Text
ADDRESS OF SENATOR EDWARD W. BROOKE
COMMENCEMENT, SUFFOLK UNIVERSITY
JUNE 15, 1969
uA CONTEXT FOR CHANGE"
I AM VERY PLEASED TO BE WITH YOU TODAY.
SUFFOLK'S COMMENCEMENT COMES
LATE THIS YEAR AND, IF MY CALCULATION IS CORRECT, I NOW HAVE 2,229 OTHER ADDRESSES
FROM WHICH TO SELECT A MESSAGE FOR TODAY.
PERHAPS IT HAS ALL BEEN SAID BY NOW, AND
I SHOULD JUST REFER YOU TO A FEW PRINTED EXCERPTS, WITH PROPER USE OF "!BIDS" AND
"OP CITS. 11 BUT YOUR INVITATION ·IS TOO GP.AClOUS, AND MY SPEECHMAKING INSTINCTS MUCH
TOO STRONG, FOR ME TO ADOPT SO CONVENIENT A COURSE.
HOWEVER, MANY OF THOSE ADDRESSES HAVE A CENTRAL THEME IN COMMON, AND
ONE WHICH WE ALL DO WELL TO REPEAT.
YOU WHO GRADUATE TODAY ARE CUSTODIANS OF A
VITAL TRADITION,. A TRADITION ESSENTIAL TO THE WELL~BEING OF THIS OR ANY OTHER NATION
DEDICATED TO SELF-GOVERNMENT.
THE BENEFICIARIES OF HIGHER EDUCATION HAVE A SPECIAL
RESPONSIBILITY TO FOCUS THEIR INTELL!GENCE, THEIR CRITICAL SKILLS, THEIR LEARNING
AND THEIR MORAL INSIGHT ON THE GllAVE CHALLENGES BEFORE US.
THAT IS THE MANDATE YOU
CARRY AND THE OPPORTUNITY YOU CONFRONT.
TO COMMENCE IN 1969 IS TO BEGIN YOUR CAREERS AT A MOMENT OF UNPRECEDENTED UNCERTAINTY IN OUR NATIONAL LIFE.
THE BOUYANCY AND HOPE WHICH SHOULD MARK
THIS OCCASION OFFER STARK CONTRAST TO THE TENSION AND DEPRESSION WHICH ENVELOP OUR
NATION.
THE SPIRIT OF REASON AUD HUMANITY WHICH ANIMATES A GREAT UNIVERSITY, THE
SPIRIT WHICH HAS INSPIRED THE FORWARD MOVE?-IENT OF CIVILIZATION ITSELF, IS CLOUDED BY
THE BRUTALITY AND INHUHANITY WHICH BLIGHT THE EARTH.
AS WE CONTEMPLATE AMERICA'S CRUEL DILEMMAS, IT IS EASY TO BE DISILL~~
SIONED.
INDEED, IT IS EVEN FASHIONABLE.
IN OUR TIME, AS IN ALL THE AGES PAST, THE~
ABOUND THE CYNICS AND PESSIMISTS WHO DENOUNCE THE BROTHERHOOD OF-THE HOPEFUL AS FOOL:ISH, WHO DERIDE THE FRATERNITY OF THE ACTIVE AS FUTILE.
DO NOT CONSTITUTE REALISM.
BUT CYNICISM AND PESSIMISM
I HOPE AND I TRUST THAT YOU AND YOUR PEERS WILL HAVE THE
WISDOM TO DISCERN THE DIFFERENCE.
TO BE SURE THERE ARE PLAUSIBLE GROUNDS FOR THE GLOOMY VIEWS OF THE WORLD
WHICH YOUR GENERATION WILL INHERIT AND WHICH IT IS -CALLED TO TRANSFORM.
HOME AND WARS ABROAD ARE NOT A LIKELY BASIS FOR OPTIMISM.
RIOTS AT
POVERTY IN EVERY CONTINENT,
INJUSTICE IN EVERY NATION, SOCIAL DISCORD IN EVERY STATE, THESE ARE GRIM OMENS.
MUST BE FACED AND THEY MUST BE 'RELIEVED.
