Thanks for your responses.

On the first point, no one in his or her right mind, which I hope includes me, would equate Bryce’s eloquent speech with a theoretical screed from a white supremacist. I’m only saying that the institution feels it has some responsibility for what is presented at an institutional event. Perhaps less extreme theoretical: If the valedictorian had been a fundamentalist Christian who believes that homosexuality is a sin, quoting a passage in the Old Testament, and had spoken about how sinners must repent or face hellfire, I’m guessing the speech would have caused widespread outrage, with demands made to the school along the lines of “how could you allow this.” And that “well, we didn’t know what was in the speech” would be taken as an evasive response tantamount to admitting guilt. I can see why the institution wouldn’t want to be put in that position.

At the same time, assuming Bryce is correct when he says he told the school what he wanted to say, it’s unfortunate and perplexing that the school didn’t just let him go ahead and say it, but insisted he read a bland script instead. That would have solved the problem in the best way.

Second point, I agree entirely that kids are tough. They complain and they adjust. They did it in Dickens’s London, in the Depression, in the ’60s and now. You’re also right that the path from teen/work/college to the Real World seemed a lot clearer a generation or two ago, not to mention way more affordable. Today’s world, thanks largely to tech, often feels like it’s being invented on the fly and priced for the affluent. I wouldn’t want to have to navigate it.

That said, there is a snowflake syndrome. Maybe not any bigger than there was 50 years ago, but more visible, thanks to social media and the likes of the Kardashians, whose “it’s all about me” message has helped stamp that image on their generation of followers as well.

So when some percentage of adults reads a story about Bryce’s speech, they don’t think “hmmm, brave kid, good points,” but “okay, another kid whining about how hard he’s had it.”

It’s a depressing response. But looking at our culture and our politics today, you have to acknowledge that enough people hold it so their views influence laws and policies.