The story of the day is Bristol Palin graduates from high school, which is ironic considering that Barack Obama’s speech at Notre Dame occurs one day later, May 16th, 2009. See Obama’s Notre Dame speech video here and contemplate the interesting connection with Bristol Palin’s graduation.

Bristol Palin Graduates High School
Barack Obama Speaks at Notre Dame University

Barack Obama was born not with a silver spoon in his mouth initially because that came a few years later. His mom and dad abandoned him, leaving the impressionable Barack to the well-meaning but spoiled natures of two doting grandparents. They sent him to the best schools with the best education, and according to Obama’s memoirs, required no discipline or sacrifice of him. Obama was adopted by figurative sugar daddies.

On the other hand, Bristol Palin’s graduation reminds us that she became culturally interesting as the daughter of a popular state governor. She was born in a blue-collar family which pulled themselves up by their bootstraps, as the old adage goes. When she became pregnant as a teenager, she kept the child and decided initially to marriage. At the same age, Obama was playing basketball and shooting heroine in high school.

But America, the greatest land on earth, is not always about rewards for achievement. Sometimes we get the luck of circumstance. Obama’s rise to power has so little to do with achievement and so much to do with the spoils of circumstance. Equally interesting perhaps, Bristol Palin was not responsible for the notoriety thrust upon herself by a presidential campaign. And yet the young girl comported herself with equal maturity to the future president.

So Bristol Palin graduates high school while Barack Obama speaks at Notre Dame. One young girl has been mostly forgotten while one young president is the scorn of Catholics today for his speech.

What do readers think about Obama’s Notre Dame speech? And what about Bristol Palin’s graduation from high school?

Photos

Photos: Patricia Schlein/WENN.com