THEY
-2-
YET THOSE WHO SEE ONLY THESE FEATURES OF THE TERRAIN AR£ AS MISTAKEN AS
THOSE WHO WALLOW IN A SEA OF PERSONAL EUPHORIA.
BOTH GROUPS ARE EQUALLY DESERVING
OF SIR FRANCIS BACON'S TRENCHANT COMMENT:
TIIBY ARE ILL DISCOVERERS
THAT THINK THERE IS NO LAND,
WHEN THEY SEE NOTHING BUT SEA.
I AM CONVINCED THAT THE DRASTIC CHANGES WHICH HAVE SHAKEN THE SOCIAL AND
PHYSICAL ORDERS OF THIS PLANET DURING THE FIRST TWO THIRDS OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
CAN PORTEND A GOLDEl-:J AGE FOR MANKIND.
YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN CAN INAUGURATE THAT ERA.
IT IS NOT ONLY THAT THE HUMAN RACt HAS ACQUIRED A GROWING MASTERY OF THE MATERIAL
UNIVERSE, A MASfERY WHICH CAN ENABLE ALL MEN TO HAVE THE MATERIAL NECESSITIES OF
LIFE.
WHILE MODERN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ARE BY NO MEANS UNMITIGATED BLESSINGS,
THEY DO PERMIT US TO FACE THE FUTURE WITH THE REASONABLE EXPECTATION THAT WE CAN,
WITH PRUDENT MANAG~mNT, MEET THE PHYSICAL NEEDS OF ALL THOSE ON EARTH.
M_9REOVER,
THEY HOLD SOME PROMISE OF CORRECTING THE UNWANTED BYPRODUCTS WlitCH THEY THEMSELVES
GENERATE.
THUS, IT IS THROUGH RESEARCH THAT WE HAVE THE GREATEST HOPE FOR CONTROL-:-:
LING THE ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION WHICH HAS ARISEN FROM APPLICATtON OF MODERN TECH~
NOLOGY; IT IS THROUGH RESEARCH THAT WE MAY HOPE TO FIND CURES FOR THE PHYSICAL AND
MENTAL TRAUMAS WHICH ARISE FROM THE STRESSES OF MODERN SOCIETY; IT IS THROUGH RESEARCH THAT WE MAY EVEN BE ABLE TO FIND SOME OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE SAFEGUARDS AGAINST
THE ACTUAL USE OF THE DESTRUCTIVE TECHNOLOGY WHICH DEFINES THE NUCLEAR AGE.
YET IT IS NOT THE PHYSICAL PROSPECTS RAISED BY CONTEMPORARY SCIENCE
WHICH LEAD ME TO BET ON THE FUTURE.
--TO BET ON YOU.
I BELIEVE THAT THE-TRULY EN-
COURAGING TRENDS FOR THE INHABITANTS OF SPACESHIP EARTH ARE SOCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL IN NATURE.
THE TRENDS TO WHICH I REFER ARE RUNNING MOST STRONGLY IN THIS
COUNTRY AND THEY ARE EPITOMIZED BY MEMBERS OF YOUR GENERATION.
THESE TRENDS ARE
COMPLEX AND DIFFICULT TO DESCRIBE BRIEFLY, BUT I WOULD SUGGEST THAT THEIR PRINCIPAL
EFFECT IS TO INCREASE OUR COLLECTIVE CAPACITY TO ADAPT TO SOCIAL CHANGE.
AMONG THE YOUNG ELITE OF AMERICA, THOSE WHO WILL BEAR THE MAJOR RESPONSIBILITY FOR GUIDING THIS NATION THROUGH THE TURBULENCE WHICH LIES AHEAD, COMPLACENCY IS GIVING WAY TO CONCERN, APATHY TO INVOLVEMENT, SELF-SACRIFICE.
WHILE YOU
HAVE BEEN GROWING UP, A VAST SHIFT IN SOCIAL ATTITUDES HAS BEEN UNDERWAY IN THIS
COUNTRY.
