David McCullough Commencement Speach - Page 2

PlumberKhan · 06-14-2012, 01:12 PM

lolz...

I would have stood up and personally thanked him and his generation for f*cking the world up. :D

greenwichjetfan · 06-14-2012, 03:15 PM

Tearing kids down without giving them a chance to build themselves up first- even if they fail on their own, is not the way to a better future.

There will always be the ones who are mature enough beyond their ages to understand this for what it was. Then there will be the few who take offense to it simply to use it as fuel to burn their inner fire. However, the vast majority of graduating high schoolers needs to be told that they are special...simply to give then hope so that they try to reach that "specialty." And who knows, maybe they'll succeed. But feeding them that dismissive line, however non-malicious it actually is, is playing with fire.

Jetspennyfan · 06-14-2012, 11:02 PM

[QUOTE=Owen Reed;4491461]You obviously didn't listen to the speech.

He didn't say everyone isn't special, he said you're not special. He also didn't say you're not important, he said you're not special.

Now, go polish your participation trophies.[/QUOTE]

Maybe you didn't read what I wrote.

I said I agree with the speech, just not the time for it. You want good advice in a graduation speech? Look up the Sorkin speech from SU graduation, now there is a good speech. He told them they will f*ck up but then he outlined what they can do when they do f*ck up.

Just making a blanket statement on a day meant to celebrate a graduation is not helpful and pretty self-centered.

Big L · 06-15-2012, 08:08 AM

I hark back to my literature and composition class, to which I received a C+, and I'm pretty sure after the first 5 minutes of "You are not special", he basically said "Do your best to BE something special".

Did anyone listen to the whole thing or just the first few minutes and decided they were outraged? Damn kids. Have the attention span of a mosquito.

:shakescane:

crasherino · 06-15-2012, 06:58 PM

Just had a chance to read it (not watch), and I don't disagree with the message at all. The ultimate conclusion wasn't " youre not special", it was a means ro get to the point of "do something meaningful with your life.". Take advantage of your opportunities You have and do things for the joy they will bring to others, not simply to cross it off a list.

jmo - extremely poignant address.

Edit - it's also germane to point out that this was David McCullough JUNIOR - the son of the historian....not the man himself.

Timmy® · 06-15-2012, 07:47 PM

There were probably fifteen to twenty peole in the history of man who are/were special. Nobody in that class is special. Nobody here is special. Nobody lives in the best city or best country. Nobody's religion is best. We're all just folks trying to get on with the cards we were dealt in life. Be nice, work hard, laugh and make people laugh, listen to music, bang chicks when you can, drink a little wine/smoke a little weed, and stop trying to be "the best".

32green · 06-15-2012, 07:51 PM

[QUOTE=Timmy®;4493004]There were probably fifteen to twenty peole in the history of man who are/were special. Nobody in that class is special. Nobody here is special. Nobody lives in the best city or best country. Nobody's religion is best. We're all just folks trying to get on with the cards we were dealt in life. Be nice, work hard, laugh and make people laugh, listen to music, bang chicks when you can, drink a little wine/smoke a little weed, and stop trying to be "the best".[/QUOTE]

I invented this;

:alien:

Thats special.

GFY

-

-

Timmy® · 06-15-2012, 08:05 PM

[QUOTE=32green;4493005]I invented this;

:alien:

Thats special.

GFY

-

-[/QUOTE]

you are part of the problem...a major player

BushyTheBeaver · 06-15-2012, 08:58 PM

[QUOTE=Timmy®;4493004]There were probably fifteen to twenty peole in the history of man who are/were special. Nobody in that class is special. Nobody here is special. Nobody lives in the best city or best country. Nobody's religion is best. We're all just folks trying to get on with the cards we were dealt in life. Be nice, work hard, laugh and make people laugh, listen to music, bang chicks when you can, drink a little wine/smoke a little weed, and stop trying to be "the best".[/QUOTE]

Now THAT would have been a great commencement speech. Except you should have also emphasized the importance of generators and snow tires.

Big L · 06-15-2012, 09:18 PM

[QUOTE=crasherino;4492985]Just had a chance to read it (not watch), and I don't disagree with the message at all. The ultimate conclusion wasn't " youre not special", it was a means ro get to the point of "do something meaningful with your life.". Take advantage of your opportunities You have and do things for the joy they will bring to others, not simply to cross it off a list.

jmo - extremely poignant address.

