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My Commencement Address and Response to Serena Williams
The right and wrong way to respond to Harrison Butker.
Serena and Venus Williams, along with Quinta Brunson, had something to say about Harrison Butker’s controversial commencement address at Thursday night’s Espy Awards.
“So, go ahead and enjoy women’s sports like you would any other sports, because they are sports.” — Venus Williams
“Except you, Harrison Butker. We don’t need you.” — Serena Williams
“At all. Like, ever.” — Quinta Brunson
-Posted on X.com by Awful Announcing.
https://x.com/awfulannouncing/status/1811585393973956933
I understand their sentiment, but that was not the best approach. This kind of response was a lost opportunity. If they wanted to address Butker’s comments, they should have invited him to watch. Let him see women who excel at their chosen profession. And remind him that many of these women are themselves wives and mothers. They are examples how women can have both families and careers. If some women choose homemaker as their career, that’s fine. But they don’t have to choose one or the other. They can do both.
I’m bringing it up because ever since that speech, I’ve thought about what I would want to say if I gave a commencement speech at Benedictine College. I thought the female Benedictine graduates deserved something more respectful of both their accomplishments and their aspirations. So here’s my effort in that cause.
Post-Butker
For the women graduates of Benedictine College, since you did not get the best advice from your commencement speaker, I’d like to try to rectify it, if only a little. Whether you want to get married or not, whether you want to have children or not, whether you want a career or not, that is between you, your conscience, and your spouse if one is involved. This country was founded on certain ideals, and among them is that everyone has the right to their own pursuit of happiness. Whatever that looks like for you is your business.
Since this is a Catholic school, I also figure it is important for you to live a life that is pleasing to God. Jesus said what is necessary to live a…
