I write in support of the Edward Little High School graduation speakers and their faculty advisers. The speeches were clever and accompanied by laughter and enthusiastic applause from the audience. The metaphors ranged from subtle to vivid and worked well, connecting ways in which our body functions parallel the important processes of education. We take in that which is of value, with much discarded along the way.

The theme underscored the importance of courage, following one’s goals, not following others blindly, and embracing life with courage and laughter – becoming our true selves, so that we can give of ourselves from the vantage point of knowledge.

Columnist Kalle Oakes (June 15) wrote a scathing review of those speeches, making it sound as if he were there, although follow-up revealed he was not.

The boundary lines between reporter and columnist blur, making sloppy journalism more difficult to identify. Given the exceptional accomplishments of those students, arguably the brightest and hardest working at E.L., a higher level of journalistic excellence was called for. Mr. Oakes let down the paper, the school and the community by taking the easy way out.

Also delightful was the Ninja Turtle banner. The artistic rendering was wonderful. The extra-limbed Turtle was Leonardo, the extra limbs a clever reference to Da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man, also multi-limbed, and Da Vinci’s basis for a theory of perfect proportion and symmetry, which came to be broadly applied in architecture as well.

But to understand, you really had to be there.

James Cogan, Auburn