WE ARE BECOMING, IN MY CONSIDERED JUDGMENT, A FUTURE-ORIENTED SOCIETY, A
NATION ACUTELY AWARE OF THE PAST FAILURES AND PRESENT DEFECTS AND DETERMINED TO ALLEVIATE THEM IN THE YEARS AHEAD.
-3-
WHEN COMPARED WlTH THE UNCERTAINTY AND ANXIETY WHlCH Al.WAYS ACCOMPANY
SIGNIFICANT CHANGE, ''THE GOOD OLD DAYS AND THE GOOD OLD WAYS" HAVE -POWERFUL APPEAL.
BUT
IF ONE SUCCUMBS UNCRITICALLY TO THAT APPEAL, THE PRACTICAL RESULT IS TO GLOSS
OVER THE SHORTCOMINGS OF THE EXISTING SOCIAL ORDER AND TO DENY THE POSSIBILITY OF
IMPROVING IT.
ONE IS DRAWN TO RESIST CHANGE ON THE GENERAL ASSUMPTION THAT IT MAY
NOT BE HELPFUL, RATHER THAN TO ACCEPT OR DISCOURAGE' CHANGE ACCORDING TO A PRAGMATIC
APPRAISAL OF !TS PROBABLE EFFECTS IN COMPARISON WITH THE STATUS QUO.
AMERICANS HAVE BEEN LESS CONSTRAINED BY TRADITION THAN OTHER PEOPLES,
BUT I BELIEVE THAT THE ATTITUDES NOW COMING TO PREVAIL IN OUR SOCIETY ARE FAR MORE
RECEPTIVE TO CHANGE THAN THOSE WHICH DOMINATED IN PAST DECADES.
FURTHERMORE, THERE
IS DEVELOPING A HEIGHTENED AWARENESS OF THE INEQUITIES WHICH STILL PLAGUE OUR SOCIETY AND A STRONGER DETER11INATION TO MAKE THE CHANGES NECESSARY TO DEAL WITH THEM.
I
BELIEVE THAT THE OUTCOME WILL BE A MORE RESPONSIVE AND A MORE RESPONSIBLE COMMUNITY.
THIS PSYCHOLOGICAL REVOLUTION HAS ITS PARALLELS IN OTHER COUNTRIES,
BOTH IN THE WEST AND IN THE EAST.
IT IS OF THE UTMCST CONSEQUENCE TO US ALL THAT THE
SOVIET UNION, AS THE OTHER POWER WITH PRIMARY INFLUENCE ON THE QUESTIONS OF WAR AND
PEACE, HAS SHOWN THAT IT TOO IS ADAPTABLE TO THE REALITIES OF OUR TIME.
UNTIL
FORMER PREMIER KHRUSHCHEV REPUDIATED THE LENtNIST DOCTRINE OF THE INEVITABILITY OF
WAR BETWEEN CAPITALIST AND COMMUNIST STATES, THE RISK OF A THERMONUCLEAR ARMAGEDDON
WAS REAL AND INCREASING.
THAT RISK HAS NOT DISAPPEARED -- FAR FROM IT -- BUT THE
SHIFT IN SOVIET ATTITUDES HAS MADE POSSIBLE A NUMBER OF CONSTRUCTIVE INNOVATIOMS IN
THE INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL SYSTEl-1.
THERE CAN BE NO DOUBT THAT THE REALIZATION THAT NUCLEAR WAR WOULD BE
~UALLY SUICIDAL HAS CONTRIBU'IED SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE POSSIBILITIES OF PEACEFUL AC
COMMODATION BETWEEN MOSCOW AND WASHINGTON.
ONE MAY HOPE THAT A SIMILAR MATURITY WILL
EMERGE IN CHINA, AS THE CHINESE BECOME MORE FAMILIAR WITH THE AWESOME INPLICATIONS
OF THE NUCLEAR FORCES THEY ARE DEVELOPING.
PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT RESULT OF THE ALTERED PSYCHOLOGY OF SOVIETAMERICAN RELATIONS HAS BEEN THE RESTRAINT SHOWN BY BOTH COUNTRIES DURING THE STRUGGLE IN VIETNAM.
