Neil Boortz Commencement Speech

[Narkos]

The Neal Boortz Commencement Speech
No, this speech has never been delivered at a college or a university. It was written to protest the fact that such an invitation has never been offered! It has only been delivered on my radio show, printed in my book "The Terrible Truth About Liberals" and produced on a limited edition CD. The irony is that this commencement speech has been more widely distributed, and has been the subject of more comment than any commencement speech that actually has been delivered at any college or university in the past 50 years. ©Copyright 2001, 2002, 2003 by Neal Boortz.
http://www.boortz.com

I am honored by the invitation to address you on this august occasion. It's about time. Be warned, however, that I am not here to impress you; you'll have enough smoke blown your way today. And you can bet your tassels I'm not here to impress the faculty and administration.

You may not like much of what I have to say, and that's fine. You will remember it though. Especially after about 10 years out there in the real world. This, it goes without saying, does not apply to those of you who will seek your careers and your fortunes as government employees.

This gowned gaggle behind me is your faculty. You've heard the old saying that those who can - do. Those who can't - teach. That sounds deliciously insensitive. But there is often raw truth in insensitivity, just as you often find feel-good falsehoods and lies in compassion. Say good-bye to your faculty because now you are getting ready to go out there and do. These folks behind me are going to stay right here and teach.

By the way, just because you are leaving this place with a diploma doesn't mean the learning is over. When an FAA flight examiner handed me my private pilot's license many years ago, he said, 'Here, this is your ticket to learn.' The same can be said for your diploma. Believe me, the learning has just begun.

Now, I realize that most of you consider yourselves Liberals. In fact, you are probably very proud of your liberal views. You care so much. You feel so much. You want to help so much. After all, you're a compassionate and caring person, aren't you now? Well, isn't that just so extraordinarily special. Now, at this age, is as good a time as any to be a Liberal; as good a time as any to know absolutely everything. You have plenty of time, starting tomorrow, for the truth to set in. Over the next few years, as you begin to feel the cold breath of reality down your neck, things are going to start changing pretty fast .. including your own assessment of just how much you really know.

So here are the first assignments for your initial class in reality: Pay attention to the news, read newspapers, and listen to the words and phrases that proud Liberals use to promote their causes. Then compare the words of the left to the words and phrases you hear from those evil, heartless, greedy conservatives. From the Left you will hear "I feel." From the Right you will hear "I think." From the Liberals you will hear references to groups --The Blacks, The Poor, The Rich, The Disadvantaged, The Less Fortunate. From the Right you will hear references to individuals. On the Left you hear talk of group rights; on the Right, individual rights.

That about sums it up, really: Liberals feel. Liberals care. They are pack animals whose identity is tied up in group dynamics. Conservatives and Libertarians think -- and, setting aside the theocracy crowd, their identity is centered on the individual.

Liberals feel that their favored groups, have enforceable rights to the property and services of productive individuals. Conservatives (and Libertarians, myself among them I might add) think that individuals have the right to protect their lives and their property from the plunder of the masses......

http://boortz.com/more/commencement.html

Another right wing chain e-mail I got, but it does point to some interesting themes. This seems to be a common refrain from many libertarian/conservatives, that liberals are governed purely by emotions, which we all know is bullshit. But there's this other piece, in that everyone is born with "free choice". It's the idea all the "less fortunate" choose their fate, and everyone is born with a blank slate. Do all conservatives really believe this stuff!

[MaineYooper]

1. codswallop

Conservatives think?

Yeah right- like Rush, Coultergeist, Beck, Gallagher, or Hannity. And that's just a starter list. I defy anyone to find a coherent logical argument ever put forward by any of these.

I'm just *shocked* that no one has asked poor Neal to actually deliver this commencement address.

[iamjoy]

2. Horse Manure

Liberals feel AND think.

I would ask this - so, if a business owner wishes to not allow African Americans in his establishment, should he/she have that right?

Oh, is that too much group speak?

So, a business owner can refuse service to anyone for any reason, correct. Do you think it is okay if it just so happens that everyone the business serves is White and everyone it refuses to serve is Black?

Admit that we think of groups. There are 300 million people in this country, so talking about each of them as individuals can be very complex, which is why we refer to groups. But, if they want to talk about individuals...

Then, find individuals who through no fault of their own got screwed by the system. Like the man who asked John Edwards the question at the AFL-CIO debate about how his health care got cancelled. Oh, yes, we could find lots of examples on the health care issue. Ask if they THINK that if our country had a free market approach to health care, would insurance companies would insure these *individuals* with a history of health issues?