tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post2316755670559334140..comments2024-03-22T12:11:58.453-06:00Comments on Michael Offutt: The best parts of Melissa Harris-Perry's commencement speech to Wellesley College graduates are truthful and worth listening toMichael Offutt, Phantom Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10557969104886174930noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-67106671946097665582013-07-22T12:31:59.428-06:002013-07-22T12:31:59.428-06:00Very inspirational. Thanks for posting!Very inspirational. Thanks for posting!Stobbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17307341548219021848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-62664771517178673742013-07-16T08:18:01.056-06:002013-07-16T08:18:01.056-06:00Hi Michael .. I just listened - and she's a ve...Hi Michael .. I just listened - and she's a very good speaker .. giving all the options and I loved her thoughts to those 'kids' starting out ..<br /><br />Cheers HilaryHilary Melton-Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-52969675085312878302013-07-15T01:58:23.880-06:002013-07-15T01:58:23.880-06:00Hi Michael - what a great and interesting post .. ...Hi Michael - what a great and interesting post .. I've kept it unread, so I can come back and listen to Melissa Harris-Perry's talk .. she looks a bright spark.<br /><br />Anyone who does extra learning and continues to grow, keep an open mind and be gentle with life .. is so worth it - good for you.<br /><br />All the best - HilaryHilary Melton-Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-3265572875358660602013-07-12T08:10:24.411-06:002013-07-12T08:10:24.411-06:00Thanks for sharing Melissa's wisdom Michael. I...Thanks for sharing Melissa's wisdom Michael. I like the standing in the library one--it is nice to be grounded yet know we are connected to so many other smart and creative people.<br /><br />Enjoy your weekend. Slamdunkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13087161268629251860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-56318294430663949622013-07-11T18:13:24.432-06:002013-07-11T18:13:24.432-06:00I love this speech and the last line is perfect. I...I love this speech and the last line is perfect. I need to learn to be thicker. Julie Flandershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05003737491313673214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-22489186509484423422013-07-11T16:11:41.464-06:002013-07-11T16:11:41.464-06:00You are NOT ugly. That kind of burned me up readin...You are NOT ugly. That kind of burned me up reading that.<br /><br />Michael, you are smart, witty, and overall just an awesome person. Even if we disagree, I always learn from you. Learning is lifelong, and I'm always surprised by how I'm still changing. <br /><br />People who close their minds are the ignorant ones. And you know, I have an English degree too. So they can just kiss our intelligent asses.Jay Noelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04757777693161610861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-86699587642265095412013-07-11T08:55:01.883-06:002013-07-11T08:55:01.883-06:00I have a degree in English too and my dad and your...I have a degree in English too and my dad and yours seem to have a lot in common. Thanks for sharing this video, made my evening blog rounds worthwhile.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04283371140346602856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-26550217236584327442013-07-10T23:15:27.733-06:002013-07-10T23:15:27.733-06:00I want to major in English when I go to college. W...I want to major in English when I go to college. When people ask about my plans (which they are wont to do, me being in high school) and I tell them, they look uncomfortable or upset or surprised or something. Like they expected a higher calling for me. What with my big brain and all. ;) But an English major, I think, will feel those four years (and maybe beyond) with hard work of the variety that I love to immerse myself in.<br /><br />And I loved the speech. Especially the bit about your Charlotte towards the end. The most important people in your life are not going to be perfect. And you should love them for it.Brooke R. Bussehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17147444223968856153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-54007245303465634682013-07-10T22:37:16.029-06:002013-07-10T22:37:16.029-06:00Michael my dear, someday we really should get toge...Michael my dear, someday we really should get together. I'd love it.Helenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14967821142796562697noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-27795221992217833452013-07-10T21:03:54.871-06:002013-07-10T21:03:54.871-06:00Great post, and I have to agree on most points in ...Great post, and I have to agree on most points in the speech, especially the part about always learning new things in life. Anyone how believes they know everything by the age of 20 (and I know people like this) actually know almost nothing. Thanks for sharing, and it's great you stuck by the degree you wanted to do:) Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-59416263346048024632013-07-10T15:16:11.703-06:002013-07-10T15:16:11.703-06:00You caught me on a bad day. Life is hard. Nothing ...You caught me on a bad day. Life is hard. Nothing is guaranteed. When it's good, enjoy it.<br /><br />Looking back, I knew nothing when I graduated either. I still feel I don't know a whole lot. I loved learning, too.M Paxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14096697282530998519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-61860803540621162102013-07-10T14:28:48.278-06:002013-07-10T14:28:48.278-06:00I was going to skip my college commencement. Then ...I was going to skip my college commencement. Then my uncle (who was living in Oregon at the time) told me he was making a special trip down, and everyone in my family just had to go...<br /><br />At least my math professor (whose final was at about the same time as the ceremony) was understanding and let me take my final early. (Needed to take that final as I needed that class to actually graduate.)<br /><br />English is not a useless degree. (None are, but that's just an opinion.) Have you seen this: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/steve-strauss/hiring-english-majors_b_3484409.html<br /><br />The trick is to learn to ignore the "haters". Because when people speak, it's about them. Even if they're talking to you. Liz A.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16531953467834426316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-32739900876256410292013-07-10T13:44:05.424-06:002013-07-10T13:44:05.424-06:00@Helena: I've observed the same thing. We real...@Helena: I've observed the same thing. We really should get together sometime. I think we have a lot in common and it'd be great to have someone to bitch with that shares my same frustrations in life LOL.Michael Offutt, Phantom Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10557969104886174930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-41168604346626380362013-07-10T13:42:47.524-06:002013-07-10T13:42:47.524-06:00@Michael: Thank you so much for the kind words. Yo...