Andrew Card was given an honorary degree at UMass Amherst yesterday. When his name was announced, he was booed for two solid minutes. His support for the war was the main source of objection. According to WBUR, the University President could not be heard conferring the degree. Card just accepted the degree, smiled and returned to his seat.
One of the most critical questions floating around the anti-Iraq war movement is why the lack of passion. I've heard repeatedly comments from people who attended both anti-Vietnam demonstrations in the 1960-70s and anti-Iraq demonstrations in the 2000's that the passion just isn't there today. For those who attend, its more pro-forma today than it was 35 years ago.
The passion was clearly there yesterday on Kos. But sometimes Kos just seems like an island unto itself. This apparent fact led some to conclude that we really need a draft to bring the horror of war home.
But watch what happened at UMass Amherst yesterday. It looks like a lot of passion to me.
It all reminds me of what happened to Henry Kissinger when he was awarded an honorary degree at Brown in 1969.