NFL Kicker Harrison Butker’s unhinged commencement speech

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the ones who remain uncritical and accepting of this AHole's speech..

This guy said a lot of things and maybe you agree with most of it and don't believe it was offensive. However, what he DID SAY EXACTLY was that:

Women have their place in the world and that is as a homemaker. Someone who should NOT have a career/NOT make a career an option and only aspire to be a mother and wife.

For this alone, it's offensive. There were women in this school who intend to use their degrees they just received to build a career. How do you actually defend his speech in the context of this? That it's a conservative Christian school is irrelevant because his speech was not just about Christianity but specifically demeaning all female students in the audience - he's suggesting they not only wasted their time but are garbage for even considering having a career.

I mean, it's not about his entire speech that matters. No matter how you slice it and dice it about whether what he said was on pointe about Christianity, his words about women are an indisputable insult to the female audience and that in itself is outrageous. That those who defend him don't even see this or care about this is what is wrong with our society.

This is absolute BS. If you're going to claim something was "EXACTLY what he said," then quote his EXACT words. Here, let me help you:

"For the ladies present today, congratulations on an amazing accomplishment. You should be proud of all that you have achieved to this point in your young lives. I want to speak directly to you briefly because I think it is you, the women, who have had the most diabolical lies told to you. How many of you are sitting here now about to cross this stage and are thinking about all the promotions and titles you are going to get in your career? Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world, but I would venture to guess that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world."

He in no way was saying that women's place is as a homemaker and only a homemaker. He acknowledged that many will probably be leading successful careers in the future. He's simply saying that the greatest achievement is having a family. That doesn't preclude working. I would find it mighty strange if ANY parent claimed their greatest achievement was their career, and not their family. YMMV, but at least quote him correctly.

Why are women singled out for this? Why not men? Why did he define their roles so rigidly? He did not say “men and women you have been told lies - your jobs are not as important as being homemakers and parents.” It was the old trodden gender roles - women as homemakers men as breadwinners. Tiresome.

And many people choose not to have children. They are also fine choosing that.

He said

“She is the one who ensures I never let football or my business become a distraction from that of a husband and father.”

So what if a woman wants to be a homemaker?

Many women, including well educated high earning leftists on this site choose to be homemakers.

So what? Some people prefer traditional gender roles and others don’t.

You don’t find that sad that he would be distracted dad if she wasn’t around? This board is full of women complaining about this day after day after day….

+1 This is yet another "the woman is the adult and the man is a child that the woman has to manage" scenario. All while he says men should embrace their masculinity. Whatever that means.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you were offered fed by his speech that’s fine it wasn’t intended for you.

The reaction he got from his intended audience was overwhelmingly positive.

He’s a Christian, who gave a speech full of Christian values to a Christian college with Christian students. Both women and men were in the crowd and he got a standing ovation. If you’re offended it’s because you’re were the intended audience or you’re. It ready to come to terms with what he was saying is truth. He wasn’t saying that a women’s only purpose was to be in the kitchen as you might have seen in the 60 second edited clip of his full 20-30 min speech. He addressed men as well and said how important their role was as well. He spoke truth to the fact that most people will find more value in their family life than anything else because the people you love and care about are more important than any degree.

The only ones mad or pressed about this is the man-hating women who seem to be in abundance here and on social media, and the sycophantic men who are trying to preach feminism in order to try to get dates. Most everyone else who works, strives to be better and have a family see what he said as a basic truth and something they agree with in terms of values.

Those who disagree can have their viewpoint but it doesn’t matter, he wasn’t speaking to you or about you so you can go on knowing that. It doesn’t matter how many “I will chose the bear over the man” memes you post in your social media, it doesn’t change the fact that you’re not the one he or any of the people who likes his speech would be looking at for a relationship anyways

+ a million
Finally, someone sane.

-a million

The nuns who started the college is speaking at disagree with him.

Anybody who agrees with him is extremely ignorant of Catholic teachings.

I'm not Catholic and couldn't care less about Catholic "teachings." He said a lot of things that were true, regardless of religion at all.

Like all propaganda he said a few truths and a bunch of lies. Your his target audience… ignorant and clueless.

Exactly

[Anonymous]

His speech wasn’t unhinged.

I don’t agree with much or any of what he said and, as a working mom, was personally offended and hate knowing the way some people view and judge me.

But what he said wasn’t so terrible to call it unhinged. He’s allowed to have his own weird opinions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I was graduating the LAST thing I was thinking about was marriage and children.


I was thinking jobs and travel and getting an apartment.

+1

But it’s probably different if you are a religious nutter and/or have no career aspirations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When I was graduating the LAST thing I was thinking about was marriage and children.


I was thinking jobs and travel and getting an apartment.

+1 I was no way ready to be a wife or mother at that age, not even thinking about it. I would've been a terrible mother and wife at that age. Hard enough in my 30s.

And what's with the "men don't be afraid to embrace your masculinity"? What is that about ? What does that mean? Does it mean, "Men, don't be pushed into thinking you have to do housechores or childcare because that's woman's work".

