Three Cheers For Old Notre Dame?

So today is the day that President Barack Obama was honored with an honorary degree and served as the commencement speaker for the University of Notre Dame's class of 2009. Now before I get too deeply into the controversy surrounding the school's invitation to President Obama I must make a couple of things clear. I do not come at this subject as a non-partisan or maybe even all that objectively. You see, I am an ardent supporter of our current president. My wife and myself walked the streets of our hometown registering voters on behalf of the Obama campaign, we went to rallies and gave money too. However, that does not mean I always agree with the 44th president. While I applaud his discontinuation of "enhanced interrogation techniques" (torture), I do not agree that those who committed or ordered the use of these methods should not be prosecuted. I agree with the president regarding civil unions for gay couples but differ with his opinion that gays should not be allowed to marry. And I worry that his efforts to end the war in Iraq may be moving at too slow a pace. That being said, President Obama has at least met me half way on these issues where we have differences.

Which brings me to today's events at Notre Dame. I have always believed that one of the main reasons you go to college is to figure out who you are and what you believe. I also believe the way you do that is to be exposed to those who may differ with you, to hear them out, share your beliefs and then see where you stand. Today Notre Dame honored President Obama. A man whose opinion that abortion should be legal is in opposition to catholic doctrine. And because of this, a sizable number of catholics and conservatives have chosen to protest his invitation if not his very existence. I wonder where these folks were when President Bush spoke to students in 2001. You know, the guy who believes in the death penalty so fervantly that as the Governor of Texas he allowed the execution of people who many considered to be mentally retarded. I lived in South Bend then and don't recall nearly so much of an uproar. Now while I find the death penalty dispicable for many reasons (unfairness in it's adjudication being one), I am certainly not alone. In fact it is against catholic doctrine as well. I also don't recall a stink being raised when Condeleeza Rice was given an honorary degree and who is also pro-choice. So, what gives here?

Being no fan of the procedure myself, I respect the views of those who are against abortion. What I don't understand is the absolute disregard they have for those that disagree with them. If they would take a closer look at President Obama's position on abortion I think they might find much to agree with. For starters, he believes that abortion is a tragic decision that has profound psychological and spiritual impact. He believes that through education and assistance we should be looking for ways to help young women avoid the decision by not ending up in the circumstance to begin with. And he also believes that we should make adoption an easier process for prospective parents. Does that really sound so bad? Can those that oppose his position at least see potential for some middle ground?

The answer is yes and no. Let's start with no. The folks who paid for airplanes and trucks to roam over and through South Bend with disgusting pictures of aborted fetuses trailing their wings or on the sides of their vehicles had no intention of anything except fostering division through the exploitation of their pet issue. They decided to block out any discussion of common ground and not only disrespected the President (which is fine, he can take it), but also the citizens of South Bend who have a right to go about their business without such inflammatory images invading the eyes of their children. But perhaps even worse, they disrespected the graduating class of 2009 on what should be their day to celebrate their achievments. Now there is a flipside to this and that is the decision of Notre Dame to invite, and for President Obama to accept this invitation. In doing so, what the University has decided is that there is much to like about our current president. His committment to social justice, efforts to curb global warming, and ending the policy of torture just to name a few. They also see the room for common ground on the issue of abortion however abhorrent they belive the procedure to be. And what of President Obama's decision to accept knowing full well that the possibility of protest was high? It says that we can disagree without being disagreeable. That we can find common ground on issues that we disagree upon, and perhaps most importantly that I will engage with and listen to others even when they mightily disagree with me.

Now it should be said that I am no fan of Notre Dame. I believe they treat the community of South Bend with disregard. That the University enjoys insulating itself from the community at large. Hell, in the coming years I half expect them to build a moat around the school complete with alligators and a draw bridge to boot. I also think their devotion to their football program goes far beyond the pale. In particular their treatment of former coach Tyrone Willingham and their refusal to join the big ten were at best poorly handled decisions and at worst reprehensible. However, on this day Notre Dame has shown something else. The ability to listen to others, to invite diversity of thought, and to honor a historic election.

So on this day (and maybe only this day), three cheers for old Notre Dame.

Sumo-Pop
May 17, 2009