often thought that such a response would be powerful at a KKK parade, or, regarding more recent events, alt-right demonstrations.

Confronting such people with shouts and shaken fists (no matter how good it may feel) presents one particular drawback. Photos and video images will show faces contorted with anger--and without context, the side supporting tolerance, inclusiveness and brotherly love can be hard to identify.

Refusing such hate-groups the right to gather and march has its own drawbacks, as anyone who really respects the First Amendment will understand.

Then there is the problem of the one hot-head whose desire for peace, love and equality seems pretty insincere when he throws something, or thwacks something or MacGyvers a flame thrower. It is actions such as that which can produce a false equivalency statement about hatred "on many sides."

Imagine if white supremacists were marching along, and instead of crowds jeering from the sides of the streets, every person resolutely turned their backs, one by one, as the parade of hate moved along. Imagine if the spectators held hands, reaffirming their simple, human connection.

It would probably be scary, because people are vulnerable when their backs are turned. It would require almost superhuman self-control. However, Dr. King and others managed it 50 years ago and the world DID change. Not as much as we would have liked to believe, but their efforts did yield fruit.

We now have people in power who would like to return us to a time even further back than 50 years, but there is a factor working against them.

Jean Auel, in one of her Earth's Children[R] novels. used the analogy of a piece of leather, that-- once stretched--can never return to its original size and shape.

All "alternate facts" aside, the human race has been stretched beyond its former, tribalist perspectives. We've left our planet, and looked upon it with the eyes of God. There are landmasses to be seen from space, but no nations. Wind and rain and sun move across the curved surface of our world and touch us all.

DNA testing has confirmed what every myth and legend has taught us, we come from one source, and we are blood and bone of each other.

We aren't the same people we were 50 years ago. Some of the same problems are rearing their ugly heads again, but we have new knowledge and new resources to carry on the work.

However, sometimes it is simple common sense that is needed. When a toddler throws a tantrum because he wants things his way and no other way will do, he is best ignored. Giving into his anger is, of course, a disaster. Beating back at his anger with greater fury and physical intimidation will produce a different disaster for the child and his future relationships.

He will have to learn-- be reasonable, approach others with respect, and your needs will be acknowledged, even if you don't get everything you desire. But if you absolutely refuse to acknowledge the feelings of others, you don't deserve our attention.

That is the message to send. Being ignored would be the worst possible punishment for for Trump and Company. Think of it this way--money is just a pile of paper if no one will give you what you want in exchange for it. And Trump himself would stop breathing if people stopped noting his existance.

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