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June 25, 2008
New York Post columnist Phil Mushnick reported in this past Sunday's Post that CBS newswoman Leslie Stahl, who normally grills dishonest targets on 60 Minutes, did a little "stahling" when it came to the truth regarding her commencement speech at Loyola College, a Jesuit school in Baltimore.
What Do You Expect From a Liberal Journalist?
Sadly, it is not unusual for a liberal of any kind to be asked to be a commencement speaker at a Catholic institution, despite the fact that many liberal positions on a number of significant issues directly contradict core Catholic doctrine and teaching. Truth be told, most Catholic colleges are either already firmly in the grasp of liberals or well on their way there. Control of the Catholic hierarchy in this country and, increasingly, throughout most of the world is in the hands of the so-called social justice crowd, who have no problem holding a crucifix while spewing Marxist or socialist rhetoric about poverty, classes, workers etc.
That being said, you get what you pay for. Bring your typical liberal journalist in to receive an honorary degree, bow to their wisdom and insight, ignore the fact that they most likely contradict or defy what your school is supposed to stand for and please do not be surprised when they spew some offensive remark. Oh, by the way, if they do, make sure you cover your posterior by making sure evidence of the offense never gets out. Nice parting example for the poor graduates of your school that probably enrolled there thinking that they would be taught integrity, honesty and moral character.
The Comment
It seems that during the May 17th ceremony, Stahl was moving quite nicely through her speech when she used the word "pusillanimous," meaning cowardly. Then, perhaps in an effort to sound hip or cool, she asked whether the word had anything to do with "p---y." Mushnick reports that a father of a Loyola graduate whom he has known and trusted for 20 years conveyed this occurrence to Mushnick.
After Stahl claimed through a CBS spokesman that she had actually said "pussycat," Loyola declined to comment and refused to provide a complete tape of the speech. Consequently, New York Post columnist Liz Smith wrote a column vouching for her friend Stahl, claiming that she would never use such language.
Since then, someone else who attended the ceremony confirmed that Stahl spoke the vulgarity and Mark McKenna, Loyola Class of 2008, sent a letter to the Baltimore Sun which that paper posted on its Web site. The first person stated "I know what I heard and I know she said it. You couldn't miss it. She went way over the line." For his part, McKenna wrote:
"When I read that CBS News would lie about Mrs. Stahl's speech and that Loyola College would not comment, I decided that I would confirm the allegation. I only wish that Mrs. Stahl would be mature enough to admit what she said, especially since it was in front of a large group of people and most likely recorded for the DVD of the graduation ceremony."
Common Sense Pays a Short Visit
It is logical and reasonable to conclude that if Stahl did not, in fact, use such an offensive remark at such an inappropriate time, she, CBS and Loyola would run over each other to show the tape and prove her innocence. Instead, we get foolish denials and empty assurances from clueless friends who were not even there and no comments from the host school.
In an age where political correctness has reached absurdity, where any slip of the tongue which offends any group defended by liberals is compared to the Hindenburg disaster, where people must walk on eggs making sure not to offend the litany of highly sensitive people ready to jump from rooftops in response to any imbecilic comment, I am amused and saddened by yet another example of the immaturity and hypocrisy of the liberal media establishment.
Likewise, as a Catholic, I am saddened that a school pretending to represent the Catholic faith would first invite someone whose views contradict that Faith and then protect that person from the proper repercussions of her big mouth and twisted sense of what is hip and witty.
Conclusion
The true victims of this episode are those kids and their guests who saw their day marred by an inappropriate and vulgar remark by someone supposedly there as a role model for success.
Also victimized, yet again, is the Catholic educational tradition which at one time represented the very best in moral and ethical tradition but which now is just another brick in the wall of a society steeped in glib vulgarity, a twisted moral conscience, cowardly immaturity, an arrogant defiance of personal accountability and a profound hypocrisy regarding right and wrong.
The same journalists who jump to tell us that Bush, Imus or Limbaugh should not have said this or that run for cover when one of their own says something offensive and inappropriate. The same so-called social activists who have fits when one of their protected groups is offended by some stupid remark from a celebrity stay silent when a comment which should be offensive to anyone, especially women, is uttered by, of all people, a woman.
Armed with examples like the one described here, I beg journalists and liberals to shut up the next time they want to crucify someone they detest to score points with some protected group they pat on the head on cue. I beg the liberal elite to shut up the next time they want to scream blasphemy whenever any conservative dares to crack a stupid joke they dislike. I beg the social activist frauds to shut up when they want to practice their selective outrage whose level is dictated by their own selfish agenda. I beg CBS to shut up, period. Above all, I beg schools like Loyola College to refrain from giving honorary doctorates to liberal journalists whose only degree is B.S.
Family Security Matters Contributing Editor Gabriel Garnica, Esq., is a college professor who holds a law degree from New York University. Write him at gbgmyarticles@yahoo.com.
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