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    Al Denman - Antioch College Commencement 2008 Invocation

    By Horace | May 9, 2008

    Antioch College Professor Emeritus Al Denman gave this invocation at the Commencement ceremonies on April 26, 2008 in Kelly Hall in the Main Building (Antioch Hall) of Antioch College, Yellow Springs, Ohio

    Special thanks for Steve Bognar for providing this video for distribution to the Antioch community.

    The Text of this speech follows:

    ANTIOCH COLLEGE INVOCATION
    Al Denman, 4-26-08

    We wait
    and wait
    and while we wait
    we celebrate

    In our waiting
    we are not alone.

    Can you hear these voices?

    Tecumseh
    Chief of the Shawnee Nation:
    Your home
    this very ground
    upon which
    this building rests
    was our forest home
    for hundreds
    of generations.

    We know
    how it will hurt
    if you have to leave.

    Children in Darfur
    refugee camps:
    Mother
    can we ever
    go back home?

    Nor are we alone
    celebrating while waiting.

    Mary Mann:
    HORACE OUR HOUSE
    STILL NOT FINISHED STOP
    YEARS IN DORM MUST STOP
    SPRING BRINGS DELIRIUM
    PLANTED TREES STOP
    HURRY HOME
    WILL CELEBRATE
    WITH LOVE NON STOP
    MARY

    Mary’s trees:
    Have you heard our chorus?
    We give voice to rain and wind
    home and stage for birds.

    Today
    we belong to
    a vast fellowship
    of those who
    bear the mark
    of waiting
    for the unknown.

    Yet while we wait
    we celebrate.
    And it is surely
    an auspicious omen
    that for this occasion
    our Jimmy
    has come home.

    As you leave this hall
    pause
    listen
    to the trees
    and the birds
    join their chorus
    sing your song
    let the chorus swell.

    NB:

    “Non Stop Antioch” is the proposed interim movement, in case the AU trustees say tomorrow, “We couldn’t reach agreement; it’s over for Antioch College.

    “Jimmy” was a beloved Dean of Students who was fired last year, invited by students to be their graduation speaker.

     
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    Topics: commencement, video |

    One Response to “Al Denman - Antioch College Commencement 2008 Invocation”

    1. michael smith Says:
      May 9th, 2008 at 5:04 pm

      one of my favorite antioch memories will always be al denman asking gerry bello why he was wearing clown shoes.

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