[applause] senator scott i look around at all the graduates sitting in front of me and i know that the best is yet to come. This is the universe that has university that has graduated more general officers and our military, africanamerican officers in our military. 19 United States military generals. Then perhaps any other school of its size. You see, the best is yet to come. I will close because my dreams have taken me all over the world , and i have been working on my singing lessons because my ultimate dream is to sing in front of thousands of people and hear the roar in the applause as i mesmerize folks with my singing voice. Back in 1983 when i was graduating from high school, the song that stuck with me for the last 32 years is a song called, hold onto your dreams. Maybe somebody out there dont know them. But anyway. All right. Will you go ahead and start the music, president . All, he said he forgot the music. [laughter] senator scott nevermind. I would just sing a knock up ella
Qaeda in iraq and syria. How we address these challenges today will greatly affect your generation tomorrow. The agreements we sign, the solutions we put in place, you will inherit. You will own them. How will they affect the way the world sees america . How they affect your relationship with the Global Community . If you believe, like i believe that the United States is stronger as an engaged constructive partner, how you strengthen connections with people around the world and break down barriers to improve the world around you will determine what you will really say in the year 2060. When you stand at this podium in 2050 2060, the world will be a very different place. Your advice to graduates will likely be unpredictable by what is true today. The world you are inheriting today is smaller, more popular more populated and more inpatient for instant gratification in the world my generation inherited. When you deliver that commencement address in 2060, what we save about the ethics of g
They were shaped in large part by the trials and tribulations that they endured and had to overcome. My generation lived through the fall of the berlin wall and vietnam war, made us challenge the unquestioned patriotism of our parents generation. Civil rights and the war on poverty focused our commitment to ending segregation and reducing income inequality. One year before i graduated from college in 1970, the u. S. Landed a man on the moon. An event that unleashed the innovative and competitive spirit of the american people, the impact of which is still being felt today. The Civil Rights Movement offered an opportunity to redefine race and gender relations in america. Today, our country is far stronger because of the courage and sacrifice of those who fueled it. It was these issues and events that tested my generation. Like all College Graduates entering into lifes stage, your generation will be tested by the possibilities before you. As i sat through my commencement address in 1970 a
I dont think they heard me. I dont think they heard me. I said all the people screaming your name out is out there today. Thats what i thought i heard. I would be happy, too. I would be happy too. Now let me try to restore a little order because i be excited myself if i said in a stance and a be more excited said in a seat. If i was getting ready to get my degree i would ask the speaker to do just a few things. Give me a little pieces of the puzzle and then go sit down and shut up. [laughter] i knew it so let me just you know give you my three pieces to the life puzzle. The first piece i think is applicable to all of us is simply failure is not final if they refuse to quit. I want to send one more time because i think it is absolutely unequivocally important to empathize emphasized the simple fact that failure is not final if you refuse to quicker i was thinking back during president evans introduction of how i basically flunked out of high school as a freshman to i remember those days
George w. Bush at Southern Methodist university. Commencement addresses begin at noon eastern here on cspan. George bush when i mention the speech through some of my pals they were surprised i was going to give it. I have not given a commencement speech since leaving office. My decision is quite practical. I got a phone call from my landlord. [laughter] gerald turner. Rather than reasoning raising the rent or holding the security deposit, i was surprised to hear him ask if i believe in free speech. [laughter] i said, yes. He said, perfect, this is your chance to get one. I am truly honored to be here. You can see all of george w. Bush plus commencement speech bushs commencement speech tomorrow noon. Sunday night at midnight some provisions of the patriot act require. Mitch mcconnell wants to extend all of the act, but ran call rand paul opposes. To try to come up with a legislative compromise, Mitch Mcconnell has called senate back in one day early on sunday at 4 00 p. M. When the sena