On Friday, former Secretary of State, First Lady, Senator and Democratic Presidential Nominee Hillary Clinton made a rousing speech at Wellesley College, her alma mater.
During the speech, Clinton talked about how tyrants in power, throughout history, have intentionally tried to change the perception of reality in the minds of the people—but it will ultimately be the people that bring such a tyrant down.
Here is the MSNBC excerpt clip (less than two minutes) via Bradd Jaffy on Twitter. It’s followed by the transcription:
Transcription:
When people invent their own facts and attack those who question them, it can mark the beginning of the end of a free society.
That is not hyperbole. It is what authoritarian regimes throughout history have done. They attempt to control reality—not just our laws, and our rights, and our budgets, but our thoughts and beliefs.
Right now, some of you might wonder, why am I telling you all this—you don’t own a cable news network, you don’t control the Facebook algorithm, you aren’t a member of Congress...YET.
Because I believe with all my heart that the future of America, indeed, the future of the world, depends on brave, thoughtful people like you insisting on truth and integrity right now, every day. You didn’t create these circumstances, but you have the power to change them.
This excerpt exemplifies the Hillary Clinton that the majority of Americans grew to love, admire, and/or respect—the woman we wanted to see take the Oval Office last November. It’s a crime in more ways than one, that it didn’t happen.
Here are more excerpts from Clinton’s speech at Wellesley.
During her speech Clinton touches on the Vietnam War, the impeachment of former president Richard Nixon, and she holds nothing back when referring to the corruption, injustices and blatant lies of the current administration and how they adversely affect our democracy. She does this without even mentioning one name. But then, Hillary Clinton doesn’t have to—the majority of Americans are well aware.
She starts off thanking the college for asking her to speak and for the strong and solid grounding the school gave her. She said being there today helped her remember who she is, where she comes from and what she believes. Hillary tells the students that she empathizes with any concerns they have regarding what they were walking into once leaving campus.
I know that feeling... thanks to years of heavy casualties, statements about Vietnam, and deep differences over civil rights and poverty here at home. We were asking urgent questions about whether women, people of color, religious minorities, immigrants would ever be treated with dignity and respect.
Clinton reaches out to young people saying her own peers in college felt about Richard Nixon the way many feel about Trump today. She adds that Nixon was impeached for obstructing justice, something Trump is also accused of doing, as well as colluding with Russia.
And by the way, we were furious about the past presidential election of a man whose presidency would eventually end in disgrace with his impeachment for obstruction of justice after firing the person running the investigation into him at the Department of Justice.
With half a century of activism experience, Clinton reminds the students that her generation survived Nixon—we can survive Trump.
We got through that tumultuous time and once again we began to thrive as our society changed laws and opened the circle of opportunity and rights wider and wider for more Americans.
We revved up the engines of imagination. We turned back a tide of intolerance and embraced inclusion… It was millions of ordinary citizens, especially young people who voted, marched and organized.
But times have changed, she reminds the Wellesley graduating class.
Now, of course, today has some important differences. The advances of technology, the impact of the Internet, our fragmented media landscape, make it easier than ever to splinter ourselves into echo chambers. We can shut out contrary voices, avoid ever questioning our basic assumptions. Extreme views are given powerful microphones. Leaders willing to exploit fear and skepticism, have tools at their disposal that were unimaginable when I graduated.
Clinton adds there is an “assault”-taking taking place.
You are graduating at a time when there is a full-fledged assault on truth and reason… People denying science, concocting elaborate, hurtful conspiracies theories... Drumming up rampant fear about undocumented immigrants, Muslims, minorities, the poor. Turning neighbor against neighbor and sowing division at a time when we desperately need unity. Some are even denying things we see with our own eyes, like the size of crowds. And then defending themselves by talking about “alternative facts.”
Giving other examples of the challenges the students face, Clinton brings up the perilous plans of the current administration.
Look at the budget that was just proposed in Washington. It is an attack of unimaginable cruelty on the most vulnerable among us, the youngest, the oldest, the poorest, and hardworking people who need a little help to gain or hang on to a decent middle-class life. It grossly underfunds public education, mental health, and efforts even to combat the opioid epidemic. And in reversing our commitment to fight climate change, it puts the future of our nation and our world at risk. And to top it off, it is shrouded in a trillion-dollar mathematical lie...
Toward the end, Clinton does not mince words when describing what Trump, his administration, and the GOP party and leaders are trying to pass on to American people.
Let’s call it what it is. It’s a con. They don’t even try to hide it.
You can read the entire transcript, here.
Clinton’s message is powerfully and poignantly clear. And many of us miss the intelligence of such a leader in office. We will never know what she could have done during this period of time, but we certainly see the damage Trump and the GOP are causing recklessly and without remorse.
And so, we take Hillary Clinton’s loss as a loss to our country and the world, and we learn from it, whatever the causes. Each factor will ultimately show its face throughout history and may we have the fortitude to ensure that those who are found guilty of compromising the elections and our democracy stand trial and receive justice. We vow never to let what happened during the 2016 election cycle, happen again—not if we can help it. And we can always help it.
Thank you, Madam Secretary. #AlwaysWithYou
Related:
North Carolina Christian pastor writes piercing open letter to Hillary Clinton
Here is the full speech of Hillary Clinton at Wellesley College:
(For a thoughtful perspective on the speech, check out the diary by Daily Kos community member Colorado Blue.)