Friday evening, May 29, Elaine and I attended two different high school graduation ceremonies.  The first one (Graduation 1) was at 6:00 PM.  We were there for our niece.  The second one (Graduation 2) was at 8:00 PM.  That one was for our nephew.  The contrast between these two schools was significant and that’s what I want to climb on my soapbox about this month.  Both ceremonies, as you would expect, were packed.  And both ceremonies suffered the same expected flaw, namely each had a very poor public address system.  Both ceremonies were held on the school’s football field.  I never noticed a problem at either of these schools with the PA system during a football game… I wonder why there’s a problem at graduation?

The weather was excellent.  In fact, it was better than that, it was perfect.  The sky was clear, the temperature was unusually cool for the end of May and the humidity had to be -15%.  It was picture perfect.  I assume both ceremonies began with the presentation of the colors and the singing of our National Anthem.  (We arrived too late to see the opening ceremony at the Graduation 2)  At Graduation 1, other than the graduates and those on the dias, no one rose and paid respect to the U. S. and Texas flags as the color guard from the local fire department marched in with the colors.  With all due respect to the parents and families sitting in the bleachers, we sat on the very bottom row with Elaine’s parent’s.  I did not turn around and look behind me to see if anyone was standing but I can tell you that the circus scene I witnessed on either side of me plus all those milling around in front of me, very few showed any respect for what was happening on the field.  At least the circus did stop for a moment as one of the graduates sang the Star Spangled Banner.

And guess what?  There was a prayer offered at both ceremonies!  How about that!  I can’t tell you the last time I attended a function at a public school where a prayer was included in the opening of an event.  I’m glad we were present for the prayer at both ceremonies.  I guess the prayer was allowed on school property because they didn’t charge an admission fee to watch the graduation ceremony?  I wonder if any non-Christians were offended?  I wonder if they even noticed what was going on?  I wonder if there will  be a Letter to the Editor or perhaps even a lawsuit over public prayer on public property?  What a sad comment on the life and times we now live in…

At Graduation 1, as the prayer began, most of us were standing and the crowd grew quite, except for the elderly lady sitting immediately to my left.  She was talking on her cell phone.  I’m certain it was a very important call becasue it didn’t end until halfway through the prayer.  I glanced at her when I heard her say good bye and saw her close her phone and bow her head.  Better late than never I guess.  Don’t people know better?  Were they not taught to respect the flag?   And how about showing respect when someone is offering a prayer?  Stuff like this drives me crazy.  Thank you Mom and Dad for teaching me simple courtesies.  And that’s another thing… what’s being taught in school?  Is there such a thing as a high school civics class anymore?  In asking around it looks like high school civics met the same fate as 8 track tapes and pet rocks.

At Graduation 1 our niece was Salutatorian and was one of the speakers.  During her remarks we tried hard to listen and were able to catch only bits and pieces of what she said.  We had to contend with all the conversations going on around us, the circus parade continued with back and forth traffic in front of us and, don’t forget, a terrible sound system.   It wasn’t any better when the Valedictorian spoke.  Following both speeches, the Honor Graduates were introduced.  During their introductions there was a lady walking in front of us looking up in the crowd when she spotted someone she knew.  She stopped right in front of us and hollered at them, “How ya’ll doin?  Where you parked?  I’m goin’ on down the street.  I’m gonna git outta here and beat the crowd.”  I heard someone behind me say under their breath, “Well git on down the road so we can hear what’s going on.”  I just shook my head.  Elaine looked at me and asked if I was ready to go to Graduation 2 and I said “Yes!”

As we were walking in at Graduation 2 the seniors were already marching out on the field.  We climbed the bleachers and sat with other family members and I immediately noticed a different tone in the crowd.  The conversations were much more subdued.  They seemed to all be focused on the kids as they marched in.  Everyone was trying to locate the graduate they came to support.  The crowd stood for the prayer… there was silence.  Unlike Graduation 1, Graduation 2 had a speaker.  The gentleman who addressed the graduates was a past president of the school board and a graduate of that school.  I knew right away that he was no stranger to a microphone.  He knew how to project his voice and he could be heard clearly and he had a good message.  I hope the graduates were listening.

The only problem with hearing the addresses by the Salutatorian and the Valedictorian was the PA system, not the crowd.  Once they started handing out diplomas, there were the usual cheers and hoots from family members as their graduate received their diploma.   Elaine and I stayed until our nephew received his diploma and (thankfully) once again, she asked if I was ready to go and for the second time that evening I said “Yes!”

There was such a contrast in the people’s behavior between these two ceremonies.  I guess I represent the saying that “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” and I admit I don’t have the patience to be in a crowd such as the one I witnessed at Graduation 1.  I respect everyone’s right to assemble and behave the way they want to behave within the boundaries of the law but I don’t have to be a part of it.  And I’ve really been pretty good up to now in trying to recount the events of Graduation 2009 without mentioning all the tattoos and body piercings.  But I’m about to pop so here goes.

I’m an old dog, I admit it.  When I look at some of these people I wonder how much money they have invested in (I can’t even type this without laughing!) this stuff?  And some of the piercings… I saw one guy with a bar in his ear.  There’s no other way to describe it, it was a gold bar.  It went in the top of his ear and poked out the back.  I just don’t get it.  What am I missing?  (More laughing…)  I thought I was pretty radical back in high school when I thought about getting a Mohawk haircut.  I didn’t get one, I just thought about it.  But I do remember that I once went to school without a belt.  How about that?

Oh well, I know in my younger days I did things that drove my parents and the other “old fogies” crazy and piqued them just like attending these two graduations piqued me.  I would love to see these kids at their 30 year class reunion to compare notes on not what they observe about the Class of 2039.  I wonder what their comments will be?  But what I think I’d love to see the most is what their tats look like when they hit 50+ years old!  Can you visualize sagging and batwings?  Regardless of all these events, I want to offer my congratulations to the Class of 2009.  May your futures be bright and may you now step up and take charge of the responsibilities of your citizenship.  Good luck and God Bless.

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I received an email this week with a link to a webpage that I want to share with you.  Please take a minute to check out this web site and view the video.  It reinforces for me what is important.  And it ties back into that civics question I mentioned above: http://www.bornagainamerican.org/

And finally, Happy Anniversary Elaine.  I love you.  On June 7, 2009 we celebrate 29 years together.  She REALLY makes me look good!