President Bush Delivers Commencement Address at Furman University
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Thank you very much. Mr. President. President Shi, thank you for that kind introduction. Governor Sanford, Senator Graham, Congressman Inglis, members of the Board of Trustees, faculty, staff, members of the Furman community, parents -- and most important -- the Class of 2008 -- thank you for this kind invitation to be with you. (Applause.)
I congratulate the parents here who have sacrificed to make this day possible. When your child graduates from college, it is a glorious day for your family, and a pretty good day for your bank account. (Laughter.) I know the graduates will join me in thanking you for your love and support. (Applause.)
And I thank the members of the Furman faculty. I appreciate your devoting your career to improving the lives of young people. I know this is an institution where folks are encouraged to make their voices heard. I, too, am a strong believer in free speech. And to prove it, Im about to give you one. (Laughter and applause.)
For four years, this campus has been your life. Youve studied hard, and I suspect some of you may have played hard. Along the way, some of you may have wondered whether this day would ever come. Well, its finally here, and Laura and I send our heartfelt congratulations to the Class of 2008.
Im glad to be joined with my friend and outstanding leader of South Carolina: Governor Mark Sanford, Class of 1983. (Applause.) Governor, Im not going to ask if you ever got caught "swimming in the fountains." (Laughter.) As the President said, 25 years ago, the Governor sat where you now sit -- as a member of the graduating class. As it happens, as he mentioned, the commencement speaker that day was my dad. Now, that means some at Furman will have heard graduation speeches from two generations of Bushes. Its a great step forward for the Bush family -- and a great step backward for your English Department. (Laughter and applause.)
And as the President mentioned, I have other family ties with Furman. In the early 1930s, a student named Willa Martin graduated from the womens college that was soon to become part of Furman. She went on to marry my mothers father. She also spent time as a columnist for the Associated Press -- thus beginning the long history of warm relations between the Bush family and the media. (Laughter.)
My administration also has another Furman connection. One of the first people I see almost every morning is a Furman grad and my Director of National Intelligence: Admiral Mike McConnell, Class of 1966. (Applause.) I asked Mike if he ever took part in the "Midnight Serenade." He said, Id like to tell you, but that information is classified. (Laughter.)
Its a special time in your life. And youre going to find its a time when you get a lot of free advice, some of it helpful, some of it not -- like that one graduation speaker who urged the students to keep their ears to the ground, their shoulders to the wheel, and their noses to the grindstone. All I could think was thats a hell of a position to be in. (Laughter.)
I also remember what it was like to graduate from college and look out at the world before me. At the time, I must confess the last thing on my mind was how to be a model citizen. Just ask my mother. (Laughter.) Yet I found, as you will, the world has a way of helping you to grow. Soon many of you will be earning a living and getting married and raising families. As you move ahead in life, you will find temptations and distractions that can take you off course. You might also find that years may pass before you learn some important truths, that who you are is more important than what you have; and that you have responsibilities to your fellow citizens, your country, your family, and yourself.
In my first speech as the governor of Texas, I talked about the importance of a responsibility society. In my last commencement address as President, it seems a fitting subject to return to.
Im heartened today to see that our country is seeing a resurgence of personal responsibility. Im pleased that this resurgence is being led by many young people who are embracing bedrock values of faith and family. These are values on which Furman and many other great universities were founded. And as you leave this campus today, my call to you is this: Strengthen this rising culture of responsibility in America by serving others, contributing to our civic life, and being accountable to your yourself and your families.
A culture of responsibility does mean serving others. Through the toil of generations and the grace of an Almighty, our nation has been given a lot, and more and more Americans are recognizing our obligations to help those who have little.
One of the most uplifting trends in our country is that volunteerism is at near all-time highs. And we see this spirit here at Furman. I was impressed when I heard that nearly two-thirds of you balanced your studies this year with outreach to your community. You helped children with disabilities realize they have a place in our communities and in our hearts. You helped Habitat for Humanity give people a home of their own. Through such works of compassion, youve learned early in life that nothing is more fulfilling than putting the needs of others ahead of your own. And I thank you for what youve done for this community and for our country. (Applause.)
I saw the spirit of service in Greensburg, Kansas, which was destroyed by a tornado last year. In the aftermath, a Greensburg resident simply said: "My town is gone." And it was. But after the storm receded, a wave of compassion arrived. First, family members rushed in with aid. Then folks came from nearby towns doing their duties to help their neighbors in need. And soon citizens across our country rallied to help the people of Greensburg. I recently went to Greensburg High School to deliver their commencement address, and Im pleased to report to you the town of Greensburg is recovering, and the spirit of determination and compassion is alive and well in Americas heartland. (Applause.)
Ive seen the spirit of service in good Americans who work to heal troubled communities across our country. Much of this good work is carried out by community and faith-based groups who lift up struggling souls one at a time. They serve in soup kitchens, and help former prisoners rejoin society, inspire young people in inner-city classrooms, ensuring they have the skills they need to live lives of hope and opportunity.
Ive seen the spirit of service in Americans who are changing lives on the continent of Africa. Our citizens are teaching children in Ghana, helping villagers fight malaria and HIV/AIDS in Tanzania, and helping war-ravaged people recover and rebuild in Liberia. These citizens are showing the world the true face of our country -- a kind and generous nation that is meeting its responsibility to help the poor and the sick and the hungry.
Ive seen the spirit of service in those who proudly wear the uniform. America is blessed to have citizens who volunteer in times of danger, and that includes some of you here today. (Applause.) Youll leave this fine university with more than a degree -- you will also receive your commission as an officer in the United States military. I thank you for making the noble decision to serve. Your country is proud of you. And so is your Commander-in-Chief. (Applause.)
