Commencement: What Politicians Want the Class of 2017 to Know

Former Vice President Joe Biden gave Cornell University’s commencement address, with a speech that was not totally apolitical, but focused more on human nature than on the state of affairs in Washington.

“This past election cycle churned up some of the ugliest realities that still remain in this country,” he said. “Civilized discourse and real debate gave way to some of the coarsest rhetoric, stroking our darkest emotions.”

He noted that immigrants and other minorities had become scapegoats for the country’s problems, and reminded the audience of the message of equality woven into the nation’s founding documents.

“It sounds corny but we do hold these truths self evident that all men and women are created equal,” Biden said. “You cannot define an American based on ethnicity, religion, race. America is an idea. That’s the uniqueness of who we are and it’s embodied in what we say we believe.”

He spoke of the dangers of living in online echo chambers that he said reduce people with different lifestyles and views to stereotypes.

“Everything–from your marriage, to your job, to your neighborhood, to your country–works better when we actually take time to look out for the other guy,” he said. “Just treat them with a little bit of dignity and decency in our neighborhoods, as well as our national institutions.”

Biden iterated again and again, that success in life comes from treating others with respect and dignity, not from an Ivy League education.

“This degree won’t protect you from the pressures of a changing world,” he said. “And don’t fool yourself into thinking that disengaging from the system that you believe is broken is going to hold you harmless from its failures. What happens in your country, your community, your neighborhood affects you.”

He spoke of the importance of public service and not losing hope in humanity’s ability to change, even in times of great turmoil. He referenced his own experience as a graduating law student during the height of the Vietnam War and the assassinations of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert Kennedy.

“I never doubted for one instant that we could rewrite the outcome we were careening toward,” Biden said. “We turned our anger and disappointment into resolve, and I would argue, into positive change.”

Biden ended his speech with a charge to graduates: “It’s time for the country to wake up. And ladies and gentlemen, the graduating class of ‘17, go out and wake us up.”

Avery Anapol

Avery Anapol is a blogger and freelancer for Law Street Media. She holds a BA in journalism and mass communication from the George Washington University. When she’s not writing, Avery enjoys traveling, reading fiction, cooking, and waking up early. Contact Avery at Staff@LawStreetMedia.com.