UNDER THE MICROSCOPE: We are in the midst of graduation season 2022. Recently, I stumbled upon a box containing my high school diploma as well as the note cards I used in 1985 when Life Detective gave the valedictory address to the graduating class of LaSalle High School in Niagara Falls, NY. Since “plagiarism saves time”, and since no one probably listened when the speech was given, I decided to reproduce the text of that speech below.
Unfortunately, some of the same global challenges that were referenced in the 1985 speech are still with us today: terrorism, clean energy, voting participation, the environment, and Russia/Soviet Union. The biggest surprise of the past 37 years? The backslide in democracy and increase in American division.
Make no mistake, the Class of ’85 was iconic. After all, there is a pop song which commemorates “snakeskin skirts” and other cultural phenomena of the time. (I still wear “OP”, or Ocean Pacific t-shirts: “OK, Boomer!”) Mixing pop culture with the political overtones of the day, Life Detective has added headers to the original speech text using titles and links to the best songs of the day, like “Message in a Bottle”.
“Born in the U.S.A.”
Fellow graduates, while contemplating topics to discuss at this momentous occasion, it occurred to me how fortunate I am to be able to address you and speak my mind freely this evening. It is a reminder that we are all blessed to live in the greatest nation on earth. Freedom, however, is not automatic. As a glance around the world demonstrates, American-style democracy is unfortunately the exception rather than the rule.
Until now, the biggest responsibilities in our lives have been schoolwork and perhaps household chores. After today, the burdens of maintaining our great society fall upon us. We are now accountable to ourselves, to the human race, and to history for preserving and improving our nation and world. While this responsibility is easy enough to ignore, we would do so at our own peril and with knowledge of the dire consequences that would likely follow.
“Sunday Bloody Sunday”
We must maintain our democracy, which allows us the right to speak and worship as we please. Such basic rights do not exist in much of the world, especially in totalitarian nations such as the Soviet Union. Although we may be individually powerless to create a world in our own image, we do have a responsibility to educate ourselves about other cultures and other nations. As the crisis in Beirut demonstrates [a terrorist bombing of the U.S. Marine barracks in 1983 which killed 241 American service members], we are too often paralyzed by the ignorance of other people’s history, attitudes, and needs – an ignorance which may be the greatest obstacle to a peaceful world.
Most of you individually may wonder how you can make a difference in our world. There is one simple method that comes to mind. Since most of us are, or soon will be, 18 years old, the right, privilege and responsibility of voting is now open to you. You, as an individual, will therefore have a chance to have a voice in our democratic government. In the most recent Presidential election in 1984, approximately 55% of eligible American voters turned out at the polls to exercise their voting right. With President Reagan getting 60% of the vote, only 1/3 of eligible American voters were needed to have him elected.
“The End of the Innocence”
It is our responsibility to improve upon those numbers so everyone’s voice can be heard. But it would be a mistake to suggest that preserving democracy is as simple as voting. To properly carry out our responsibilities as Americans, we cannot rely, as some would suggest, on easy answers, simplistic slogans, and bombastic rhetoric. There are many complex problems that our generation will face. For example, we must find new and safe ways to create energy. We must try to preserve our earth and keep pollution at a minimum. We must find enough food to nourish an ever-growing population. My hope is that this class will address these problems with the concern, creativity and compassion needed to solve them.
And so, to the Class of ’85, I bid you best wishes and leave this podium confident that we can overcome adversity and have an auspicious life.