Melania Trump receives university's 'Woman of Distinction' award amid pushback from students

[left-of-center2012]

Source: The Hill

First lady Melania Trump on Wednesday received a “Woman of Distinction” award from Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBA), despite pushback from some students and alumni in Florida over the move.

Melania Trump, who changed her primary residence to Palm Beach along with President Trump last year, said she was "grateful" to accept the award. According to the school’s website, the award is given to women “who cherish community and family and want to preserve these ideals for others.”

“As the first lady of the United States, it is a great honor to serve the people of this incredible country,” she said at the university's annual Women of Distinction luncheon at The Breakers Hotel, where she accepted the award. Trump went on to discuss her Be Best initiative, a campaign she launched two years ago that aims to tackle issues pertaining to children, like cyber bullying and opioid abuse.

The move sparked pushback from some students and alumni who noted that the award is typically given to two women each year who have been involved in charitable efforts in the local community. "This award has historically gone to women whose character and impact in Palm Beach has shaped the culture of our home, and I have not been convinced that the first lady's character or impact here is worthy of that recognition," said Graysen Boehning, a senior studying biology and zoology at the school.

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/483621-melania-trump-receives-universitys-woman-of-distinction-award-amid

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[hibbing]

1. I'll be best and not say anything disparaging n/t

[PatSeg]

2. Seriously?

[keithbvadu2]

3. PBA University is now on the same level as Trump University.

PBA University is now on the same level as Trump University.

[LittleGirl]

4. Lol eom

[not fooled]

5. What the hell is

"Palm Beach Atlantic University," you ask?

A "private Southern Baptist-affiliated university."

Explains a lot.

Actually, perhaps they were following in Jesus' footsteps by honoring someone who has lived in the tradition of Mary Magdalene.

[musette_sf]

8. Actually, MM was NOT that -

it was the RCC made her that.

Rosemary Radford Ruether: “...for the first five centuries no writer misinterpreted Mary Magdalene as a prostitute. Rather she was seen as a leading disciple and image of the church. It is only at the end of the sixth century that Pope Gregory I confuses the sinful woman of Luke 7 and Mary Magdalene in Luke 8 and identifies her as a repentant prostitute, whose former sinfulness is contrasted with that of the Virgin Mary."

(NOTE: Ms Ruether is a Catholic feminist, and a board member of Catholics For Choice.)

[Warpy]

10. Pope Gregory I in the latter sixth century issued the slur against her

and the Church refused to correct it, crushed by the burden of papal infallibility.

Mary was an inconvenient woman, a woman of some means, a woman who was a disciple, and a woman the Gnostic gospels put much closer to Jesus than many of the males. She was present at the Crucifixion and at the empty tomb afterward, or she'd have been simply written out of the story in later bible versions.

[not fooled]

12. Yes, you're both correct

I was using the name imprecisely, as shorthand for a female prostitute.

[TomSlick]

19. I have been in Southern Baptist Churches my entire life.

I have never heard of Palm Beach Atlantic University.

It clearly has a Baptist history. It is not, however, on the list of SBC colleges.

[link:http://www.sbc.net/colleges/|

Mind you, I can point at a lot of SBC colleges and seminaries that are problematic. I'm just not sure Palm Beach Atlantic is one of them.

[not fooled]

20. Their website has the phrase

"Baptist affiliated." Google Palm Beach Atlantic University. Apparently Baptists were involved in the founding. That's the extent of my knowledge.

From their website--sounds like another training ground for fake-xtian fascists:

American Free Enterprise

Palm Beach Atlantic University confidently affirms the values and institutions that historically have informed American society—religious liberty; traditional Judeo-Christian morality; limited, constitutional government; the Rule of Law; personal and political accountability; and capitalism—the system of free enterprise. We believe that America is truly an exceptional nation, which was founded and has flourished under the guiding providential hand of God. We aim to develop in each of our students an appreciation for the unique American achievement in its many dimensions—social, political, economic, moral, legal, and religious.

