Valedictorian proposes to boyfriend during graduation speech

[ce1]

I guess everyone has a right their feelings....but jeez...is it really that big a deal? There are much greater things to be concerned about, to feel true anger or irritation over. Two people had a special moment--and that's all it was, a special moment. To me, the people who are angry are probably also the same people who think athletes like Tiger Woods need to apologize for the behaviors. I just don't get it.

Well, it's not like i'm in counseling or have deep-seated emotional issues over it Just irritates me that his personal life was injected into my graduation.

And no, i don't think Tiger owes me or anyone else i know an apology.

[JY07]

I guess everyone has a right their feelings....but jeez...is it really that big a deal? There are much greater things to be concerned about, to feel true anger or irritation over. Two people had a special moment--and that's all it was, a special moment. To me, the people who are angry are probably also the same people who think athletes like Tiger Woods need to apologize for the behaviors. I just don't get it.

Not that complicated; the speech is supposed to be oriented towards the graduates, not the speaker.

What intrinsic attribute of a wedding proposal makes that ok, but going off on a tangent about the speaker's politics, religious views, or taking a phone call in the middle of the speech inappropriate?

[Clones85']

Can I borrow your copy?

Which one? VHD, DVD, or Blue ray? I also have a never seen DVD before where Rachel McAdams picks the other guy.

[dosry5]

Not that complicated; the speech is supposed to be oriented towards the graduates, not the speaker.

What intrinsic attribute of a wedding proposal makes that ok, but going off on a tangent about the speaker's politics, religious views, or taking a phone call in the middle of the speech inappropriate?

If her entire speech was the proposal---then fine, it shouldn't have happened. But I'm just sayin, in the scheme of things.....so flipping what. She proposed. BFD. I would just hope most people have better things to worry about then one minute of her speech that wasn't plattitudes and fluff about flowery hopes and dreams before most of them set off to change the world in the call center at Wells Fargo.

[CarolinaCy]

I guess everyone has a right their feelings....but jeez...is it really that big a deal? There are much greater things to be concerned about, to feel true anger or irritation over. Two people had a special moment--and that's all it was, a special moment. To me, the people who are angry are probably also the same people who think athletes like Tiger Woods need to apologize for the behaviors. I just don't get it.

But why does everyone feel the need to share their "special moments" and day-to-day lives with the rest of the world? This is no different from everyone who posts Facebook updates and Tweets that say, "going to lunch at XYZ restaurant with some good friends" or "just had the worst meeting ever". Guess what? No one really cares that much about your lives.

Everyone thinks they are much more important than they really are.

[Clones85']

But why does everyone feel the need to share their "special moments" and day-to-day lives with the rest of the world? This is no different from everyone who posts Facebook updates and Tweets that say, "going to lunch at XYZ restaurant with some good friends" or "just had the worst meeting ever". Guess what? No one really cares that much about your lives.

Everyone thinks they are much more important than they really are.

Actually A TON of people care. Why do you think facebook is so huge?! People like to keep in touch and know what others are doing. What is wrong with sharing your happiest moments with others? Why does it bother you?

[dosry5]

But why does everyone feel the need to share their "special moments" and day-to-day lives with the rest of the world? This is no different from everyone who posts Facebook updates and Tweets that say, "going to lunch at XYZ restaurant with some good friends" or "just had the worst meeting ever". Guess what? No one really cares that much about your lives.

Everyone thinks they are much more important than they really are.

But you're on an internet message board posting your opinion right now. Don't you see the irony?

[azn4cy]

Which one? VHD, DVD, or Blue ray? I also have a never seen DVD before where Rachel McAdams picks the other guy.

Do you have the version where Rachel McAdams picks another chick?

[Ms3r4ISU]

Two comments:
1. I didn't know colleges had valedictorians. Thought that was just a high school thing.
2. I'm surprised at the people here who did, or say they did, remember what was said at their own graduation.

[motorCYcle]

Not that complicated; the speech is supposed to be oriented towards the graduates, not the speaker.

What intrinsic attribute of a wedding proposal makes that ok, but going off on a tangent about the speaker's politics, religious views, or taking a phone call in the middle of the speech inappropriate?