Edit - [B]it's also germane to point out that this was David McCullough JUNIOR - the son of the historian....not the man himself.[/B][/QUOTE]

good point.

And I agree with your conclusion.

brady's a catcher · 06-15-2012, 09:23 PM

[QUOTE=crasherino;4492985]Just had a chance to read it (not watch), and I don't disagree with the message at all. The ultimate conclusion wasn't " youre not special", it was a means ro get to the point of "do something meaningful with your life.". Take advantage of your opportunities You have and do things for the joy they will bring to others, not simply to cross it off a list.

jmo - extremely poignant address.

Edit - it's also germane to point out that this was David McCullough JUNIOR - the son of the historian....not the man himself.[/QUOTE]

I don't care what everyone says, you are a top 3 mod. :yes:

Timmy® · 06-15-2012, 09:28 PM

[QUOTE=brady's a catcher;4493056]I don't care what everyone says, you are a top 3 mod. :yes:[/QUOTE]

top three is an insult

brady's a catcher · 06-15-2012, 09:54 PM

[QUOTE=Timmy®;4493057]top three is an insult[/QUOTE]

This guy gets it.

32green · 06-15-2012, 11:00 PM

[QUOTE=Timmy®;4493057] an insult[/QUOTE]

I invented this.

-

WestCoastOffensive · 06-16-2012, 01:55 AM

[QUOTE=Owen Reed;4491461]You obviously didn't listen to the speech.

He didn't say everyone isn't special, he said you're not special. He also didn't say you're not important, he said you're not special.

Now, go polish your participation trophies.[/QUOTE]

Wax on, Wax off, Vick. Teach that kid a lesson. :ninja2:

and,..um...thanks for the Cliff Notes. :O:D

BushyTheBeaver · 06-16-2012, 10:33 PM

Show of hands. How many people think he would have given the same speech (more or less) at an inner-city school? Or one with a large immigrant population? Etc. etc.

Peebag · 06-16-2012, 10:50 PM

[QUOTE=Timmy®;4493004]There were probably fifteen to twenty peole in the history of man who are/were special. Nobody in that class is special. Nobody here is special. Nobody lives in the best city or best country. Nobody's religion is best. We're all just folks trying to get on with the cards we were dealt in life. Be nice, work hard, laugh and make people laugh, listen to music, bang chicks when you can, drink a little wine/smoke a little weed, and stop trying to be "the best".[/QUOTE]

Were you on dope when you posted this?

David Harris · 06-17-2012, 05:05 AM

I kinda thought it was fantastic, a smack of cold hard truth ....made me a little sad and self conscious though.

The Boston Patriot · 06-17-2012, 10:02 AM

[QUOTE=BushyTheBeaver;4493579]Show of hands. How many people think he would have given the same speech (more or less) at an inner-city school? Or one with a large immigrant population? Etc. etc.[/QUOTE]

Why not? You think Whitey thinks less of that segment of the population than he does of the top echelon, predominately white, elitist, spoiled children of fabulously wealthy parents?

crasherino · 06-19-2012, 05:34 PM

[QUOTE=BushyTheBeaver;4493579]Show of hands. How many people think he would have given the same speech (more or less) at an inner-city school? Or one with a large immigrant population? Etc. etc.[/QUOTE]

Of course he wouldn't. A school in the inner city or one with a large immigrant population would have its own set of problems. Very far down the list would be a large cadre of students, with inflated senses of self worth, who have been told how special and unique they are simply by enrolling in an honors class or for being able to play tennis and jerk off all in the same day.

06-15-2012, 06:58 PM	#25
crasherino Board Moderator Jets Insider VIP Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: NYC Posts: 16,937	Just had a chance to read it (not watch), and I don't disagree with the message at all. The ultimate conclusion wasn't " youre not special", it was a means ro get to the point of "do something meaningful with your life.". Take advantage of your opportunities You have and do things for the joy they will bring to others, not simply to cross it off a list. jmo - extremely poignant address. Edit - it's also germane to point out that this was David McCullough JUNIOR - the son of the historian....not the man himself. Last edited by crasherino; 06-15-2012 at 07:03 PM.