HOWEVER BRUTAL AND PAINFUL THE WAR IN SOUTHEAST ASIA HAS BEEN, THE
SEEDS OF GLOBAL STRIFE WHICH IT CONTAINS HAVE NOT BEEN ALLOWED TO SPROUT.
REJOICE AT WHAT HAS HAPPENED
TAINLY CAUSE FOR PRAYERFUL GRATITUDE.
NO ONE CAN
IN VIETNAM, BUT WHAT HAS NOT HAPPENED IS CER_:THE PRUDENCE EXHIBITED BY THE UNITED STATES
AND THE SOVIET UNION CAN PROVILE US TIME TO IDENTIFY AND DEVELOP OUR MUTUAL INTER:
ESTS, AND IN THOSE MUTUAL INTERESTS LIES THE WORLD"S BEST CHANCE FOR LONG-_TERM SECURITY AND PROSPERITY.
-4I MUST TELL YOU OF MY DEEP APPREHENSION THAT THIS DAWNING PERCEPTION OF
OUR MUTUAL INTERESTS IS THREATENED BY THE MOST MENACING TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS
IN SOME YEARS.
TEGIC ARMS RACE.
WE AND THE SOVIETS ARE ON THE VERGE OF AN OMINOUS ROUND IN THE STRAUNLESS WE CAN TOGETHER MUSTER THE POLITICAL WISDOM TO SUCCEED IN
THE IMPENDING ABMS CONTROL NEGOTIATIONS, A WHOLE NEW GENERATION OF WEAPONS WILL SOON
BE UPON US, THREATENING THE STABILITY OF THE NUCLEAR BALANCE AND THE STRENGm OF THE
PEACE.
THE CENTRAL PROBLEM IN THIS REGARD IS THE EMERGENCE OF THE SO-CALLED
MIRV SYSTEMS WHICH BOTH THE SOVIET UNION AND THE tmITED STATES ARE P!JRSUING.
THESE
SYSTEMS WOUU> RAPIDLY MULTIPLY THE NUMBER OF WARHEADS WHICH EACH SIDE'S ROCKETS COUL~
DELIVER.
IF THEY ARE IN FACT'DEPLOYED THEY WOULD INCREASE THE CAPACITY OF BOTH
SIDES TO ATTACK THE OTHER SIDE'S RETALIATORY FORCES.
IN PERIODS OF EXTREME CRISIS
THERE COULD BE HEIGHTENED DANGERS OF PRE-EMPTIVE ATTACK. AS EACH SIDE HAS TO WORRY
THAT IF IT DOES NOT STRIKE FIRST THE OTHER MAY DO SO.
THIS SITUATION IS NO RECIPE
FOR SECURITY, AND COMPARED TO IT, THE QUESTIONS RAISED CONCERNING ABM SYSTEMS PALE.
I STRONGLY FEEL THAT WE NEED TO INITIATE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE SOVIET
UNION AT THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE MOMENT, TO SEE IF IT IS POSSIBLE TO FOREGO SUCH DESTABILIZING WEAPONS ON BOTH SIDES.
A NUMBBR OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE JOINED ME IN
URGING THAT, IN THE MEANTIME, BOTH SIDES SUSPEND FURTHER FLIGHT TESTS OF MIRV SYSTEMS.
AT THE SAME TIME I HAVE PROPOSED AND HOPE THE SENATE WILL ADOPT A PLAN TO AVOID COMMITTING THE UNITED STATES TO DEPLOYMENT OF AN ABM WEAPONS SYSTEM AT THIS TilfE' WHILE
PERMITTING EXTENSIVE TESTS AND EVALUATION OF THE RADARS, COMPUTERS, AND ASSOCIATED
ELECTRONICS FOR SUCH A SYSTEM.
SUCH RESTRAINT ON OUR PART, WOULD I BELIEVE, CONTRIBUTE SUCCESS OF THE
PLANNED NEGOTIATIONS.
IT WOULD BUY A LITTLE TD-fE IN WHICH TO EXPLORE POSSIBLE AR-
RANGEMENTS WITH THE SOVIET UNION FOR PREVENTING THE WASTEFUL AND~SINISTER COMPETITION
IN ARMS IN WHICH WE HAVE BEEN LOCKED FOR SO MANY YEARS.
