Convocation speech insulted Americans

The University of Windsor held its 108th convocation on Oct. 14. My daughter was one of the graduates in the morning session and we were proudly in the audience to celebrate with her.

The guest speaker was Kevin G. Lynch, vice-chair of BMO Financial Group. His words marred the ceremony for us.

We felt the way he referred to Americans was insulting. My daughter is a proud dual citizen of Canada and the United States. I was appalled and my daughter’s pride over her graduation was deflated by his words.

After the ceremony, as Mr. Lynch and Alan Wildeman, the president of the university, were leaving, I told the speaker I found parts of his speech insulting to Americans. They simply laughed and walked away.

The university should be ashamed of inviting this man to be the guest speaker. This was a celebratory ceremony to honour the graduates.

And before anyone hurls the free speech argument my way, I’m not talking about that.

Of course, the man can have his opinions. However, there is such a thing as recognition of time and place.

I’m talking about social graces, proper decorum and an acknowledgment of ceremony. He had just received a honorary doctor of laws from the U of Windsor law school, which also offers a crossborder program for American and Canadian students.

And then he turns around and insults Americans? How incredibly obtuse. He should be ashamed. Tamra Tobin Teno, Tecumseh