If her entire speech was the proposal---then fine, it shouldn't have happened. But I'm just sayin, in the scheme of things.....so flipping what. She proposed. BFD. I would just hope most people have better things to worry about then one minute of her speech that wasn't plattitudes and fluff about flowery hopes and dreams before most of them set off to change the world in the call center at Wells Fargo.

While it didn't take very much time, this takes the focus off of the main goal of the day. Obviously it wasn't that big of a deal for those two to graduate college, considering they were the valedictorian and salutatorian. For others, it may actually be the most important day (to date) of their lives; possibly the first in their family to graduate college. And although it's touching or romantic or whatever, they really shouldn't become more than the ceremony itself.
And as JY07 said, this is similar to saying "I love Bush/Obama" at the end of the speech. Just not the place for things like this.

[AlleyAddict]

so who wears the pants in this relationship? and how will the girl compensate for his friends giving him crap for that for the rest of his life?

"You couldn't ask her, she had to ask you?"
"Did she ask your dad for his blessing?"
"What kind of dress are you wearing for the wedding?"
"How much was the diamond in your ring?"
and so on...

[mikeiastat]

Those in or at the May 1988 graduation ceremony at Iowa State will remember that the same thing happened, guy proposes to girl during his speech. Ticked me off then, still irritates me a bit today. As in -- "it's our day, not your day, dude."

sorry but short of making a complete fool of himself or the university, I would have to say the guy earned the right to do whatever he wants. Don't like it, study harder. He can sing the barney song if he wants to. It took up 5 minutes of your life that you'll actully remember. You can choose to remember it however you want to, but sounds a little bitter loser the way you are chosing to.

It's not all about them, and its not all about you either. I have to say, I don't even remember who our valedictorian was, let alone what the hell s/he said. Too bad for you, that two people who earned the right, no less, got to celebrate in a unique way their happiness. I would take extra joy to know I was so offensive to you, if you are that sensitive.

I suppose your bitterness was all crankey too when that guy proposed after the bowl game a few years back.

[dosry5]

While it didn't take very much time, this takes the focus off of the main goal of the day. Obviously it wasn't that big of a deal for those two to graduate college, considering they were the valedictorian and salutatorian. For others, it may actually be the most important day (to date) of their lives; possibly the first in their family to graduate college. And although it's touching or romantic or whatever, they really shouldn't become more than the ceremony itself.
And as JY07 said, this is similar to saying "I love Bush/Obama" at the end of the speech. Just not the place for things like this.

I would argue that they only become more than the ceremony itself if you make them that way. Based on the logic of most arguments in this thread--against the proposal based on making it "about them"--I'd say you should be just as upset that you had ANY students allowed to make a speech because it automatically singles them out as more important than you just sitting in the audience. Where is the outrage for that?

[AlleyAddict]

sorry but short of making a complete fool of himself or the university, I would have to say the guy earned the right to do whatever he wants. Don't like it, study harder. He can sing the barney song if he wants to. It took up 5 minutes of your life that you'll actully remember. You can choose to remember it however you want to, but sounds a little bitter loser the way you are chosing to.

It's not all about them, and its not all about you either. I have to say, I don't even remember who our valedictorian was, let alone what the hell s/he said. Too bad for you, that two people who earned the right, no less, to celebrate in a unique way their happiness, is so offensive to you.

I suppose your bitterness was all crankey too when that guy proposed after the bowl game a few years back.

the girl was the valedictorian, and she randomly called him up to the podium and asked him to marry her, but it was like it was no big deal, kind of like "do you want jelly on your toast?"

[AlleyAddict]

sorry but short of making a complete fool of himself or the university, I would have to say the guy earned the right to do whatever he wants. Don't like it, study harder. He can sing the barney song if he wants to. It took up 5 minutes of your life that you'll actully remember. You can choose to remember it however you want to, but sounds a little bitter loser the way you are chosing to.

It's not all about them, and its not all about you either. I have to say, I don't even remember who our valedictorian was, let alone what the hell s/he said. Too bad for you, that two people who earned the right, no less, got to celebrate in a unique way their happiness. I would take extra joy to know I was so offensive to you, if you are that sensitive.

I suppose your bitterness was all crankey too when that guy proposed after the bowl game a few years back.

i just read the rest of your post, you should probably read the story