My experience at ASU commencement/Obama's Speech...

[armyowalgreens]

Well I spent all afternoon outside in 100+ degree temps helping to direct 70000 people into the football stadium for the largest commencement in human history.

I saw a lot and heard a lot.


There were anti-abortion protesters, "tea party" protesters, Planned Parenthood demonstrators, New World Order protesters giving out Obama deception DVDs, amongst many others.

But it was all worth it.

Obama's speech was one of the best speeches I have heard in my life. He not only used that embarrassing "honorary degree" fiasco as the basis for his speech, but he made some excellent philosophical points.

All in all a crazy day. I think I need to go to the ER.

[Drunken Irishman]

1. How did people react?

I love those New World Order loons.

[armyowalgreens]

2. Well most had no clue what the NWO people were there for...

I told one of them to fuck off. All of them looked like 30-something video game addicts.

[Drunken Irishman]

3. Sorry, I meant to his speech...haha.

Were there any people who turned their back to him? I know they did that to Pres. Bush a lot.

[armyowalgreens]

5. oh haha. The entire stadium basically erupted in applause for him

They boo-ed the hell out of our republican governor

Everyone basically went ape-shit when Obama showed up and when he spoke.

[kid a]

4. Just finished watching it - great message!

Glenn Beck will have a field day with the "giving back" and "work for our community" theme.

I loved it.

[armyowalgreens]

9. Yeah to Beck this speech probably sounded like communist propaganda

[ColbertWatcher]

6. I loved how he used that "no experience" crap in the speech! k+r, n/t

[ecstatic]

7. Wow. You're making me regret not tuning in

What did he say about the honorary degree?

[armyowalgreens]

8. It's hard to explain unless you watch it.

Basically he used the premise that no one is finished with their "body of work" until their life ends and that we should all strive to do more and more for each other.

[sandnsea]

10. Here

It wasn't in the prepared remarks.

But after he commented on all these people - he added "and nobody gave them an honorary degree". It was pretty great. The whole speech turns the whole "body of work" nonsense right on its head.

"Just look to history. Thomas Paine was a failed corset maker, a failed teacher, and a failed tax collector before he made his mark on history with a little book called Common Sense that helped ignite a revolution. Julia Child didn’t publish her first cookbook until she was almost fifty, and Colonel Sanders didn’t open up his first Kentucky Fried Chicken until he was in his sixties. Winston Churchill was dismissed as little more than a has-been, who enjoyed scotch just a bit too much, before he took over as Prime Minister and saw Great Britain through its finest hour. And no one thought a former football player stocking shelves at the local supermarket would return to the game he loved, become a Super Bowl MVP, and then come here to Arizona and lead your Cardinals to their first Super Bowl.

Each of them, at one point in their life, didn’t have any title or much status to speak of. But they had a passion, a commitment to following that passion wherever it would lead, and to working hard every step along the way."

http://www.obama-mamas.com/blog/?p=225

[ecstatic]

12. thanks! nt

[Alexander]

11. It was a fantastic speech, but waiting around in the sun for hours was NOT fun.

Thankfully Obama's speech made it all worth it.

[armyowalgreens]

13. Yeah I have a sinus infection and this just made it 1000 times worse.

I could barely see because of the pain and inflammation by the time Obama came out.

But it was still worth it.

[Alexander]

14. I get migranes. The heat and dehydration left me with a splitting headache.

But I agree, it was worth it.

I even got to see the presidential limo afterward. Good times.

[shireen]

15. Planned Parenthood was protesting Obama?

What were they protesting about?
He gave an excellent speech, i really enjoyed it.
Hope you're feeling OK ... if you're thinking of going to the ER, it must have been a very stressful day.

[armyowalgreens]

16. They weren't protesting just demonstrating and gathering sigs.

I just have a wicked sinus infection and I started having vision problems during his speech. I'll probably just go to the urgent care tomorrow and get antibiotics.

[shireen]

18. Hang in there, please get better soon!

:hug:

[Viking12]

17. On the ten year anniversary of my graduation from ASU....