General Discussion

Amaryllis

(10,594 posts) Mon May 26, 2025, 06:37 PM May 26

Scott Pelley's complete commencement addres - powerful and compelling:

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2025/05/24/scott_pelley_delivers_commencement_address_freedom_of_speech_is_under_attack_the_country_is_calling_you.html

This is just the end. It was hard to choose which part to post because the whole thing is so good. Please read the whole thing. It is truly inspiring.

"Do not settle. You only get one pass at this. This world is going to tell you no a thousand times, but listen to the song in your heart. If they can’t hear it, that’s on them and not on you.

In the 1980s, I was rejected by CBS News over and over and over again over the years. They told me at one point, “Please stop applying.” They really did. And at the time, I thought “What’s wrong with these people?” They couldn’t hear the song in my heart. Maybe they were smarter. Every time I was rejected, I got better. Maybe that was the plan. But I finally made them hear the music in my heart.

You only lose if you quit. Do not settle.

What is the meaning of life? Who are you? You are the educated. You are the compassionate. You are the fierce defenders of democracy, the seekers of truth, the vanguards against ignorance. You are millions strong across our land.

You might be sorry that you were picked by history for this role. But maybe that was the plan. Hard times are going to make you better and stronger. In a few minutes, when that diploma hits your hand, it’s not a piece of paper you’re holding. We’re handing you a baton. Run with it.

Why am I here today? I’m 50 years farther down the trail than you are, and I have doubled back this morning to tell you the one thing I have learned from Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Nadia Marad and Samer Attar and a thousand others: In a moment like this, when our country is in peril, don’t ask the meaning of life. Life is asking, “What’s the meaning of you?”

With great admiration for your achievements and with confidence that you will rise to this occasion, I thank you very humbly for the honor of being with you."

12 replies

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Highlight:

Scott Pelley's complete commencement addres - powerful and compelling: (Original Post) Amaryllis May 26 OP

I take it he wasn't talking to graduating "lawyers" at Harvard or Yale dickthegrouch May 26 #1

Scott Pelley Delivers Commencement Address: "Freedom Of Speech Is Under Attack," The Country Is "Calling You" J_William_Ryan May 26 #2

That's a great speech bucolic_frolic May 26 #3

K&R UTUSN May 26 #4

Thanks for posting PatSeg May 26 #5

Great speech. Not sure I'm inspired by the Class of 2025's reaction. Pepsidog May 26 #6

Bravo Iamscrewed May 26 #7

A must watch! Joinfortmill May 26 #8

"Because ignorance works for power" Uncle Joe May 26 #9

This is a speech for the ages. Pinback May 26 #10

Would have been nice if '60 Minutes' had taken the threat seriously krkaufman May 26 #11

Inspirational speech! Martin Eden May 27 #12

dickthegrouch

(4,087 posts)

1. I take it he wasn't talking to graduating "lawyers" at Harvard or Yale

Reply to Amaryllis (Original post)

Mon May 26, 2025, 06:53 PM

May 26

None of them seem to have any integrity 20 years later, so probably never had any.

J_William_Ryan

(2,878 posts)

2. Scott Pelley Delivers Commencement Address: "Freedom Of Speech Is Under Attack," The Country Is "Calling You"

Reply to Amaryllis (Original post)

Mon May 26, 2025, 06:58 PM

May 26

‘Why attack universities? Why attack journalism? Because ignorance works for power.

First, make the truth seekers live in fear. Sue the journalists. For nothing. Then send masked agents to abduct a college student, a writer of her college paper who wrote an editorial supporting Palestinian rights, and send her to a prison in Louisiana and charge her with nothing. Then, move to destroy law firms that stand up for the rights of others.

With that done, power can rewrite history. With grotesque, false narratives, they can make heroes criminals and criminals heroes. And they can change the definition of the words we use to describe reality.

“Diversity” is now described as “illegal.” “Equity” is to be shunned. “Inclusion” is a dirty word. This is an old playbook, my friends. There is nothing new in this. George Orwell – who we met on the street in London – in 1949, he warned of what he called “new speak.” He understood that ignorance works for power.’

It’s the playbook Trump and the fascist right are running.