COS Graduation

Emotions run high during graduations——graduations at any level.

So pholks it was not surprising last week when the College of the Sequoias matriculation ceremony created lots of cheers, clapping, sounding of horns and noise makers and shouts of pride and encouragement at Centrex Homes Mineral King Bowl on a warm evening. What was surprising were the boos and jeers which rung out louder than any other single moment during the two-hour plus gathering of several thousand graduates, friends and family. What made the incident even more unexpected was that it came during the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag led by Bob Rhoades, the Associated Student Body Commissioner of Clubs.

The amplified pledge was clearly heard throughout the stadium filled to near capacity on the south (home) grandstands packed with perhaps 2,500 to 3,000 persons many of whom had been there more than an hour befor the ceremonies to start.

When Rhoades recited the words,"one nation.... indivisible.." skipping over the "under God" there was an immediate gasp from the throng, including the graduates, followed immediately by boos and jeers.

Almost immediately the COS Chamber Singers began the National Anthem, effectively eliminating any further immediate reaction over missing reference to The Almighty in the pledge.

For the next two hours student speakers, administrators and others spoke of outstanding accomplishments, hopes and aspirations of a number of graduates and retiring staff followed by the presentation of degrees.

But the end of the night proved to be the most heart-warming moment of the graduation ceremony of the College of the Sequoias Class of 2004 came when Anetra C. Baffo, the Student Body Commissioner of Activities and the recipient of one of four Giant Spirit Awards, gave a brief closing congratulatory message including an invitation to again recite the Pledge of Allegiance this time distinctly stating the "one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all."

Even though I had moved close to the exit but waited until the last graduate received his or her diploma, I applauded loudly and was a little choked up as I loudly recited the pledge....the right way.

Was the omission of "Under God" a planned thing? Was it the result of a COS administrative edit resulting from a threat of protest by some group or individual pledged to push the separation of church and state?

Although I was attending the COS graduation as a proud stepfather of an outstanding re-entry student, my newsman's instincts were revving.

Expecting the public outcry to be the hot news in the local daily press or even the electronic media broadcasts that night or the next morning, I was taken back when not one word of the "incident" was heard or read. No reporter stayed for the whole show or didn't attend at all. Or missed the story. Or whatever.

This much I know. The COS administration was caught off guard just as much as everyone else. No one was more surprised and concerned than Dr. Kamiran C. Badrkhan, the COS Superintendent and President.

In response my question to whether the Pledge leader to omit "Under God," Dr. Badrkhan often respectfully referred to by some as "Kam", put it bluntly, "Absolutely not. Not at this college."

And much to his credit, it was the COS President who asked Miss Baffo, the congratulatory message speaker, to ask the audience to join her in reciting the pledge a second time that evening.

Dr. Badrkham said he was puzzled on just how to handle the situation. When was the right time to recite it?

As of Tuesday he had not spoken to Rhoades, the pledge leader, but the top COS district official left no doubt about his plan to "have a talk" with the fellow.

And pholks, by God, I bet he does. Stay tuned for the "rest of the story."

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