Mitt
Romney to Inspire Liberty students to do...what?
Gov. Mitt Romney to deliver 2012 Commencement address
Chancellor Jerry Falwell, Jr. announced today that Gov. Mitt Romney will address Liberty University graduates at the 2012 Commencement ceremony to be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 12, at Arthur L. Williams Stadium.
“We are delighted that Governor Romney will join us to celebrate Commencement with Liberty’s 2012 graduates," said Liberty Chancellor Jerry Falwell, Jr. "This will be a historic event for Liberty University reminiscent of the visits of Governor, and then presidential candidate, Ronald Reagan to Liberty’s campus in 1980 and of President George H.W. Bush who spoke at Liberty’s 1990 Commencement ceremony.”
This will be Governor Romney’s first appearance at Liberty University. Chancellor Jerry Falwell, Jr. will also be making remarks during the ceremony.
Liberty University's 39th Commencement will celebrate the achievement of more than 14,000 graduates with more than 34,000 guests expected to attend. The ceremony will also be broadcast by streaming video to the families of Liberty’s 70,000+ online students around the world.
Graduation day at Liberty
University. A day of excitement, accomplishment and finality. As the graduation
ceremony begins, these students will take in their final address from Liberty
before they are sent out into the world.
Traditionally the graduation
speaker's role is implore and inspire these students once more to carry out the
vision that has been instilled in them by their university. Let's take a look at
a few bullet points of Liberty's mission and vision statement, shall we?
Liberty University
will:
4.
Promote the synthesis of academic knowledge and Christian worldview in
order that there might be a maturing of spiritual, intellectual, social and
physical value-driven behavior.
8. Encourage a
commitment to the Christian life, one of personal integrity, sensitivity to the
needs of others, social responsibility and active communication of the
Christian faith, and, as it is lived out, a life that leads people to Jesus
Christ as the Lord of the universe and their own personal Savior.
How can a Mormon bishop be called on to inspire students to
commit to a Christian worldview? How can a man who in his political career has
stood for abortion and gay rights be called upon to implore students to social
responsibility? And how can a current presidential candidate who continues to
isolate a broad base of his party - conservative evangelicals - urge students
to be sensitive to the needs of others?
I still remember the great spiritual truths I was encouraged
with during my time at Trinity and their incorporation into my graduation
ceremony. I remember thinking how blessed I was to be graduating
from a place that recognized and celebrated my faith.
I can't help but think that some aspect of that celebration
will be lost at Liberty on graduation day. To listen to an individual who does
not share their faith, who is not imploring them to serve the same God, and who
does not live up to the same moral standards these students are striving for is
not fair to the graduates or their families and friends who have come to
celebrate along with them. I can guarantee you Rick Santorum would never be
asked to speak at Brigham Young University.
Whether Liberty saw this as a great opportunity to hear from
a presidential candidate or an opportunity for some publicity, they need to
consider what final message they want to leave with their students and what
they want their students to exemplify when they walk out the doors.
Credit where credit is due:
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