Governor Schwarzenegger & SMC Graduation
One of my co-workers graduated this evening from Santa Monica City College . I decided to attend with one other co-worker, taking 2 hours vacation time. Leaving at 4 pm, we drove down over to Santa Monica.
The smart thing we did was to park on Ocean Park Blvd and 16th Street, and walk up to Pico Blvd. The parking structure on Pico had a line of cars that extended two blocks. We got to the gate on 16th street.
They were asking for Tickets.
Tickets ?!?!? What tickets ??? My coworker didn't say anything about tickets.
Luckily, she had given me her husband's cell phone. I called him, and he said to meet him at the main entrance on Pico and 17 th.
We walked around the block, passed all the protestors. Pro and Con. For and Against. Those who like Arnold and those that don't.
Not really wanting to get involved in any of it, walking passed them really stressed me out.
We had the hardest time trying to find an entrance. I saw people walking passed the parking structure. So we took off into the parking structure. There at the entrance to the football field was my coworker's husband.
Turns out that they didn't originally require tickets. But with all the controversy around Governor Schwarzenegger being there, they decided to require tickets - I guess to keep out all the protestors. My coworkers husband said that he didn't think we would have had a problem getting in, if we had just explained the situation to the guards they would have been cool about it.
He and his family were sitting way at the top. I asked my coworker that I came with, if she wouldn't mind sitting toward the end, alittle farther down. Because after hiking from Ocean Park Blvd, and around the College, I didn't feel like climbing the bleachers.
The reason Arnold Schwarzenegger was asked to give the commencement speech at the Graduation Ceremony, was the fact that he graduated from Santa Monica College with a Business Degree. How many colleges can boast that one of their alumni has become the Governor of the State ? So it is a very special occasion.
I have to hand it to Santa Monica College, being that they are in a very liberal city - to ask the Republican Governor to speak. That much shows to me that they were thinking not of their own political views, but about how special the circumstances were. And how much it would mean to the students.
There is alot of controversy going on with Governor Schwarzenegger calling a Special Election that some people feel are going to cost way to much money. So thats where all the problems are coming in. And that is the reason for all Protestors.
I am not political. I try to read up when it is time to vote. (Unlike some people I know who get their information from TV commercials.) I try to make an informed decision. And I do my best. Since I am no expert on anything political, I'm not going to get into what I think, one way or the other. And I really don't care what anyone else thinks. Just when its time to vote, read up and make your best decision.
That is the end of the Political Portion of the blog for the month.....
Here is the one thing I have to say about Governor Schwarzenegger at the Santa Monica College Graduation :
This ceremony was supposed to be to honor the achievements of students who were graduating.
I think the Teachers, Students and People on the street did a big disservice to those who were graduating because they did not remember the reason for the event.
They allowed Politics to ruin this special event for most of the students there.
I don't care what your Political Beliefs are, and how you are going to vote ... a Special Event is just that, "Special" - and this was not the time or the place.
And yes, I know some of the controversy has to do with Funding for Education. I still don't think this Event was the time or place.
I felt really sorry for the graduating students. Arnold Schwarzenegger was giving a nice speech about how he succeeded to become a movie star and then Governor. Most of the students were trying to listen.
Throughout the speech, the "Boos" would start and stop. Alot of the graduating students would turn around with their fingers to their lips, trying to get the
those in the crowd who were boo-ing to stop. They wanted to listen to their commencement speech.
But it was in vain, because many of those "Boos" were coming from the protestors on the street who were trying to make as much noise as possible.
Every so often, someone would unfurl a banner with a political message which the Police would confiscate. Then people in the crowd would boo or cheer depending on what they thought. This further drowned out the Commencement speech.
It was a really sad and inappropriate thing for these young students to have to deal with on their special day.
Any way, if anyone who graduated from Santa Monica College reads this Blog, I want to let you know that when I was watching your Graduation, I wasn't thinking of politics. I was thinking of you, the Students, and your great achievement on this day.
Here are some pictures from this crazy unbelievable event :
Governor Schwarzenegger giving Commencement Speech
Governor Schwarzenegger giving Commencement Speech
Red Protest Banner gets unfurled from parking structure behind Governor by outside protestors 
The Governor drives away in a Cart right after his speech is done
A student writes on his Graduation Cap "Stop Arnold Now" and lets the audience see it
Balloons
balloons
More Balloons
Flowers for a Graduate