ONLY BY DEVISING SUCH ARRANGEMENTS CAN WE AND THE SOVIETS HOPE TO STEM
THE FLOW OF NATIONAL RESOURCES INTO UNPRODUCTIVE MILITARY INVESTMENTS.
ONLY BY STEM-
MING THAT FLOW WILL WE BE ABLE TO CONCENTRATE OUR ENERGIES AND INVESTMENTS ON THE
PRESSING SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC NEEDS WHICH AFFLICT BOTH COUNTRIES.
WE MUST NOT ALLOW
THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SLIP THROUGH OUR FINGERS.
A DIFFERENT KIND OF PSYCHOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT HAS EVOLVED ON THE
DOMESTIC SCENE.
HERE AT
nmm
THE DISPOSITION HAS BECOME NOT ONE OF CAUTION AND RE-
STRAINT, BUT OF RAPID AND ENERGETIC ACTION TO PROMOTE SOCIAL CHANGE.
ATTITUDE HAS COME INCREASINGLY TO THE FORE IN THE LAST DECADE.
THE NEEDS OF THE NATION.
THIS ACTIVIST
IT IS WELL-MATCHED TO
THE NEW ACTIVISM HAS BEGUN TO ZERO IN ON THE CRITICAL RE-
QUIREMENTS OF MODERN AMERICA, ON THE PRESSING NEED TO IMPROVE LIFE IN OUR URBAN
-sCENTERS, TO RELEIVF THE LINGERING INJUSTICE FROM WHICH TOO MANY SUFFER, TO PROVIDE
A DECENT STANDARD OF LIVING FOR ALL CITIZENS.
THE UPWELLING OF SOCIAL CONCERN IS CREATING A NEW ETHIC FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
IF I JUDGE THE MATTER CORRECTLY, THE NEW ETHIC WILL RETAIN THE TRADI-
TIONAL AMERICAN REVERENCE FOR THE INDIVIDUAL PERSONALITY BUT IT WILL TEMPER THE
HARSHEST OVERTONES OF OUR PURITAN HERITAGE.
THAT HERITAGE HAS TENDED TO SEE INDIVI-
DUAL FAILURE IN THE ECONOMIC SPHERE AS A REFLECTION OF PERSONAL CORRUPTION AND HAS
TENDED TO DISCOURAGE COMMUNITY ACTION TO ASSIST THE DISADVANTAGED MIDIBERS OF SOCIETY.
MR. DOOLEY ONCE OBSERVED THAT THE PURITANS HAD CELEBRATED THANKSGIVING
TO GIVE THANKS FOR BEING PRESERVED FROM THE INDIANS AND THAT WE CELEBRATE IT TO GIVE
THANKS FOR BEING PRESERVED FROM THE PURITANS.
HIS CONCLUSION THAT WE HAVE BEEN SO
PRESERVED WAS PREMATURE, FOR WE HAVE NEVER FULLY SHAKEN THE PURITAN SUSPICION THAT
AN INDIVIDUAL WHO COULD NOT PROVIDE FOR Hil1SELF WAS NOT QUITE WORTH BEING PROVIDED
FOR.
WE ARE BEGINNING TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE OPERATION OF A Cm.1PLEX ECONOMY
OFTEN WREAKS HAVOC ON THE FORTUNES OF INDIVIDUALS.
THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIIl OWN,
SOME PEOPLE HAVE LITTLE OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME SELF-SUPPORTING, MUCH LESS TO 1fAKE A
FULL CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIETY.
WE ARE BEGINNING TO PERCEIVE THE REALITY OF POVERTY IN AMERICA. A REALITY COMPOUNDED OF INADEQUARE EDUCATION, ~YNEMPLOYMENT, MISERABLE HOUSING, AND MALNUTltITION.
RECOGNITION OF THESE FACTS HAS BROUGHT INCREASING NUMBERS OF AMERICANS
TO SUPPORT THE PRINCIPLE THAT SOCIETY HAS AN OBLIGATION TO ITS LESS FORTUNATE MEMBERS.