06-14-2012, 01:12 PM	#21
PlumberKhan HAIL SATAN! Hall Of Fame Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Van down by the river Posts: 21,078	lolz... I would have stood up and personally thanked him and his generation for f*cking the world up. :D

06-14-2012, 03:15 PM	#22
greenwichjetfan All League Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 4,091	Tearing kids down without giving them a chance to build themselves up first- even if they fail on their own, is not the way to a better future. There will always be the ones who are mature enough beyond their ages to understand this for what it was. Then there will be the few who take offense to it simply to use it as fuel to burn their inner fire. However, the vast majority of graduating high schoolers needs to be told that they are special...simply to give then hope so that they try to reach that "specialty." And who knows, maybe they'll succeed. But feeding them that dismissive line, however non-malicious it actually is, is playing with fire.

06-14-2012, 11:02 PM	#23
Jetspennyfan All League Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 3,251	[QUOTE=Owen Reed;4491461]You obviously didn't listen to the speech. He didn't say everyone isn't special, he said you're not special. He also didn't say you're not important, he said you're not special. Now, go polish your participation trophies.[/QUOTE] Maybe you didn't read what I wrote. I said I agree with the speech, just not the time for it. You want good advice in a graduation speech? Look up the Sorkin speech from SU graduation, now there is a good speech. He told them they will fck up but then he outlined what they can do when they do fck up. Just making a blanket statement on a day meant to celebrate a graduation is not helpful and pretty self-centered.

06-15-2012, 08:08 AM	#24
Big L No post count, no peace! No post count, no peace! Veteran Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: It's all relative Posts: 1,184	I hark back to my literature and composition class, to which I received a C+, and I'm pretty sure after the first 5 minutes of "You are not special", he basically said "Do your best to BE something special". Did anyone listen to the whole thing or just the first few minutes and decided they were outraged? Damn kids. Have the attention span of a mosquito. :shakescane:

06-15-2012, 07:47 PM	#26
Timmy® JI's own Reverend Jim. Hall Of Fame Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Vermont Posts: 23,683	There were probably fifteen to twenty peole in the history of man who are/were special. Nobody in that class is special. Nobody here is special. Nobody lives in the best city or best country. Nobody's religion is best. We're all just folks trying to get on with the cards we were dealt in life. Be nice, work hard, laugh and make people laugh, listen to music, bang chicks when you can, drink a little wine/smoke a little weed, and stop trying to be "the best".

06-15-2012, 07:51 PM	#27
32green neerg23 Board Moderator Jets Insider VIP JetsInsider.com Legend Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: The depths of Despair. Posts: 37,707	[QUOTE=Timmy®;4493004]There were probably fifteen to twenty peole in the history of man who are/were special. Nobody in that class is special. Nobody here is special. Nobody lives in the best city or best country. Nobody's religion is best. We're all just folks trying to get on with the cards we were dealt in life. Be nice, work hard, laugh and make people laugh, listen to music, bang chicks when you can, drink a little wine/smoke a little weed, and stop trying to be "the best".[/QUOTE] I invented this; :alien: Thats special. GFY - -

06-15-2012, 08:05 PM	#28
Timmy® JI's own Reverend Jim. Hall Of Fame Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Vermont Posts: 23,683	[QUOTE=32green;4493005]I invented this; :alien: Thats special. GFY - -[/QUOTE] you are part of the problem...a major player

06-15-2012, 08:58 PM	#29
BushyTheBeaver All League Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 3,967	[QUOTE=Timmy®;4493004]There were probably fifteen to twenty peole in the history of man who are/were special. Nobody in that class is special. Nobody here is special. Nobody lives in the best city or best country. Nobody's religion is best. We're all just folks trying to get on with the cards we were dealt in life. Be nice, work hard, laugh and make people laugh, listen to music, bang chicks when you can, drink a little wine/smoke a little weed, and stop trying to be "the best".[/QUOTE] Now THAT would have been a great commencement speech. Except you should have also emphasized the importance of generators and snow tires.

06-15-2012, 09:18 PM	#30
Big L No post count, no peace! No post count, no peace! Veteran Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: It's all relative Posts: 1,184	[QUOTE=crasherino;4492985]Just had a chance to read it (not watch), and I don't disagree with the message at all. The ultimate conclusion wasn't " youre not special", it was a means ro get to the point of "do something meaningful with your life.". Take advantage of your opportunities You have and do things for the joy they will bring to others, not simply to cross it off a list. jmo - extremely poignant address. Edit - [B]it's also germane to point out that this was David McCullough JUNIOR - the son of the historian....not the man himself.[/B][/QUOTE] good point. And I agree with your conclusion.

