On Politics 5/16/09: Cheer, Cheer For Old Notre Dame

I've known most of the words since I was a child. It comes from being reared on watching every football game possible (still, to this day), then the now arcane condensed game replays, repeated over the weekend and into the following week, narrated with the voice of the great Lindsay Nelson, who would solemnly note that "we now move ahead to further action later in the quarter".

Ah, those words, that music...

"Cheer, cheer for Old Notre Dame, Wake up the echoes cheering her name, Send a volley cheer on high, Shake down the thunder from the sky!"

I offer that excerpt from America's greatest college fight song (sorry Michigan fans, it's true) in praise today not of an athletic achievement, but one of academic integrity. The administration of America's premier Catholic university has, as part of an ongoing tradition of political speakers, invited President Obama to give the commencement address tomorrow, causing the wholly expected instantly flammable reaction from various people and groups, all shouting to be the loudest voice heard, in their supposed defense of the religion. The argument from all is the same: How can a Catholic University allow a pro-choice supporter speak at the graduation ceremony? The invective unleashed by the Messianic hordes range from blasphemy to school-sponsored sin being committed live, in front of all the graduates. Kudos to Father Jenkins, leader of Notre Dame, for not caving into the whines and protestations of his brethren priests & bishops, nor the shrill voices in the wilderness, like the oft-annoying, self-appointed arbiter Bill Donohue of the Catholic League.

Perhaps the shouters fail to recognize that the school, in its long and distinguished educational history, has hosted other political figures not perfectly in tune with the university's faith based value system, including, famously, Mario Cuomo in 1984, who gave what is considered to be the finest speech of his gifted oratorical career. Cuomo, the man who could never seem to summon the courage to be President, walked into the lion's den of American Catholicism (overt historical reference/pun) as a free choice supporting politician and delivered the goods, a speech still recognized today after 25 years as the preeminent one of his life.

It is the duty of educational institutions in the United States to offer conflicting views and positions, even for those founded on the particulars of a certain religion. Some may not know this, but students of many different faiths and political views, including pro-choice positions, attend Notre Dame, simply because it is rightly recognized as one of the country's foremost academic institutions. Thus, a variety of instructors and speakers should match the diversity of the student body. Any school's integrity would be ruined, not to mention impugning the quality of its' curriculum, by taking a stance otherwise.

As I prepare for an angry e-mail from my beloved father on this position, I'm trying to find out if this is being broadcast anywhere. I'm most curious to see how this goes.