In this the season of graduations and commencement speeches, we are again reminded of Pulitzer prize-winning journalist Sydney Schanberg's words: "Commencement speeches are required by law to contain a maximum number of cliches, truisms, platitudes and banalities. They are the least remembered events on the planet."

A recent Internet search of speeches given to the Class of 2004 at universities across the country found this assessment bears true.

At the very least, when not banal, the speeches can also fall short when they are used as forums to promote the keynote speaker's agenda. Recently, President George W. Bush's address to Louisiana State University drummed up support for the war in Iraq: "Those who wear the uniform of our country have repaid America many times over with their selflessness and courage," he said. "That courage is needed."

E.L. Doctorow, one of the most celebrated writers in America, was nearly booed off the stage at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y., last week when his 20-minute address lambasted President Bush, effectively calling him a liar.

Like his profession, Doctorow said the president is a storyteller. But "sadly they are not good stories this president tells," he said. "They are not good stories because they are not true." That line provoked the first boos, along with scattered cheers.

Speaking at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pa., consumer activist and presidential candidate Ralph Nader urged for more civic engagement. "Civic duty is not required in our Constitution. There is no duty in our Constitution except jury duty. Where there is no duty, there needs to be a moral imperative."

And comedian Jon Stewart, a 1984 alumnus of William and Mary College, relied on his of irreverent humor to deliver his message. "I know that there were some parents that were concerned about my speech here tonight, and I want to assure you that you will not hear any language that is not common at, say, a dock workers' union meeting, or a Tourrette's convention or profanity seminar." Rest assured, it was all down hill from there.

But, every once in a great while, a commencement speech breaks the mold and is so good that it should be shared beyond the audience of graduates and parents. This is what happened when Anna Quindlen gave a commencement address to Villanova University in June, 2000. Quindlen's message - "Get a life. A real life, not a manic pursuit of the next promotion, the bigger paycheck, the larger house" - was so well received that people e-mailed the text across the country. Not too much later and with some tweaking, Quindlen published the speech in a small book entitled: "A Short Guide to a Happy Life," which, to no one's surprise, became a best seller.

In my search, I did find an uncommonly good commencement address given a couple of weekends ago by an actor, no less, at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. Bradley Whitford portrays White House Deputy Chief of Staff Josh Lyman on the NBC-TV series "West Wing."

Whitford began with self-deprecating humor: "Why would the University of Wisconsin, a school with a reputation and the stature to attract a genuine world leader - why would you opt for a glorified circus clown from a television show? I can't answer that question, my friends. This is uncomfortable for all of us. I feel your shame." Apologizing for his lack of expertise on anything except "reproduction and acting," he launched into six basic principles of life which he called "Everything I Need to Know in Life I Learned on My Way to a Humiliating Audition."

First, he told the graduates to embrace the process and the results will follow. "You've got to want to do whatever you want to do more than you want to be whatever you want to be, want to write more than you want to be a writer, want to heal more than you want to be a doctor, want to teach more than you want to be a teacher, want more to serve than you want to be a politician. Life is too challenging for external rewards to sustain us."

Secondly, he demanded they be prepared. Once prepared: "Throw your preparation in the trash. You've spent the majority of your lives in school where your work has been assigned to you. You are all so much more than that. You've reached the terrifying moment where you must be your own guide. Listen to the whispers inside of you. We have a lot of problems in the this world, and we're going to need you to think outside the box." He cautioned them against underestimating their potential. "You are capable of more than you think. Take it from the professional extrovert - the most gregarious among us are far more insecure than we would ever admit. Nelson Mandela put it this way: 'Our worst fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world.'" Always listen, he told them, for listening is not passive. Then, take action. "You have a choice. You can be the passive victim of circumstance or you can be the active hero of your life. Action is the antidote to cynicism and despair. You will inevitably make mistakes. Learn what you can and move on. "Remember it is always been up to the people to hold this country up to its spectacular promise. In short, my obnoxiously young friends, you don't just get democracy. You have to make it happen. Extend that call of action to every aspect of your lives. But let me be clear: I want you to stay the hell out of show business. The last thing I need is a bunch of young people invading my job market.

"Lastly, I will leave you with something I have learned from my only other area of expertise - being a father. The line of fire racing across time that we call life is burning brightly in all you at this moment. We celebrate the joy of your achievement, but we must give thanks for all that brought us here. And we must be keenly aware that our stupendous good fortune carries with it an obligation to keep that flame burning brightly into the future for every living thing that is and yet to be."

Not too shabby for an actor, probably memorable too. Congratulations, Class of 2004.

You can reach Marney Rich Keenan at (313)222-2515 or mkeenan,@detnews.com. Read her columns each Wednesday in The Detroit News Features section and every Saturday in Homestyle.

Source | http://www.detnews.com/2004/lifestyle/0405/29/e04-166197.htm

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