President Bush to Speak at Greensburg, Kansas Graduation
by Meaghan O'Neill, Newport, R.I. on 04.11.08
The scene in Greenburg, Kansas after a tornado leveled the town in 2007.
That scintillating time that is the cusp between high school and the rest of one's life is a thrill. And no moment captures the feeling more succinctly than graduation day itself. Remember sitting on the edge of your chair, awkwardly donning cap and gown, giddy with anticipation? It not just the thought of after-parties that sets nerves a-twitter. It's the idea that one phase of life is ending, and another about to begin.
It's a day the 18-student senior class of Greensburg, Kansas won't soon forget. The graduates from this small town, which was leveled by a tornado a year ago and is now the subject of Planet Green television series, will be getting their send-off from none other than President George Bush, the White House announced yesterday. The president will also deliver two other commencement speeches in the state.
Coincidentally, Bush's address will be delivered on May 4, exactly one year to the date of the fierce storm, which resulted in a tragic loss of life, displaced more than 1,500 people, and destroyed almost every home, business, hospital, and school. But like those students with their futures before them, Mayor John Janssen, who inherited the office three weeks after the tornado struck, saw a glimmer of hope and the chance at a bright future.
Greensburg, Kansas has now become the subject of a new 13-part television series that documents the town and its residents' rebirth into a sustainable community. Produced by actor Leonardo DiCaprio and his production company, Appian Way, along with Craig Piligian of Pilgrim Films & Television, the show will air on Planet Green when it launches in June.
See also:: Introducing Daniel Wallach, TreeHugger's first guest from a generous soul who is helping to rebuild the town. His column aboutthe trials and tribulations of rebuiding Greensburg will appear here occasionally. For more information about the show and the town of Greensburg, check out Planet Green Greensburg.
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Hasn't this town been through enough already?
As a staffer at Virginia Tech who was at work on 4/16/07, I can say that the president's visit just makes the tragedy worse.
If I attend the event, I'm likely to be searched and generally treated like a criminal (like airline security) in order to listen to a guy who pisses me off at a visceral level... Or I can skip a big part of community grieving process and get out of town. I understand the need for political grandstanding, but please-please-please keep it away from real people facing real issues in real life.
The president's visits have a HUGE impact anywhere in this country. I'm a private pilot, and the flight restrictions (enforced by heavily armed jet fighters) that came with his visit stretched from Roanoke to well into West Virginia. I got the hell out of town a couple of hours before the president arrived. If the president requires a portable war-zone to travel, then he should stay in Washington, and let me live my life.
When you think of tragedy and destruction think of Bush.
I'm a Senior at Greensburg High School and a supporter of the President. I don't care what it takes for the President to be there - as long as he comes. He was Governor in Texas and I will honored to have him speak at my graduation. I understand how complicated it is to get him anywhere. I am trying to find people for the motorcade and it's difficult because there's no information offered. This is not about politics - he has nothing to be elected to. As a supporter of President Bush, I am glad he is coming. As a student at Greensburg, I am honored to have him visit.
The president, regardless of what any of us thinks about him or his politics, is still, for better or for worse, the symbol of our country.
The question, once again, is what happens when the cameras are gone? What I hear is that the City is having a hard time raising the money it needs to rebuild, especially rebuild LEED green.
Everyone is using Greensburg as a public interest story... the stars, the hooplah, the news crews... but otherwise, what's real, about the City's green dreams?
Guess we'll have to wait and see, what the impact of it all will be, first the tornado, then Leo DiCaprio... now Bush.
Will there be a lasting effect, will green buildings go up, will there be a green culture within the community come to take root, will local farmers embrace organic agriculture?
If Leo's show doesn't return this time next year, for a second season on Planet Green, to show people the progress, to create continuity, to really build something long and lasting... all this will ever be is greentainment.
So let's see...
I was senior class president last year at greensburg high school. I was called the day before the graduation and was told that a regular attender decided not to go, so i could have the ticket. I called a month in advance for four tickets. They called me the day before? I had other plans! In my oppinion, the class of 2007 should of had reserved tickets and second row seats. I personally was there when the tornado went through my town. I was there minutes after it passed, when it was pitch black, and the lightening was the only light we had. Many of the students were off at events. They didn't see what i saw that night, and they will never know. I'm pretty much pissed that this is how the graduation ended up. My class should of been treated better.
Bush is a great president. Do you think that he controls the weather with his "weather machine?" Idiots. Do you think he is the only one causing "Global Warming?" I bet you drive a car. I bet the graduates are grateful to the president.
All the attention the town can get is positive. Everyone wants to get involved when all the [big] names are and have come out in support. In 20 years many will want to look back and say they were involved. Well intentioned or not all roads lead to a net gain for the town and that's what counts. This town has put itself on the map and is deserving and can really be a model for others to follow. What about the stumps? Will those be historical landmarks?