Furman University is a very conservative university in a very conservative area, the upstate of South Carolina, whose faculty has voted to admonish its own university president, David Shi, over his invitation to have George Bush as a speaker at the school's graduation Saturday.
That's right. Even in a place like Greenville and a university like Furman, slightly more than half the faculty is raising some hell over Bush coming to speak. (This is almost as good as his fund-raiser with McCain being moved to a private home for lack of attendees.)
From the resolution: "President Shi’s decision to invite President Bush clearly posed an ethical dilemma for any faculty who cannot conscientiously boycott or disrupt commencement, but who cannot conscientiously participate in a public ceremony that might be interpreted as condoning President Bush’s policies and actions."
Ten different groups have gotten together to plan protests Saturday. You can find details at http://weobject.info/...
One of the faculty members voting to admonish Shi noted, "Our faculty tend to be much like our students, as a whole, nonconfrontational, very obedient, passive people."
And yet, they couldn't sit quietly when George was invited.
You can see the story about Furman's faculty's admonishment here:
http://www.greenvilleonline.com/...
As for the protest, please consider joining us beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday. The Furman campus is small, and from the maps I've seen, protests will not be far from graduation. You can see on this map: http://www.furman.edu/... . Protests are to be in front of the Furman Bldg, No. 8 on the map, just to the upper left of the traffic circle at the entrance, and commencement, weather permitting, will be in the football stadium, No. 25 on the map. If the weather is bad, graduation will be at Timmons Arena, No. 26, both in the bottom left corner of the map. Graduation begins at 7 p.m.
So far,the weather forecast is for a high of 91 with a 30 percent chance of isolated thunderstorms.
Please let me know if you have any questions about the Greenville area.
And if anyone has suggestions for my protest sign or tips from previous protests, please share below.
I first thought my sign should say, IDIOT IN CHIEF. Always been a favorite of mine. Then thought, MISERABLE FAILURE, just because those two words best sum up my thoughts on Bush.
Since we're in the Bible belt, I then thought of the Bible quote: BY HIS ACTIONS, YOU SHALL KNOW HIM. Because, really, how best to know Bush but by his numerous awful decisions, his lies, his complete disregard for human life or decency. Plus it really pisses me off that Bible belters were behind him for so long and that some still are.
But I'm still undecided and welcome suggestions.
Hope to see you in Greenville on Saturday.