President’s Comic Speech at Yale

Re “Bush Returns to Yale, Gives Graduates the Last Laugh,” May 22: President Bush’s graduation speech at Yale’s commencement exercises was an insult to the Yale graduates, the university, the presidency and the nation. His speech, mostly silly jokes and self-deprecating humor, was sophomoric and shallow and would have been more appropriate at a fraternity roast.

I have just returned from the graduation ceremonies at the University of Pennsylvania, where Sen. John McCain delivered the commencement address. It was an intelligent, inspiring and meaningful speech, challenging seniors to make sacrifices and contributions that would enrich their lives. He spoke with respect to the young men and women of Penn, and it was clear that all those in attendance respected and honored the senator and his words.

Is George W. Bush really the president of the United States? Did he really defeat McCain in the primary and win the national election? Am I having a bad dream?

Saul J. Faerstein

Beverly Hills

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How generous of The Times to characterize Bush’s address to Yale’s graduating class as self-deprecating. I’d argue that true self-deprecation necessarily involves some degree of humility or remorse, while all we hear in the president’s remarks is the same smug anti-intellectualism we’ve come to expect from him. I’m sure the Yalies who have worked hard for their academic success were delighted to be reminded that Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney’s microscopic collective GPA in no way prevented them from riding into the White House on the shoulders of others. And the president’s wink-nudge reference to his rowdy fraternity days, especially coming on the heels of his daughter’s arrest, was tasteless at best and outrageous at worst.

The president, with plenty of coaching from his advisors, is trying hard to package his track record of shortsightedness and poor decision-making as an indicator of his cuteness and accessibility. I doubt he fooled many at Yale. Those graduates deserved a commencement speaker with a genuine respect for knowledge, education and personal integrity--and this country deserves the same in its president.

Eliza Rubenstein

Costa Mesa