Any time male celebrities/politicians/etc on the right start talking loudly and publicly about traditional gender roles and "masculinity," they instantly set off my gaydar. At some level they're addressing male anxiety about changing gender roles and expectations in the modern era, but the loudest of them seem to be playing out in public some internal issues. Check out this photo of Butker and his supposed buddy Josh Hawley (who wrote "Manhood: The Masculine Virtues America Needs"). Men, regardless of their sexuality, do not need lessons in "masculinity" from these two or anyone else thank you very much.

https://www.queerty.com/josh-hawley-posts-pic-with-harrison-butker-to-flaunt-his-masculinity-but-it-looks-like-something-else-is-going-on-20240517

Wouldn't surprise me. The ones who push "masculinity" the most seem to be those way back in the closet, afraid that light will shine on them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:His speech wasn’t unhinged.

I don’t agree with much or any of what he said and, as a working mom, was personally offended and hate knowing the way some people view and judge me.

But what he said wasn’t so terrible to call it unhinged. He’s allowed to have his own weird opinions.

And we are allowed to opine on his weird opinions that he made very public.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:His speech wasn’t unhinged.

I don’t agree with much or any of what he said and, as a working mom, was personally offended and hate knowing the way some people view and judge me.

But what he said wasn’t so terrible to call it unhinged. He’s allowed to have his own weird opinions.

What's weird to you is unhinged to someone else. It's all an opinion.

But why are you shaming (the likely) women on here for their opinion, but not the man who spoke first? Aren't women (and men) allowed to respond?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the ones who remain uncritical and accepting of this AHole's speech..

This guy said a lot of things and maybe you agree with most of it and don't believe it was offensive. However, what he DID SAY EXACTLY was that:

Women have their place in the world and that is as a homemaker. Someone who should NOT have a career/NOT make a career an option and only aspire to be a mother and wife.

For this alone, it's offensive. There were women in this school who intend to use their degrees they just received to build a career. How do you actually defend his speech in the context of this? That it's a conservative Christian school is irrelevant because his speech was not just about Christianity but specifically demeaning all female students in the audience - he's suggesting they not only wasted their time but are garbage for even considering having a career.

I mean, it's not about his entire speech that matters. No matter how you slice it and dice it about whether what he said was on pointe about Christianity, his words about women are an indisputable insult to the female audience and that in itself is outrageous. That those who defend him don't even see this or care about this is what is wrong with our society.

This is absolute BS. If you're going to claim something was "EXACTLY what he said," then quote his EXACT words. Here, let me help you:

"For the ladies present today, congratulations on an amazing accomplishment. You should be proud of all that you have achieved to this point in your young lives. I want to speak directly to you briefly because I think it is you, the women, who have had the most diabolical lies told to you. How many of you are sitting here now about to cross this stage and are thinking about all the promotions and titles you are going to get in your career? Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world, but I would venture to guess that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world."

He in no way was saying that women's place is as a homemaker and only a homemaker. He acknowledged that many will probably be leading successful careers in the future. He's simply saying that the greatest achievement is having a family. That doesn't preclude working. I would find it mighty strange if ANY parent claimed their greatest achievement was their career, and not their family. YMMV, but at least quote him correctly.

Why are women singled out for this? Why not men? Why did he define their roles so rigidly? He did not say “men and women you have been told lies - your jobs are not as important as being homemakers and parents.” It was the old trodden gender roles - women as homemakers men as breadwinners. Tiresome.

And many people choose not to have children. They are also fine choosing that.

Yup, this ^^.

He’s asking women to make a patriarchal bargain, like his good wife did. He holds her up in public, and she gains small p power. He’s showing women that if they, too, make the bargain to stand with men, that men will lift them up. Google this phenomenon.

This is what I heard.

What bothered me about his speech was the "diabolical lie" line and the speaking directly to women. That whole tangent could have been framed around the importance of family and childrearing as a shared responsibility.

When I was in high school I watched my best friend's mother be left with 3 children when her husband decided he wanted to be with his most recent AP. He had been a teacher at her high school, they started dating after she graduated, and she'd never worked. She was in her 30s with three kids, no education, no work history, and no wealthy family to fall back on. I watched that woman bust her ass and learned first hand that a man is not a plan.

[Anonymous]

Why is a 20-something football player seen as someone who is worthy of giving a commencement address? Why are some people so invested in taking life advice from him?

Butker's own mother is way more accomplished than he is. Elizabeth Butker is a clinical medical physicist who works in the department of radiation oncology at Emory University School of Medicine and has a long list of research publications. It is not always easy for women to advance in the various fields of scientific research. Her insights would have been more interesting than his.

[Anonymous]

PP - including her insights as to why her son is so intimidated by a woman (who like millions of women) can be a great mom and also work at the same time! And doesn't need the husband to point out to her that her family is important (which is apparently what Butker needs his wife to explain to him).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:His speech wasn’t unhinged.