06-15-2012, 09:23 PM	#31
brady's a catcher R.I.P Goofy Maloof All Pro Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Alexandria, VA Posts: 6,727	[QUOTE=crasherino;4492985]Just had a chance to read it (not watch), and I don't disagree with the message at all. The ultimate conclusion wasn't " youre not special", it was a means ro get to the point of "do something meaningful with your life.". Take advantage of your opportunities You have and do things for the joy they will bring to others, not simply to cross it off a list. jmo - extremely poignant address. Edit - it's also germane to point out that this was David McCullough JUNIOR - the son of the historian....not the man himself.[/QUOTE] I don't care what everyone says, you are a top 3 mod. :yes:

06-15-2012, 09:28 PM	#32
Timmy® JI's own Reverend Jim. Hall Of Fame Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Vermont Posts: 23,683	[QUOTE=brady's a catcher;4493056]I don't care what everyone says, you are a top 3 mod. :yes:[/QUOTE] top three is an insult

06-15-2012, 09:54 PM	#33
brady's a catcher R.I.P Goofy Maloof All Pro Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Alexandria, VA Posts: 6,727	[QUOTE=Timmy®;4493057]top three is an insult[/QUOTE] This guy gets it.

06-15-2012, 11:00 PM	#34
32green neerg23 Board Moderator Jets Insider VIP JetsInsider.com Legend Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: The depths of Despair. Posts: 37,707	[QUOTE=Timmy®;4493057] an insult[/QUOTE] I invented this. -

06-16-2012, 01:55 AM	#35
WestCoastOffensive Didn't pull the pin - got blasted anyway Board Moderator Jets Insider VIP Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: SF via Strong Island Posts: 26,972	[QUOTE=Owen Reed;4491461]You obviously didn't listen to the speech. He didn't say everyone isn't special, he said you're not special. He also didn't say you're not important, he said you're not special. Now, go polish your participation trophies.[/QUOTE] Wax on, Wax off, Vick. Teach that kid a lesson. :ninja2: and,..um...thanks for the Cliff Notes. :O:D

06-16-2012, 10:33 PM	#36
BushyTheBeaver All League Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 3,967	Show of hands. How many people think he would have given the same speech (more or less) at an inner-city school? Or one with a large immigrant population? Etc. etc.

06-16-2012, 10:50 PM	#37
Peebag *free Borko and teh FatFck2** All Pro Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: great midwest -well not so great Posts: 7,181	[QUOTE=Timmy®;4493004]There were probably fifteen to twenty peole in the history of man who are/were special. Nobody in that class is special. Nobody here is special. Nobody lives in the best city or best country. Nobody's religion is best. We're all just folks trying to get on with the cards we were dealt in life. Be nice, work hard, laugh and make people laugh, listen to music, bang chicks when you can, drink a little wine/smoke a little weed, and stop trying to be "the best".[/QUOTE] Were you on dope when you posted this?

06-17-2012, 05:05 AM	#38
David Harris All Pro Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Murray Hill Posts: 7,100	I kinda thought it was fantastic, a smack of cold hard truth ....made me a little sad and self conscious though.

06-17-2012, 10:02 AM	#39
The Boston Patriot is getting the banned back together! All Pro Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: The Island of Sodor Posts: 6,273	[QUOTE=BushyTheBeaver;4493579]Show of hands. How many people think he would have given the same speech (more or less) at an inner-city school? Or one with a large immigrant population? Etc. etc.[/QUOTE] Why not? You think Whitey thinks less of that segment of the population than he does of the top echelon, predominately white, elitist, spoiled children of fabulously wealthy parents?

06-19-2012, 05:34 PM	#40
crasherino Board Moderator Jets Insider VIP Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: NYC Posts: 16,937	[QUOTE=BushyTheBeaver;4493579]Show of hands. How many people think he would have given the same speech (more or less) at an inner-city school? Or one with a large immigrant population? Etc. etc.[/QUOTE] Of course he wouldn't. A school in the inner city or one with a large immigrant population would have its own set of problems. Very far down the list would be a large cadre of students, with inflated senses of self worth, who have been told how special and unique they are simply by enrolling in an honors class or for being able to play tennis and jerk off all in the same day.