http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/hig ... 09954.html


Social media was buzzing about a Boston-area high school teacher's blunt commencement speech that told students they "are not special."

Wellesley High English teacher David McCullough Jr. told graduates "You are not special. You are not exceptional," quoting empirical evidence:

"Across the country no fewer than 3.2 million seniors are graduating about now from more than 37,000 high schools. That's 37,000 valedictorians ... 37,000 class presidents ... 92,000 harmonizing altos ... 340,000 swaggering jocks ... 2,185,967 pairs of Uggs," he said in the speech published in the Boston Herald.

He added: "Even if you're one in a million, on a planet of 6.8 billion that means there are nearly 7,000 people just like you."

McCullough makes a statement on parents who overdo it in a modern society focused on collecting achievements. "You've been pampered, cosseted, doted upon, helmeted, bubble wrapped ... feted and fawned over and called sweetie pie." But he adds in a video on Wellesley Channel TV YouTube page. "You see, if everyone is special, then no one is. If everyone gets a trophy, trophies become meaningless. ... We have of late, we Americans, to our detriment, come to love accolades more than genuine achievement."

McCullough's address does push students to recognize real achievement: "The fulfilling life, the distinctive life, the relevant life is an achievement," and he encourages graduates "to do whatever you do for no reason other than you love it and believe in its importance."

Many flocked to Twitter to express their approval of the message:

This is awesome. I don't remember my HS commencement speech. I think I would remember this one. — S.L. Gray

Fantastic speech which sums up the neglected duty of so many Americans in 1 phrase: "Be worthy of your advantages." — Benjamin Yee

the greatest commencement speech ever. — Neil Raden

My new hero. Tells grads "You're not that Special ... when everyone gets a trophy, the trophy doesn't mean anything." — Jason Dobrolecki

The Boston Herald also reported that McCullough's words were very well received by attendees. The teacher, a father of four, admitted he's guilty of the actions he pokes fun at in his speech.

[Related video: Tornado crashes graduation?]

But near the end of the address he says, "The sweetest joys of life, then, come only with the recognition that you're not special. Because everyone is."

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

Truth... surprised people aren't complaining about this.

Yes. The guy admitted as a father of 4 that he was guilty of a lot of this himself.

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

Listen up, maggots. You are not special. You are not a beautiful or unique snowflake. You're the same decaying organic matter as everything else.

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I guess Jimmy's English teacher wasn't either.

I ain't got no use for English.

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

Not special? Pfffft. Tell that to my balls.

All 3 of them.

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

That's some harsh, cold, truth being spoken.

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"Nobody ever went broke underestimating the taste of the American public." ~ H.L. Mencken

Are we certain this isn't Dan Bernstein's cousin?

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To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

sounds like an english teacher all right. awesome.

Wonder if he delivers pizza as well....

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I'm of the belief that kids need to know that they're as mundane as they are special. For everything they do that's fantastic and unique, they're going to have a lot of the same travails as everyone else, and they need to know that they're not suffering through anything the rest of the world hasn't had to suffer through. That's important. But at the same time, all this tough talk about how kids probably won't amount to anything isn't very helpful. There's a happy medium.

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PBP time. I wanted to watch this before judging. First, I got an ad for a pizzolo for $3. 2 for $5 if I'm special and buy two. Nothing makes you want to stand out in society like a good combo. Next thought is that that anyone under the age of 92 should not be wearing those glasses. By about the sixth second, and especially minute six, it's apparent this gentleman is giving this speech for a reason unaware even to him. To make himself feel special. To make sure that everyone in this small pond realizes he has the biggest brain and could eat them at any time. Because while one has hoped his students have taken in his superior intellect, much of which flew over their head like a Cal Ripken Jr. line drive, they didn't. His counterparts with obvious inferior intellect are speaking to each other, hands cupped over their mouths, mocking Mr. Smarty Pants. The middle is drawn out, taking away from the overall message.

That said, it's an amazing, and sadly rare message. It will obviously be taken the wrong way by some of the same dopes referenced by various titles in the speech. Hopefully going viral will actually mean something. Not to create more self important speeches, but change overall curriculum to include the changes that have happened. I will now step down from the soap box I stole from the guy in the video, and hand it to Boilermaker Rick.

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Apparently, someone didn't tell this fucktard about the ad campaign which states that EVERY baby is born to do SOMETHING great.

I don't think significance is measured by achievement. The reason people are special is not because of what they do or do not accomplish. It's because they are created in the image of God and every good characteristic they have is a reflection of God. There are 7 billion people in the world and none of them have the same fingerprints or DNA. Not everyone can dunk a basketball or make over $100,000 a year, but everyone has value, which is intrinsic, regardless of your ethnicity, beliefs or family. Not everyone is equal in the sense of identical abilities, but equal is the sense of being people created by God. The essence of the life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is that everyone should have equal rights because they are created by God and given those rights.

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To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

damn i meant to say...TP is awesome for making this "ten foot midget" related observation.

This is America, Commie. Keep your equality crap in the Soviet Union. And while your at it, leave God out of it!

I disagree and could make an equally compelling speech that each of us is special...except for Cubs fans who are a mindless horde of ubiquity.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

80's: You are ALL special

Rousing applause

10's: None of you are special

Rousing applause



I think some of us are special. Its just that most of you arent.

Do you mean "Change the world" special or "Short bus rider" special?

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Both

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWBlKdCu8To


Jimmy you don't remember this? shame on you

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I'm going to bounce from the spot for awhile but I will be back at some point to argue with you about this hoops stuff again. Playoffs have been great this season. See ya up the road.

I'm out.

Sorry,I missed that movie.

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

Bruce Dern was good in the Burbs.

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To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”