Graduation 2009 – We were lucky that the warm, sunny, clear weather held up. Families and friends were excited and supportive–the amphitheatre was packed. Steve Adubato delivered a stirring address to the graduates in which he pointed out that ‘quitting is not an option’.
He cited examples of people whose lives had been shattered in different ways, but who then used the experience to find a way to reach out to others and to help them. Senior Class President Kamillah Knight gave an address in which she cited the digging of the Lincoln Tunnel, and the cooperation of the “sandhogs” digging on both ends of the tunnel as an example of the rewards of true collaboration. There was a Presentation of the Colors by the Montclair High School AFJROTC. And there was the tossing of the caps in the air. And of course, it was followed up with the traditional parade of the Project Graduation buses rolling throughout the town jammed with happy partying teenagers (watch the video on Barista Kids).
And in neighboring Glen Ridge, seniors take their diplomas tonight, followed by a full evening of Project Graduation. The theme this year is Old School Nickelodeon, and Glen Ridge parents are invited to gawk at the elaborate tent party set-up at 350 Ridgewood Ave., between 8:30 and 11:30 pm.
Congratulations to all! We wish every single one of you the very best of luck–now and for the rest of your lives. Carry on!
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Adubato told them that ‘”quitting is not an option”?
That’s such bs.
Sometimes recognizing a mistake, “quitting” and learning is the best the move.
Hell, some consider it the mature act.
Staying the course, sometimes only continues the same bad outcome.
For me, I like to have a plan A, B and C at the ready in case one thing doesn’t work out.
Because I cut and run!
Did he pound the podium with his shoe when he made this pronouncement?
Imagine with me…..
President Bush told graduates that “quitting is not an option.”
Please.
Montclair would look as dumb as Notre Dame with it’s “disapproval” of having The President speak to its graduates, so we’d never get to hear him speak.
And considering that the Iraq war has been won– Obama didn’t even mention it during his press conference, nor his takeover of ABC– I still believe that time and history hold the best answer to whether the war was the right thing to do.
To this point, one cannot discount the freedom young Iranians see in Iraq (even the Times had a great article about how free young girls are in their choice of dress a few weeks back now) as motivation to protest.
Although, most in the media will say it was Obama’s Cairo… speach
Freedom to dress in western-style garb is not a new development in Iraq. Under Saddam, most residents of Baghdad dressed in western styled clothing, as did Saddam himself. So how this has inspired Iranians is difficult to see.
In fact, most Iranians say that they do not want the whole system in Iran to go away, but that they DO want more transparency and more openness in their government. But since Iranians and Iraqis are bitter enemies, I question how much inspiration one party draws from the other.
To those who are predisposed to scoff at Obama’s efforts, the speech in Cairo meant nothing. But when one reads the reports coming from the Arab press and the Israeli press and the European press, one comes away thinking that the speech meant quite a bit.
Guess “time and history” will tell.
Either I was just that tired last night, they finally started doing that stupid tour though the town at a decent hour, or they changed the route.
One of the worst parts of living in Montclair was the seeming random night in June when I am woken by the sounds of Armageddon outside my window only to realize that it is the night of graduation.
And to all of the “It’s only one night a year” parents: One of these days I’m going to drive door to door to all of the Seniors in the middle of their “finals week” and play power metal on my guitar from a stack amp turned up to 11 in the middle of the night.
But, it will only be one night out of the year so you have no right to complain when I do it.
cro,
The point isn’t whether women have ever dressed in western clothes, but have they since the war began.
That they do now means thing are returning to “normal.”
You make the point.
But IF O’s speech meant something, one must wonder why his follow up was so lacking.
I’m sure Merkel’s schoolin’ him today.
Kudo’s to Fran Liscio for capturing the spirit of MHS graduation 2009. The photos are stunning, from images of the graduates, to staff, to folks behind the scenes! She’s captured the energy of the ceremony, which was elevating, inspiring and truly joyful.
Mike, no, the “tour” happened. They went down our street not once, but twice–at 9:30pm and 10:30 pm.
Everyone looks beautiful and happy and shiny. I saw the parade. They were loud and disturbing to my young ones, but congrats to the class of ’09!!
I take reassurance in the fact that quitting is an option.
prof, as is so often the case, you are confused.
Women in Iraq have dressed in western style garb for the past 30 years — before the war, during it, and now “after” it. You raised it as an issue. It isn’t one.
In Iran, women have gotten around restrictions for quite some time. Outside of the hajib, dress is fairly liberal by Muslim standards — no burquas to be sure.
In your ush to throw yet another stone on your Obama pile, you’ve invented an issue. No need to do that — there’s plenty to criticise as it is.
Congratulations to the Class of ’09. Such an exciting time in your lives. Enjoy!
Cro,
Glad to see your view from here in Baristaville is so much more clear than Merna Mazin’s
in Baghdad.
And I’m glad that she’s reading Baristanet and getting a story written in the Times no less about my invented issue.
The prof is worldwide!!
prof, if your powers of perception were anywhere near what you believe they are, you would note that the restrictions on women’s dress came into play AFTER the US invasion, and that things are easing now that the hard-liners are in retreat. Hard-liners did not impose this sort of thing prior to the invasion, because Saddam’s society was secular and he resisted giving too much power to the mullahs.
So in fact, it was western style in Baghdad in terms of dress up until the invasion, conservative in some areas in the immediate aftermath, and is now moving back to western-style as hostilities lessen.
I hope this helps. I like you, and hate to see you wandering around all confused.