Notes Many ‘Were Wearing Their LGBT Rainbow or Flag Pins in Protest’

Franklin Graham is none too pleased with the 150 or so Notre Dame graduates who opted to stand up and walk out on Vice President Mike Pence, the commencement address speaker for Saturday’s graduation ceremony. Graham â€“Â unlike his father who was an adviser to presidents and who could attract hundreds of thousands for religious rallies â€“Â is forced to communicate instead usually on Facebook. HeÂ posted a New York Times article Monday to the social media site.

“Just rip them up!” Graham told his 5.6 million Facebook followers. “Maybe thatâ€™s what the president ofÂ University of Notre DameÂ should have done to the diplomas of the students who so rudely got up and walked out of commencement as the Vice President was speaking this weekend,” Graham said.

“These young people must not have been taught the meaning of respect. They knew well in advance who was going to be speaking at their commencement; and if they didnâ€™t like it, they shouldnâ€™t have come.”

That’s typical Republican patriarchy. These graduates spent the last four years of their lives, at a cost of more than a quarter of a million dollars (NCRM called to confirm that Notre Dame estimates annual tuition for the 2017-18 school year is $69,395) to attend the school. If they don’t like the commencement speaker, they should have a say-so. At the very least, they should have the right to do as they chose: protest respectfully by walking out.

“The New York Times,” Graham continues,Â “says many of those who walked out were wearing their LGBT rainbow or flag pins in protest. To get up and walk out on the Vice President of the United States of America, who was gracious enough to come speak at their graduation, thatâ€™s just insolent! Maybe they need to take another class before they graduateâ€”one on civility and respect. What do you think?”



Well, I think maybe Franklin Graham should listen to what the students were saying.