Will, what do you feel ADC's role is in this? Prior to inviting him, is there any reasonable expectation that he would deliver a speech worthy of praise? If not, should ADC not shoulder some blame? Is the prominence of the speaker counterbalanced by the negative effect on the community?

When assessing the speech in light of who the speaker is, it certainly could have gone much worse if he "catered" it to the Arab community. If he focused on "our issues," the speech would have been more belittling, more offensive, and more damaging (at least in the sense that the Pavlovian response would have remained the same). I prefer we fawn over some meaningless or elementary banter about identity politics. Does your critique of the speech fully take into account the setting? (or only partially take the setting into account, in order to address what was missing). Is there any speech that he realistically (i.e., does not contradict his known views on "our issues") would have given at the ADC banquet that does not warrant criticism? If not, shouldn't ADC be criticized as well? Shouldn't ADC provide the platform to a speaker that will empower us, rather than knock us?

Native compradore intellectuals... i like that, i'm writing that down.

+1

K

O

yup, not of my own volition. it's the default setting. my goal is to have the highest number of points by posting a ton of meaningless comments. thankfully, you're not registered because I'm not sure I could compete with you.

wait... wait... aww shucks, looks like, still, nobody cares.

nobody cares.

Cuz, i think you're the one that needs to lighten up.

+100000000!