Our general education curriculum, required of all students, includes a course entitled “Freedom in American Society,” which examines the meaning and significance of freedom in the American experience. Students explore such topics as the historical roots of American liberty, with special emphasis on the close link between liberty and Christianity, and the nature of freedom as understood by the chief architects of the American political order. They examine the interdependence between political and economic freedom, in particular, the significance of free-enterprise capitalism for the preservation of liberty. They learn about the structure of American constitutional democracy and the traditional meaning of justice and the Rule of Law.

These studies help students recognize the various threats to individual freedom, religious liberty, and other traditional American rights and values that have emerged over the past several centuries, as well as contemporary challenges to their preservation.

[link:https://www.pba.edu/about/facts/index.html|]

[TomSlick]

21. There are thirty-odd Baptist denominations.

If there are three Baptists in town, there will be at least two Baptist Churches. Some are weirder than others - which is to say most have issues.

I attend a Baptist Church because I prefer a Church with congregational (i.e. democratic) governance. I also enjoy being the voice of one crying in the wilderness.

[essme]

22. Oh shit! I remember that school. I went to PBJC (Now PBSC) and FAU.

Palm Beach Atlantic was considered a shit school by my two area schools (in the late 80's early 90's) which were not exactly top notch on their own. They have both since improved immensely as I have as well.

[cyclonefence]

29. I'm a proud graduate of PBJ,

where the cafeteria serves the best sandwiches.

[essme]

34. In 1986 it did have the best cafeteria that I had ever seen.

I am a vegetarian now but back then as a stupid late teen I loved the Dagwood sandwich in that place. A disgusting pile of meat and other stuff for like 3 dollars. Everything else was good too. Best Junior College food in the SE.

[Paladin]

6. Did Limbaugh present the award to her?

Yet another once-prestigious honor, permanently stained by a trump. The fact that there aren't coast-to-coast riots over the current state of our country is shameful.

[ananda]

7. Completely undeserved, for sure!

nt

[HarlanPepper]

9. This is about right for some community college in the heart of Trumpvillle.

[jayschool2013]

13. Sex work is real work

Quite honestly, if she wanted to take on a serious campaign (BE BEST!) like other FLOTUSes before her, advocating for sex workers would have been a natural for her. No, it's not safe like literacy, abstinence, good health or sober driving, but she's a perfect fit.

[guillaumeb]

27. Agreed. She was a sex worker, so her testimony could help illuminate the issue. eom

[edbermac]

14. Woman of Diss-Stink-Shun.

[BigmanPigman]

18. I was hoping the award meant she is now "extinct"...

one of the few living things that we are actually grateful is now extinct. Hopefully she will be in Nov!

[rickyhall]

15. Why?

[NotHardly]

16. I think perhaps their Marketing Department smells money honey ...

Goodness has nothing to do with it, dearie." Mae West

[Evolve Dammit]

17. I think I'm getting bilious...Ack

[YOHABLO]

23. Uh why does anyone care?

[pamdb]

24. You've got to be kidding me

Really? A “model” from Eastern Europe who married the big , orange, impeached occupant
Of the WH, personally I think for money. For this she deserves a reward?

[Ilsa]

25. They honored her with an honorary certificate?

Honorary associates degree? I bet her resumé will declare she's received a doctorate.

[guillaumeb]

26. Did she receive this award for having the distinction of marrying the most dishonest

President ever?

[Ilsa]

28. Trump will announce he's making a big donation

but never get around to actually doing it.

[Midnightwalk]

30. What does be best even mean?

Only one can be best. Don’t bother if you can’t be best?

It means win at all costs. If you cheat lie or steal that’s fine because being best is all that matters.

The phrase always bothered me but I never put my finger on why. It is basically self affirmation for narcissists

[Thomas Hurt]

31. Being a shallow and vapid spouse of a raging pathological liar and malignant narcissist is distinct.

[Ohiogal]

32. She "serves the people of this country "?

Have I missed something? I’ve never heard of her doing a damn thing.

[JFlash]

33. That skank is worthless

And nothing she says should ever be taken seriously.