When I received the e-mail regarding who I wanted to be the speaker at the 2008 Commencement, one name came to mind: Martin Sheen. I was excited to hear that he is being awarded the Laetare Medal. Thus, I have to respectfully disagree with Jay Rowley ("Sheen doesn't deserve Laetare Medal," March 17), who argues that Sheen is not a "genius".
First, the man is a fine actor. Have you ever seen The West Wing? The show won an Emmy for Best Drama four straight years. That has to count for something. In it, Sheen plays President Josiah "Jed" Bartlett, the best fictional president ever (James "Get off my plane!" Marshall in Air Force One comes in a close second). Bartlett got a B.A. in American Studies from none other than the University of Notre Dame. After getting a Ph.D. from the London School of Economics, he won a Nobel Prize, taught at Dartmouth, served as Governor of New Hampshire and then saved the free world as President of the United States.
He speaks fluent Latin, memorized the Bible and makes the Press Corps sing the Notre Dame Victory March. Obama/Hilary/McCain have nothing on this man. Our University owes a great deal to this fictional President and the fine actor who plays him.
Finally, Martin Sheen has given us two other fine actors of our day: Charlie Sheen and Emilio Estevez. Anyone who has seen The Three Musketeers or The Mighty Ducks knows how crucial each of these sons was to the movie. Thus, Martin Sheen deserves the Laetare Medal for his great acting and the great acting sons he fathered.
Tae Kang
senior
Keenan Hall
March17
