Terminator 1, Hippies 0

This past Tuesday, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA) gave the commencement address at his alma mater, Santa Monica College.

Showing typical liberal class and integrity, approximately 100 audience members, some students, jeered throughout the entire speech.  According to news reports, some protestors held anti-Arnold signs, others screamed and booed, and some even blew whistles -- all during the speech, from start to finish.

Half of the professors, who traditionally sit behind the speaker podium at such occasions, sat with their backs facing their alum guest speaker.

Apparently one of the issues of protest was the special election that the governor of California called for November 8 to address pressing needs and concerns for the state and its rebounding economy.

When a friend of mine (who lives in the Los Angeles area) recently told me about this story, my first reaction was, "I hope he kept giving the speech like he didn't notice."

Apparently, that's EXACTLY what Mr. Schwarzenegger did.

The AP report of the incident made sure to point out how the governor's face "appeared to redden" as the speech progressed and the catcalls and noisemakers persisted.

But one thing that will FOREVER be proven time and again is that the classless hecklers could not break him.

Immensely to his credit, the keynote speaker finished what he started.  He did not quit until he acquired his objective.

And he did it with class.

Graduation ceremonies are supposed to be proud moments focused on the students for their accomplishments and their embarkation into adulthood. Some professors, students and other guests selfishly stole that from the majority of people who came to celebrate that very achievement.

But Arnold Schwarzenegger set the best example of anyone at the commencement. I like to think he inspired the mature adults in the audience -- whether they agree with his politics (or like his movies) or not -- how to be respectful with grace.

Liberals historically prove they just don't understand that concept.

The governor showed class even after the ceremony, when he addressed the situation publicly, putting the blame on Public Worker Unions who he believed organized the heckling -- and credited the students for taking interest in (and showing respect during) his speech.

Like my friend (and lifelong Califnornia resident) concluded, "Face it, government workers in California were overpaid and it bankrupted the state for years. And Arnold is the only one with the balls to make the tough decisions to make cuts to save the state from absolute poverty."

She concluded with, "[The heckling] was a disgrace. I don't go boo Jimmy Carter and he caused more human suffering than anyone."

I liken this incident to sports, when your team is up by a ton of points, yet the losers for the other team insist on trash-talking. The best defense is to simply point to the -- or say, "Scoreboard."

The video of this incident will always be Arnold Schwarzenegger's "scoreboard" against the losers who beligerantly (and hopelessly) try to bring him down to their level.

Perhaps the best irony from Tuesday's shameful commencement ceremony was the student who held up a sign that sarcastically quipped, "I'm brainwashed!"

Apparently the joke is on that student, after all.