AS THIS PRINCIPLE WINS WIDER ACCEPTANCE, AND AS AMERICA'S ABUNDANT RESOURCES
MAKE POSSIBLE A LARGER INVESTMENT IN PROGRAMS TO ATTACK THE ROOT CAUSES OF POVERTY,
THE POSSIBILITIES FOR EFFECTIVE SOCIAL REFORM RISE PROPORTIONATELY.
CLEAR, WORKABLE
SOLUTIONS TO THESE PERENNIAL PROBLEMS ARE NOT YET IN HAND, BUT MANY OF THE CENTRAL
DIFFICULTIES HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AND PROMISING APPROACHES ARE BEING EXPLORED.
THE EMERGENCE OF THIS NEW PERSPECTIVE ON POVERTY IS A WATERSHED IN OUR
HISTORY, BUT NO ONE CAN STATE WITH CONFIDENCE EXACTLY WHAT WILL BE REQUIRED OF US,
OR OVER HOW LONG A PERIOD OF TIME, TO SUCCOR THE DISTRESS WE NOW PERCEIVE.
THAT IS
WHY THE ACTIVIST BENT OF YOU AND YOUR GENERATION IS SO ESSENTIAL TO OUR COUNTRY.
THE
TASK OF DESIGNING AND IMPLEMENTING A SOUND STRATEGY TO COPE WITH THESE MOMENTOUS PROBLEMS IS BOUND TO TAKE OUR BEST EFFORTS FOR MANY YEARS.
THE NATION DESPERATELY NEEDS
A SPECIAL BREED OF TOUGHMINDED IDEALISTS, MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE PREPARED TO ENTER THE
LONG CAMPAIGN WHICH LIES AHEAD.
-6FRESH TROOPS ARE NE.EDED IN ALL THE FIELDS OF SOCIAL SERVICE.
WE WILL
HAVE TO FIND DEDICATED AND INSPIRED TEACHERS TO UNDERTAKE THE DIFFICULT BURDENS OF
INSTRUCTION IN THE GHETTO SCHOOLS.
TO CONTROL THE SELF-DISRUPTIVE TENDENCIES OF
MANY OF OUR DISADVANTAGED FAMitIES, COMPETENT AND CREDIBLE SOCIAL WORKERS WILL BE
NEEDED.
TO HELP MAP THE WAY OUT OF THE CLUSTER OF DILEMMAS WHICH FRUSTRATE MILLIONS
IN OUR CENTER CITIES,
HISTORY.
WE
MUST TRAIN AND EMPLOY THE MOST CAPABLE URBAN PLANNERS IH
IN ALL THESE FIELDS AND OTHERS, THE CHALLENGES OF THE COMING DECADES WILL
DEMAND A TOTAL COMMITMENT 'FROM THOSE BRAVE ENOUGH TO ACCEPT THEM.
BUT A CONSTRUCTIVE ATTACK ON THESE CRUCIAL SOCIAL ILLS WILL REQUIRE MORE
THAN INDIVIDUAL COMMITME?-ITS TO SPECIALIZED PURSUITS, HOWEVER WORTHY THOSE PURSUITS
MAY BE.
EACH AMERICAN WILL HAVE TO GUIDE HIS SERVICE BY CONSTANT REFERENCE TO THE
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS OF A FREE SOCIETY.
WE MUST HAVE, AS WALTER LIPPMAN SO ELOQUENT-
LY ARGUED A DECADE AGO, A REVIVAL OF APPRECIATION FOR A PUBLIC PHILOSOPHY IN THIS
COUNTRY, A RENEWED RESPECT FOR THE PUBLIC INTEREST.
IT WILL NOT SUFFICE, IN A NATION
WHOSE CITIZENS HAVE DEVELOPED A HITHERTO UNKNOWN INTERDEPENDENCE, FOR EACH MAN TO
PURSUE HIS Ot~~ DESIRES WITHOUT REGARD TO THE RIGHTS AND NEEDS OF OTHERS.
