(Photos courtesty Doug Martin/owu.edu)On Sunday, I went to my alma mater Ohio Wesleyan University's 2010 commencement ceremony to hear U.S. Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.) deliver the commencement address.
I barely knew anyone graduating (only the younger sister of my college roommate -- that's her, the blonde on the left) but I was interested that McCain would accept an invitation to such a small school (he also gave the commencement address there in 1997) and curious to hear what he would say.
It was actually a really good speech: short, cleanly delivered, focused on the graduates and their parents, and not political.
Although OWU's students are a diverse group, the overall leaning of the student body is definately liberal, but the response to McCain was very respectful and he got a standing ovation at both the beginning and the end of his remarks.
A full transcript of his remarks can be found here, but here are some excerpts:
McCain encouraged the graduates to work for human rights and dignity and to love freedom, even if not bearing arms for their country.
"All Americans share in the obligation to stand with those who are denied the rights we too often take for granted here. Even if you are never elected to any office or never meet a foreign policy professional, a responsibility remains."
"If the defense of human rights abroad is a concern of the American people, it will remain the concern of our elected officials. And if it is a concern of our government, the world will take notice."
This section reminded me of Americorps' mission.
"I have faith that you understand that assaults on the dignity of others are assaults on the dignity of all humanity. You will not look upon tyranny and injustice in faraway places as the inevitable tragedy of mankind’s fallen nature. You will see them as a call to action – a summons to devote your time and talents to a just cause that is greater than yourself, the cause of human rights and dignity."
"Make this your legacy, and 20 years from now, maybe longer, you will be able to know that you made history, and made our country and world better. Not perfect, but better."
He also talked about failure, using the opportunity to poke some fun at himself:
“We are all afraid of something. But we should not let the sensation of fear convince us we are too weak to have courage. Fear is the opportunity for courage, not proof of cowardice.”
"You might think that I'm going to advise you not to be afraid to fail. I'm not. Be afraid. Speaking from considerable experience, failing stinks, just don't be undone by it. Failure is no more a permanent condition than is success."
McCain was selected as speaker for his legacy of public service, and congratulated OWU on being nationally honored for community service.
“Many of you have already given your hearts and talents to causes greater than yourselves,” McCain said. “Your leadership … will surpass the achievements and correct the deficiencies of my generation’s leadership.”
All in all, things were very low-key. It was easy to find seats and parking spaces. I was surprised there seemed to be very little security and they didn't search bags.
Apparently there was a group of protesters, holding signs against the Arizona immigration law that McCain supports, but I never saw or heard them.
And I ran into a fellow journalism major I graduated with who now works at the university and who got to pick McCain up from his hotel and bring him to commencement. Very cool.
Here is our president Rock Jones ringing the bell that has opened and closed the school year every year since the university started in 1842. The bell looks sturdy but makes a superdinky, anticlimatic noise and everyone laughed -- including McCain.
UPDATE: This video is from Channel 10 in Columbus. I've been fighting with it all morning, trying to make it embed properly without all that side crap, but I give up. Sorry.
No comments:
Post a Comment