Tips for commencement speakers

To the editor:

Recently I have attended several graduation ceremonies and left with a feeling of increasing dismay at the lack of respect and dignity. My pessimistic nature is to assume that in today's society most people are generally rude. It has occurred to me that perhaps maybe they are not rude but ignorant of proper decorum. I have taken it upon myself to offer a few suggestions.

1. It is not about you. The event is to celebrate years of hard work and achievement by those graduating and the people who love and support them.

2. Be quiet. You may not be interested in what is being said, but for others it may be the most important part of the event.

3. If children are unable to sit throughout the event quietly, they should not be in attendance. It makes no sense to bring children to an event and spend the whole time trying to quiet them.

4. Do not wear clothes that make you look like a slut. This does not mean everyone must wear black tie. Jeans are fine as long as you have made an effort not to look like an idiot.

5. This point addresses some of you who may be asked to make a motivational speech. Please do not have a bio read that is longer than a few seconds. We know who you are. Please do not turn the speech into a political stump speech. And no one has more than a few minutes of important things to say.

D.L. GRASER, Chaffee, Mo.