Belmont student's edgy speech sparks complaints
Louise Dickson, Times Colonist
Published: Thursday, April 24, 2008
Brandon Rosario's speech, posted at YouTube
Parents, classmates, my fellow Victorians, Brandon Rosario wants the world to know his tongue is firmly in his cheek.
A speech by the 17-year-old Belmont Secondary student urging fellow students to vote for him as class valedictorian is being investigated by the Sooke School District, spokesman Ron Warder confirmed yesterday.
The speech, now posted on YouTube, was regarded by many students as hilarious. But some teachers and parents are uncomfortable with Brandon’s references to Jews, Colombians, black women, gays and the disabled.
“As I understand it, it had racial slurs and some homophobic type of conversation,” Warder said. “And the school is investigating whether or not there needs to be discipline.”
“Some of it is biting. It’s attacking,” Brandon said. “I don’t think people understand satire these days. But investigating? Like I’m a serial killer or something?”
In his speech, Brandon tells his classmates he doesn’t have much going for him in pursuit of the valedictorian nomination.
“For one, I’m not Jewish. So I’m obviously not going to be naturally hilarious like Jon Stewart or Jerry Seinfeld or Adam Sandler.”
He goes on to make fun of everything else he’s not. His message, Brandon insists, was simply vote for him as class valedictorian and he would deliver a valedictory address free of clichés.
“I was going to break the archetype of ‘Life is a highway,’ or ‘Life is a box of chocolates.’ I think society should be past that. I also think society should be past the political correctness all around us. People are so sensitive. They take things out of context.”
Brandon and 10 other valedictorian candidates spoke to the graduating class on Tuesday. On Wednesday, during English class, Brandon was called down to talk to the vice-principal.
“She said everything I expected her to say — how if people took what I said out of context, it could appear racist or sexist or anti-Semitic,” Brandon said. “She also said it would have been perfect at a nightclub. That struck me, because I wasn’t making the speech for the administration or the teachers. I’m making it for the class of ’08.
“Anybody who knows me knows they can separate what I say from who I am. Anybody who says I’m anti-gay doesn’t know me. I have nothing against gays or anybody else I mentioned. When is the wall going to be broken down? When is it going to be OK to make fun of things?”
Brandon admits he crossed the line when he mentioned the physical attributes of a teacher who used to be at the school. “I apologize for that.”
Valerie Chatterton, a drama, debating and public-speaking coach at Glenlyon Norfolk school, said schools don’t teach enough humour.
“We teach the serious and the angsty, but very few students get an opportunity to learn about wit. They don’t have an automatic barometer in their heads as to what’s mean and what’s not. And they don’t learn that in school.”
The controversy raises questions about the limits of free speech in schools and the need to balance freedom of speech with protection of the vulnerable, said Chatterton, who watched the video and pronounced Brandon a gifted speaker — even though she didn’t like his speech.
In the end, the Belmont graduating class voted for candidate Craig Lequesne.
“I’m really happy about it,” Brandon said. “He’s got a great personality. He’s a good speaker, and he’s done a lot for the school. He’s actually who I voted for.”
Brandon plans to take a year off, then study literature and creative writing at the University of Victoria. But at least this tempest in a teapot has helped him realize one of his life’s ambitions.
“It’s been my dream to come home and see a Times Colonist reporter at the end of my driveway, wanting to interview me,” he wisecracked. “I’m really excited about this actually.”
To watch the video, go to timescolonist.com.
ldickson@tc.canwest.com
(read less)Belmont student's edgy speech sparks complaints
Louise Dickson, Times Colonist
Published: Thursday, April 24, 2008
Brandon Rosario's speech, posted at YouTube
Parents, classmates, my fellow Victorians, Brandon Rosario wants the world to know his tongue is firmly in his cheek.
A speech by the 17-year-old Belmont Secondary student urging fellow students to vote for him as class valedictorian is being investigated by the Sooke School District, spokesman Ron Warder confirmed yesterday....
(read more)
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