I don’t agree with much or any of what he said and, as a working mom, was personally offended and hate knowing the way some people view and judge me.

But what he said wasn’t so terrible to call it unhinged. He’s allowed to have his own weird opinions.

They were not opinions. They were judgments. He broadly condemned anyone not in his patriarchal cult, with an anti-intellectual rant of ignorance and bigotry. Like every other cartoonish alpha-male pretender, he is terrified of and intimidated by accomplished women.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you were offered fed by his speech that’s fine it wasn’t intended for you.

The reaction he got from his intended audience was overwhelmingly positive.

He’s a Christian, who gave a speech full of Christian values to a Christian college with Christian students. Both women and men were in the crowd and he got a standing ovation. If you’re offended it’s because you’re were the intended audience or you’re. It ready to come to terms with what he was saying is truth. He wasn’t saying that a women’s only purpose was to be in the kitchen as you might have seen in the 60 second edited clip of his full 20-30 min speech. He addressed men as well and said how important their role was as well. He spoke truth to the fact that most people will find more value in their family life than anything else because the people you love and care about are more important than any degree.

The only ones mad or pressed about this is the man-hating women who seem to be in abundance here and on social media, and the sycophantic men who are trying to preach feminism in order to try to get dates. Most everyone else who works, strives to be better and have a family see what he said as a basic truth and something they agree with in terms of values.

Those who disagree can have their viewpoint but it doesn’t matter, he wasn’t speaking to you or about you so you can go on knowing that. It doesn’t matter how many “I will chose the bear over the man” memes you post in your social media, it doesn’t change the fact that you’re not the one he or any of the people who likes his speech would be looking at for a relationship anyways

No. He gave the speech to a mainstream CATHOLIC college with a diverse student body, hectoring them with an extremely fringe orthodox view of Catholicism. That is why the actual Benedictine nuns connected to the college issued their statement against the speech. And many students were offended: https://www.newspressnow.com/news/local_news/education/benedictine-graduates-share-thoughts-on-butker-speech/article_f5d958c2-1492-11ef-9ceb-a777f7771cdf.html

I’m curious about whether the content of his speech was a surprise or if there are Opus Dei moles in the administration. In any event, whoever decided to turn graduation into a divisive political spectacle bound to offend a large proportion of the class should be ashamed.

DP. Your assertion that "many students were offended" is quite funny, considering one offended person was quoted in the article. Do better.

I didn't read this article. I've read several others discussing their offense. It was more than a few who were upset.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When I was graduating the LAST thing I was thinking about was marriage and children.


I was thinking jobs and travel and getting an apartment.

+1 I was no way ready to be a wife or mother at that age, not even thinking about it. I would've been a terrible mother and wife at that age. Hard enough in my 30s.

And what's with the "men don't be afraid to embrace your masculinity"? What is that about ? What does that mean? Does it mean, "Men, don't be pushed into thinking you have to do housechores or childcare because that's woman's work".

Any time male celebrities/politicians/etc on the right start talking loudly and publicly about traditional gender roles and "masculinity," they instantly set off my gaydar. At some level they're addressing male anxiety about changing gender roles and expectations in the modern era, but the loudest of them seem to be playing out in public some internal issues. Check out this photo of Butker and his supposed buddy Josh Hawley (who wrote "Manhood: The Masculine Virtues America Needs"). Men, regardless of their sexuality, do not need lessons in "masculinity" from these two or anyone else thank you very much.

https://www.queerty.com/josh-hawley-posts-pic-with-harrison-butker-to-flaunt-his-masculinity-but-it-looks-like-something-else-is-going-on-20240517

I’m not sure if he’s gay, but I have no doubt there’s some deep personal & relational dysfunction somewhere. Hopefully does not involve abusing his wife but I wouldn’t be surprised. To be clear - I have zero issue with people who choose traditional life. We had that long post about Tim Carney who I think is annoying af but appears to be a well adjusted person who is sincerely interested in how communities can improve. Butker OTOH is angry and demanding, thinks that everyone who doesn’t adhere to his views is “diabolical,” and apparently had a self-concept involving his wife needing to restrain him from bad behavior. It’s not a pretty picture.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:His speech wasn’t unhinged.

I don’t agree with much or any of what he said and, as a working mom, was personally offended and hate knowing the way some people view and judge me.

But what he said wasn’t so terrible to call it unhinged. He’s allowed to have his own weird opinions.

They were not opinions. They were judgments. He broadly condemned anyone not in his patriarchal cult, with an anti-intellectual rant of ignorance and bigotry. Like every other cartoonish alpha-male pretender, he is terrified of and intimidated by accomplished women.

Mommy issues

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why is a 20-something football player seen as someone who is worthy of giving a commencement address? Why are some people so invested in taking life advice from him?

Butker's own mother is way more accomplished than he is. Elizabeth Butker is a clinical medical physicist who works in the department of radiation oncology at Emory University School of Medicine and has a long list of research publications. It is not always easy for women to advance in the various fields of scientific research. Her insights would have been more interesting than his.

Has she made a statement yet?