Add mine to the chorus of voices who found Kalle Oakes’ “review” (June 15) of the Edward Little graduation one dimensional at best. The fact that Mr. Oakes and others may have been offended by the honor part speeches does not mean that the speeches were offensive.

Obviously, these five bright kids had no intent to offend. They wanted to do something different, something memorable. Their messages were about hard work, not taking oneself too seriously, acting on important urges, the love of learning and the irony inherent in restrictive social norms – all worthy topics for the occasion. They were cleverly written and impressively delivered.

Reasonable minds may differ on the effectiveness or propriety of the metaphors chosen. I will admit a slight cringe when my son began his speech by comparing his high school experience to a tremendous feast followed by a “healthy” bowel movement. By the end of the five speeches, they won me over completely, and judging by the applause, most of the crowd as well.

Like many bright, creative minds, they took a risk. Whether they failed depends, in the end, on whether too many people, like Mr. Oakes, were so offended that they missed the messages altogether. But let’s not condemn the kids for taking a chance. These kids are exactly the ones we want to have come back to Auburn. Let’s not scare them away with our small-mindedness and lack of humor.

Jonathan Harris, father of salutatorian Peter Westcott, Auburn

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