Last weekend I had the privilege of attending a commencement ceremony at a small Christian College in the midwest. Like most commencement exercises, it was a very nice ceremony that honored many well-deserving graduates. Graduation ceremonies are always very emotional as students end a chapter in their lives and begin another. The transition can be overwhelmingly frightening or a time of extraordinary relief and a keynote speaker usually brings the graduates and the audience together by framing the ceremony with a summary of the college experience and a look toward the future. The speech that I heard was wonderful but hardly controversial.
Recently, graduating seniors at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill were addressed by New York City’s Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg. In his remarks to about 5,700 graduating students at the university’s main campus, Bloomberg included a spirited defense of the right of gays and lesbians to marry, just days after North Carolina passed an amendment that banned the practice.
“Each and every generation has removed some barrier to full participation in the American dream. That work is not over. Far from it…And, I would argue, last week’s referendum banning same-sex marriage shows just how much more work needs to be done to ensure freedom and equality for all people….I have no doubt, that in your lifetime, liberty’s light will allow us to see more clearly the truth of our nation’s founding principles, and allow us to see all people and all couples as full and equal members of the American family.” – New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg in his commencement speech at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, 05/13/12.
His comments found a receptive audience on the campus, which had held many rallies against the amendment in the months leading up to the vote and is found in one of only a handful of counties where the amendment was rejected. When he spoke in support of marriage equality, he was greeted with the loudest applause of the morning, from students and administrators, including the school’s chancellor.
I imagine this commencement speech motivated the graduates quite a bit. Bloomberg has always been a very authentic speaker and he continues to understand his audience and move them with his words. The keynote speaker at the Christian college mentioned in her remarks that she hoped everyone would remember the ceremony and the words that she shared. I imagine that University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Class of 2012 will certainly remember their commencement ceremony for many years to come.
Do you remember the keynote speech from your graduation ceremony?
Copyright © 2012 www.DiatribesAndOvations.com
Like this:
Back in the day, we used to sign up for “mailing lists”. If we were interested in a particular product or wanted to be notified when something went on sale, a shopkeeper would take our name and number and file it away until he or she could call us to make a sale.
Then we started getting catalogues. And, if you actually placed a catalog order, it was as if your name address appeared on the lists of every retailer and wholesaler in the world. Catalogs routinely filled mailboxes across the country offering items that marketing professionals determined we might find interesting based on our previous purchases.
Then came Rewards Programs that required us to join a “club” to get better service and pricing discounts. Of course, retailers that use these programs are simply trying to track their customers’ spending habits. By revealing personal information we, essentially, consented to being included in their marketing platform.
Before we knew it, we began receiving dozens of unsolicited emails about products and services that we had no interest in receiving. Someone was collecting our information and selling it to the highest bidder.
Soon, cashiers at retail establishments were required to input shoppers’ zip codes before each transaction could be completed. We couldn’t pay for our purchases without revealing this information. A zip code can be used to track our purchases and send us junk mail. (Interestingly, in early 2011 the California Supreme Court concluded that protections in the state’s constitution are in place to protect consumers from this practice.)
Now we encounter cashiers in many retail stores that ask for our telephone numbers. Starting, perhaps, at Radio Shack, the corporate marketing suits have deemed it an acceptable practice to badger each and every customer for a telephone number. Make no mistake, a telephone number is not necessary to complete a cash purchase … all that is required is cash.
Of course, we can refuse to divulge information to cashiers by simply stating “I opt out” or “no thanks”. It’s important to remember that the cashier has nothing to do with this policy and that they’re simply doing their job. Surely, they’d rather not have to ask for the information. We should ask them if they have comment cards or an email address that we can use to express our dislike of the store’s policy of collecting phone numbers for telemarketing purposes.
Perhaps we should all provide telephone numbers that belong to the Better Business Bureau or to City Hall. Try creating an email address specifically to give to cashiers … you might be amazed by what you learn. If we flood the databases with incorrect information their records will become useless and we’ll be able to spare future generations from the same nuisance. If the strategy stops working, maybe they’ll stop using it.
Copyright © 2012 www.DiatribesAndOvations.com
Like this:
When I was a boy, I was allowed to ride my bicycle to the library and to the drug store. It was an adventure and it felt like a really long ride. I rode a golden Schwinn with a sparkly banana seat. I took reasonably good care of my bike and was careful to keep it out of the rain and carefully stowed on the side of the garage so as not to scratch a car. And I always had a bicycle lock. I had both combination locks and those that required a key, but I didn’t have a preference. After all, I could forget a combination just as quickly and easily as I could lose a key. I was frightened that my bicycle would be stolen and I would have to walk home.
Recently, Danny Lesh’s $600 Cannonday hybrid was stolen. Shortly after, he found it advertised as FOR SALE on Craigslist and he alerted police. They were unable to help him right away so he decided to take matters into his own hands.
The bike was advertised as for sale for $100 so Lesh arranged to meet with the seller/thief to take the bike for a test ride. But, instead of returning to pay for the bike, he simply rode off with his property. Lesh placed an ad of his own on Craigslist warning other users about stolen bikes being listed for sale.
“This guy finally started calling me, and left a message saying he was going to call the police. I’m glad that, hopefully, his business is interrupted a little bit.” – Danny Lesh
Never once was my bicycle stolen. I do remember leaving it out in the rain once and feeling bad. Fortunately, no harm came to the bell, the streamers hanging from the end of the handlebars or the playing cards that were attached to the fork with a clothes pin so that I made a “clicking” sound as I rode.
Have you ever had a bicycle stolen?
Copyright © 2012 www.DiatribesAndOvations.com
Like this:
Diatribe: Trayvon Martin Target Practice.
An unidentified Florida entrepreneur admits he is trying to profit off Trayvon Martin’s death by selling gun range targets featuring the teen who’s death has sparked a nationwide controversy.
Although Martin’s face does not appear on the paper targets, they feature a hoodie with crosshairs aimed at the chest. A bag of Skittles is tucked in the pocket and a hand is holding a can resembling iced tea.
Martin purchased both items minutes before he was shot and killed by George Zimmerman in February, according to police.
Zimmerman, who has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder charges, originally told investigators he shot Martin in self-defense.
According to an advertisement for the targets that had been posted on a popular firearms auction website, the sellers stated they “support Zimmerman and believe he is innocent and that he shot a thug.”
That online ad has since been removed. Is anyone else disgusted by this?
