159th Hillsdale College Commencement - Mark Helprin

[boethius87]

I wonder if goodsirjoey is watching the same speech. If one actually listens to the speech it is clear that Helprin does not urge anyone to become anything, but rather offers a model of statesmanship which he asks the audience to appreciate and realize as citizens in a democracy.

[goodsirjoey]

Worst commencement speech in my four years as an undergrad. Maybe because he only encouraged students to become politicians and apparently that's the only way to change our nation (sarcasm). Pathetic. Makes me embarrassed I went to this school.

[jmeyer3]

Yeah, klg1956, he did refer to that quote. "Out of context" is was not. And she does have a lot of class - all low.

[klg1956]

Wonderful speech! I email this to everybody I know!

[cemeterypoet]

I disagree. In fact, I wondered more than once if this was the same genius whose novels I actually do recommend to every bright young person I know. It is the Death Valley of speeches: dry, extreme, thorny, never-ending. (Is the center of his speech REALLY an out-of-context quote by the president's classy wife?) Perhaps Helprin intends to put his undergraduate audience through an endurance trial worthy of Peter Lake, Alessandro Giuliani, or Prince Freddie.  I'd rather climb Schreuderspitze.

[nbarizona]

I have shared this everyway I know how. Wonderful speech. I wish this would have been given at my daughter's recent commencement ceremony.

[LVanMaren]

"...in the winds of narcissism and dishonesty the sails of rhetoric deflate. Put simply, you cannot draw upon the glory of the English language if nearly every utterance is a lie."

Every young person in this country should see this, and listen carefully ever after when they hear politicians speak, flatter them, and attempt to deceive in order to gain power over them, instead of take office in order to serve them.

[wlannon7]

Superb. Eloquent and brave. I wish every citizen could hear this speech. Thank you, Mr. Helprin.

[klg1956]

Great speech! I now know why Obama returned the bust of Churchill that was in the Oval Office. He returned it the first day he took office because he didn't want to be reminded every minute of every day how insufficient and inadequate he was and is to be President of the United States of America!

[gramkrkr12]

How fortunate for the graduates of Hillsdale to be in the presence of this great man. Thank you HIllsdale for posting this. And, as Larry Arne, A Soldier of the Great War is my all time favorite book.

[destinyisnow]

Thank you for posting this! I had planned to beg someone in the AV department to get me a copy after hearing only the first two-thirds before I had to save the baby from stuffy gymnasium doom.