@Michael: Thank you so much for the kind words. You really cheered me up.<br /><br />@Morgan: I think you are the most awesome redhead on the planet. You heard it here first.<br /><br />@Munir: Thank you for saying so. Your comments are always so thoughtful.<br /><br />@Andrew: ...<br /><br />@Matt: Thanks for visiting.Michael Offutt, Phantom Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10557969104886174930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-21912673672729568902013-07-10T13:41:15.359-06:002013-07-10T13:41:15.359-06:00People think an degree in English is worthless? H...People think an degree in English is worthless? Hey, I majored in journalism with a history minor, so we're talking very unemployable. But somehow I've managed to stay employed and can tell you that many employers are frustrated that they can't find college-educated workers who can spell, punctuate, or write so much as a coherent letter.<br /><br />In all honesty, there have been times when I've emotionally beaten myself up for not majoring in something more practical with a higher earning potential. But these days I look around and see people who did everything right with their education, skills and financial planning and seemed to be headed for an easy future. But now they're unemployed and desperate. This speaks volumes about our lopsided economy and how bad life for the middle class has become.<br /><br />By the way, I've also worked around enough executives in fancy companies to tell you that their own degrees and backgrounds aren't anything to brag about. They got to the top by who they knew and who they played golf with. And that's no exaggeration. Helenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14967821142796562697noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-2754409055943560572013-07-10T13:28:31.451-06:002013-07-10T13:28:31.451-06:00I often feel this way with my career field. I hav...I often feel this way with my career field. I have a Masters degree in Public Administration, but the field I work in is lower on the salary scale when compared to other fields. I don’t care about this because I know I do good work, but sometimes I wish people respected what I do more, or that we were better compensated. When I feel this way, I have to remind myself that it shouldn’t matter what others think. So long as my family and I are comfortable and we’re happy, I’m happy. <br />I’m trying to emerge into the published world myself, and I respect that you have already pushed through the tension the world has pressed against you. It’s inspiring and I hope I can fare well like you. <br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12949786308298628591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-87993047234555645502013-07-10T13:10:06.006-06:002013-07-10T13:10:06.006-06:00Michael, you are such a beautiful person. I LOVED ...Michael, you are such a beautiful person. I LOVED speaking with you at that writer's dinner and I find your perspective on life fascinating. And I do think you're brilliant--and it is because you thirst for knowledge and are continually learning. I *wish* I had a degree in English! If I were to go back to school, that is what I would major in. :-) Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15747144518868320969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-12228678235628567252013-07-10T12:41:40.159-06:002013-07-10T12:41:40.159-06:00To me she sounds a little tough.
About you - - - I...To me she sounds a little tough.<br />About you - - - I would not be ashamed to have graduated in English. I took English as an optional and I wish that it was my major.MunirGhiasuddinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05232362559666320301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-55607078104603912432013-07-10T10:55:45.624-06:002013-07-10T10:55:45.624-06:00The data shows that, overall, people with a degree...The data shows that, overall, people with a degree in English tend to be more successful than other degrees. Which is not to say that someone with a degree in English is more successful than, say, a doctor, but, if you have two people in the same field and one has a degree in English and the other has some other degree, the chances are that the person with the English degree is more successful. Even if the other person has a degree in that field. So, well, English haters can just chew on that.Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-2127456520146333542013-07-10T09:55:33.360-06:002013-07-10T09:55:33.360-06:00That speech sounds awesome. Personally, I never go...That speech sounds awesome. Personally, I never got a degree. But I'm still sending my kid to college.Matthew MacNishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03264738483763244969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-40596134650360060452013-07-10T09:54:50.751-06:002013-07-10T09:54:50.751-06:00A degree in English opens far more doors than a de...A degree in English opens far more doors than a degree in art. I know this from firsthand experience; Mrs. C. has a degree in English. I've never had a potential employer ask me if I had a degree.<br /><br />Like you, I never intend to stop learning. I try to learn something new every day. Unfortunately, at my age I forget TWO thing every day so it's only a matter of time until my brain is an empty slate.stephen Hayeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17659054447637207734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-33259020861250871842013-07-10T09:44:25.002-06:002013-07-10T09:44:25.002-06:00My art studies were even more maligned. As well, m...My art studies were even more maligned. As well, my dad said women didn't need to go to college. See what I had to deal with. I just turned him on MUTE.<br /><br />Well-spoken, Michael.D.G. Hudsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06213237734772028645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-57330318972031476712013-07-10T09:38:26.569-06:002013-07-10T09:38:26.569-06:00@Elise: That's both sad and funny at the same ...@Elise: That's both sad and funny at the same time. Insects, however, are fascinating.Michael Offutt, Phantom Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10557969104886174930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-71073563838561833182013-07-10T09:21:35.022-06:002013-07-10T09:21:35.022-06:00I didn't go to my college graduation because I...I didn't go to my college graduation because I went to my high school one and that was boring enough. No commencement speech will ever top Rodney Dangerfield's in "Back to School." "It's a jungle out there--stay home!" Words to live by.PT Dillowayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09394481476862013009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-130235104767453772013-07-10T09:03:17.440-06:002013-07-10T09:03:17.440-06:00Can you imagine the look on my parents faces when ...Can you imagine the look on my parents faces when I came home and told them I wanted to study insects. Yeah. I got <i>that look</i>. Elise Fallsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14734537117333738468noreply@blogger.com