|
was the year my stepson's class at Tulane had its graduation there. It was the same year that Yale, in my home town of New Haven, gave G.W. Bush an honorary degree, to my horror and embarrassment.
Yale is usually a classy place. But that year, Tulane put Yale to shame. The Tulane graduation featured a fabulous Dixieland band with a marvelous blues singer. Lindy Boggs, a Tulane alum, gave a beautiful, absolutely gracious speech, Marian Wright Edelman gave a stirring official address to the students and the valedictorian talked about social justice in words that still ring in my ear.
New Orleans was just enchantment. It was so lovely to be there and such a jolt to get back in New Haven in time for Bush to smirk about getting C's and still becoming president (yes, it was that speech). To their credit, many Yalies demonstrated against the Chimp, and I joined a protest outside of the Old Campus with my Planned Parenthood buddies. But I'll tell you, I missed New Orleans!
|