It’s graduation season and my own alma mater invited evil personified, Dick Cheney, to speak. Thankfully, other institutions of higher learning made better choices.
I participated in an on line petition to get good ol’ Dick uninvited but as UPS commencement speaker Elizibeth Cousens said,
“Sometimes even when you try to speak truth to power, power just won’t listen.”
And so with that in mind, I see the wisdom in Harold Prince’s admonition to Gettysburg College graduates to get actively involved because it beats blogging everytime.
Gettysburg commencement address
GETTYSBURG, Pa. - American theatrical producer and director Harold Prince spoke to 599 graduates May 20 at Gettysburg College's Commencement Exercises, asking them to be visible social advocates.
"I believe some have been lulled into blogging with each other on the internet, but visible social activism, believe me, beats blogging every time," Prince said. "If we remain inactive, accept the loss of principle, compromise our values and redefine our responsibilities, our nation and everything unique and idealistic that it stands for is perishable."
Tacoma News Tribune article about UPS commencement
University of Puget Sound
Elizabeth Cousens has lectured widely on multilateral peace operations, the United Nations and developments in the former Yugoslavia and Middle East. She holds a Ph.D. in international relations from Oxford University, which she attended as the second Rhodes Scholar from the University of Puget Sound, where she received a B.A. in history.
Let’s return to Iraq. In late 2001, nearly two years before the war, the U.S. State Department launched something called the Future of Iraq Project. Dozens of analysts, practitioners and regional experts were part of this ambitious effort to prepare for post-war contingencies and develop options to ensure a stable post-war Iraq. What was the result – two years, 17 working groups, 13 volumes and 2,000 pages later? The cutting-room floor.
None of the ideas, advice or recommendations were heeded. Apparently, some thought that all that was really needed were good catchers for all those flowers that would be thrown to us in gratitude.
Sometimes even when you try to speak truth to power, power just won’t listen.