TO FUNCTION AS A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY AMERICA WILL IIAVE TO DEVISE NEW
MODES tOR THE VOLUNTARY COORDINATION OF THE MANIFOLD ACTIVITIES WHICH ENGAGE THE
ENERGIES OF HER PEOPLE.
THIS WILL BE THE SUPREME T)J:ST OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT,
BUT IT WILL ALSO BE THE ULTilfATE CHALLENGE TO ALL THE INSTITUTIONS WHICH COMPRISE
THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
BUSINESS, LABOR, CHURCHES, UNIVERSITIES, FAMILIES, AND INDIVI-
PUALS IN EVERY SPHERE OF OUR NATIONAL LIFE MUST LEARN TO ACT IN FULL CONSCIOUSNESS
OF THE IMPLICATIONS OF THEIR ACTIONS FOR OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY.
TO STATE THIS IS TO STATE THE OBVIOUS PREREQUISITE OF LIFE IN A MODERN
NATION.
OUR POLITICAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC ORGANIZATION HAS GROWN SO COMPLEX THAT
~ACH OF US SURVIVES QUITE LITERALLY AT THE MERCY OF DOZENS OF OTHERS.
BY THE SAME
TOKEN EACH OF US HAS COME TO HOLD A KIND OF VETO POWER OVER THE HAPPINESS AND WELLBEING OF MANY OF OUR FELLOW CITIZENS. ALL OF US ARE DRIVING DOWN A CROWDED HIGHWAY,
AND THE FATE OF EVERY PASSENGER IS LINKED TO TlIB BEHAVIOR OF EVERY OTHER.
WE MUST
SURELY LEARN TO GUIDE OURSELVES, FOR THERE IS NO INVISIBLE HAND TO DO THE JOB FOR US.
THE ODDS ARE GOOD THAT MOST OF YOU WILL BE HERE TO GREET THE NEXT CENTURY.
BETWEEN NOW AND THE YEAR 2000, AMERICA AND THE OTHER NATIONS OF THE WORLD WILL
UNDERGO THE MOST STUPENDOUS CHANGES IN ALL THEIR HISTORY.
CAN TELL YOURS HOW TO GRAPPLE WITH THE FUTURE.
NO ONE FROM MY GENERATION
PERSONAL FULFILLMENT DOES NOT COME
OUT OF A DO-IT-YOURSELF KIT, ANY MORE THAN SOCIAL PROGRESS PiOCEEDS FROM A PAT FORMULA SET DOWN BY THE ELDERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
-7-
IT IS NOT SO MUCH THE RADICAL INNOVATIONS OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AS
THE CHANGES IN HUMAN ATTITUDES AND INSTITUTIONS WHICH WILL SHAPE THIS FUTURE.
IF WE
ARE TO BUILD A BETTER WORLD FOR OURSELVES AND OUR POSTERITY, WE MUST FIND OUR SALVATION, NOT IN MOTHER NATURE, BUT IN HUMAN NATURE.
IN THIS PERPETUAL QUEST YOU HAVE A VERY SPECIAL CONTRIBUTION TO MAKE.
THE GRADUATES OF THIS DISTINGUISHED UNIVERSITY JOIN THE COMPANY OF THOSE WHO UNDERSTAND THATt THOUGH OFTEN FLAWED, THE HUMAN PERSONALITY IS CAPABLE OF MIGHTY DEEDS.
THIS IS A FAITH WHICH ALL AMERICANS NEED.
PROSPERITY AND ESSENTIAL IN ADVERSITY.
IT IS A FAITH HELPFUL IN
WITHOUT THIS FAITH THE ASPIRATION.OF MEN TO
BE FREE MUST PERISH; WITH IT THAT ASPIRATION WILL FUEL A SURGE OF HUMAN ACCOMPLISHMENT
THAT WILL CAPTURE THE FUTURE AND MAKE IT OUR CWN.
COMMENCEMENT, SUFFOLK UNIVERSITY
JUNE 15, 1969
uA CONTEXT FOR CHANGE"
I AM VERY PLEASED TO BE WITH YOU TODAY.
