Here's the story. The comments are interesting.
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www.paloaltoonline.com]
Comments:
Comments
I went to the graduation, it was a lot of fun.
The most boring part was Oprah's speech.
I was all about her and Tolle. She even gave all the students the book he wrote. They were expecting a car... hahaha!!!.
I wonder what the faculty thought about her attack on science and physics in particular.
Oprah should not be put on a pedestal.
Happie
Posted by Happie, a resident of the Barron Park neighborhood, on Jun 15, 2008 at 5:02 pm
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When I read that Oprah was Stanford's graduation speaker I couldn't believe it. Most first rate schools try to get someone with some intellectual credentials or accomplishments.
But a TV celebrity who promotes unscientific cures and foolish products, what can they have been thinking? Some one or several people should be fired for creating such bad publicity. It's embarrassing.
Posted by Embarrassed, a resident of Stanford, on Jun 15, 2008 at 8:45 pm
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just a clear example of how the farm has been sold.....
Posted by big Al, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood, on Jun 15, 2008 at 9:40 pm
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I was there and I must say the best part of the day was seeing how happy my parents were that I graduated.
The second best part was listing to the Stanford Chamber Chorale sing at Memorial Church.
Ophra was the downside of the day because is was all about her and not us the graduates. This was our day not hers.
Posted by Diane, a resident of Stanford, on Jun 16, 2008 at 7:55 am
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Congratulations!
You made it.
Posted by Lucianna Andrea, a resident of the Duveneck/St. Francis neighborhood, on Jun 16, 2008 at 8:49 am
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Congrats to class of '08! For the curious, Stanford has posted the video of Oprah's speech at Web Link
Posted by Ian, a resident of Stanford, on Jun 16, 2008 at 10:14 am
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Oprah was picked because her god child was graduating that day from Stanford. Her speech was weak with no substance.
Posted by Tim, a resident of the Crescent Park neighborhood, on Jun 16, 2008 at 10:20 am
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And maybe a few bucks to their endowment or development?
The Dumbing Down of America will not be stopped.
Who decided on the commencement speaker?
Posted by Dumbing Down, a resident of the Evergreen Park neighborhood, on Jun 16, 2008 at 11:37 am
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Harvard had JK Rowling, who delivered standard commencement fare, but with a snappy British accent! It wasn't exactly Marshall announcement the Marshall plan, I grant you...
Posted by Me Too, a resident of the Meadow Park neighborhood, on Jun 16, 2008 at 11:43 am
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Gunn High School had rapper MC Hammer!? as commencement speaker -what next?! To think of someone like that lecturing a bunch of high-scoring Gunn students is hilarious.
Posted by anonymous, a resident of the Duveneck/St. Francis neighborhood, on Jun 17, 2008 at 8:39 am
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Good point, what could a bunch of braniacs like that learn from someone who has actually live a long, complex life with lots of ups and downs? Better off with some professor...
Posted by Good Point, a resident of the Charleston Meadows neighborhood, on Jun 17, 2008 at 9:02 am
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Good point, Good Point.
Posted by second that, a resident of Menlo Park, on Jun 17, 2008 at 10:43 pm
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Maybe next year they can get Ryan Seacrest. Then Whoopi Goldberg the year after that. That is, if Oprah doesn't buy Stanford before then.
Posted by It is I, a resident of the Old Palo Alto neighborhood, on Jun 17, 2008 at 10:47 pm
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Dear "Happie": She was quoting Martin Luther King - the full passage reads;
So, Dr. King said, "Not everybody can be famous. But everybody can be great, because greatness is determined by service." Those of you who are history scholars may know the rest of that passage. He said, "You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You don't have to know about Plato or Aristotle to serve. You don't have to know Einstein's theory of relativity to serve. You don't have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace and a soul generated by love."
Not really an attack on physics or classics either...
Posted by stephen, a resident of the Duveneck/St. Francis neighborhood, on Jun 17, 2008 at 11:09 pm