SUFFOLK'S COMMENCEMENT COMES
LATE THIS YEAR AND, IF MY CALCULATION IS CORRECT, I NOW HAVE 2,229 OTHER ADDRESSES
FROM WHICH TO SELECT A MESSAGE FOR TODAY.
PERHAPS IT HAS ALL BEEN SAID BY NOW, AND
I SHOULD JUST REFER YOU TO A FEW PRINTED EXCERPTS, WITH PROPER USE OF "!BIDS" AND
"OP CITS. 11 BUT YOUR INVITATION ·IS TOO GP.AClOUS, AND MY SPEECHMAKING INSTINCTS MUCH
TOO STRONG, FOR ME TO ADOPT SO CONVENIENT A COURSE.
HOWEVER, MANY OF THOSE ADDRESSES HAVE A CENTRAL THEME IN COMMON, AND
ONE WHICH WE ALL DO WELL TO REPEAT.
YOU WHO GRADUATE TODAY ARE CUSTODIANS OF A
VITAL TRADITION,. A TRADITION ESSENTIAL TO THE WELL~BEING OF THIS OR ANY OTHER NATION
DEDICATED TO SELF-GOVERNMENT.
THE BENEFICIARIES OF HIGHER EDUCATION HAVE A SPECIAL
RESPONSIBILITY TO FOCUS THEIR INTELL!GENCE, THEIR CRITICAL SKILLS, THEIR LEARNING
AND THEIR MORAL INSIGHT ON THE GllAVE CHALLENGES BEFORE US.
THAT IS THE MANDATE YOU
CARRY AND THE OPPORTUNITY YOU CONFRONT.
TO COMMENCE IN 1969 IS TO BEGIN YOUR CAREERS AT A MOMENT OF UNPRECEDENTED UNCERTAINTY IN OUR NATIONAL LIFE.
THE BOUYANCY AND HOPE WHICH SHOULD MARK
THIS OCCASION OFFER STARK CONTRAST TO THE TENSION AND DEPRESSION WHICH ENVELOP OUR
NATION.
THE SPIRIT OF REASON AUD HUMANITY WHICH ANIMATES A GREAT UNIVERSITY, THE
SPIRIT WHICH HAS INSPIRED THE FORWARD MOVE?-IENT OF CIVILIZATION ITSELF, IS CLOUDED BY
THE BRUTALITY AND INHUHANITY WHICH BLIGHT THE EARTH.
AS WE CONTEMPLATE AMERICA'S CRUEL DILEMMAS, IT IS EASY TO BE DISILL~~
SIONED.
INDEED, IT IS EVEN FASHIONABLE.
IN OUR TIME, AS IN ALL THE AGES PAST, THE~
ABOUND THE CYNICS AND PESSIMISTS WHO DENOUNCE THE BROTHERHOOD OF-THE HOPEFUL AS FOOL:ISH, WHO DERIDE THE FRATERNITY OF THE ACTIVE AS FUTILE.
DO NOT CONSTITUTE REALISM.
BUT CYNICISM AND PESSIMISM
I HOPE AND I TRUST THAT YOU AND YOUR PEERS WILL HAVE THE
WISDOM TO DISCERN THE DIFFERENCE.
TO BE SURE THERE ARE PLAUSIBLE GROUNDS FOR THE GLOOMY VIEWS OF THE WORLD
WHICH YOUR GENERATION WILL INHERIT AND WHICH IT IS -CALLED TO TRANSFORM.
HOME AND WARS ABROAD ARE NOT A LIKELY BASIS FOR OPTIMISM.
RIOTS AT
POVERTY IN EVERY CONTINENT,
INJUSTICE IN EVERY NATION, SOCIAL DISCORD IN EVERY STATE, THESE ARE GRIM OMENS.
MUST BE FACED AND THEY MUST BE 'RELIEVED.
THEY
-2-
YET THOSE WHO SEE ONLY THESE FEATURES OF THE TERRAIN AR£ AS MISTAKEN AS
THOSE WHO WALLOW IN A SEA OF PERSONAL EUPHORIA.
BOTH GROUPS ARE EQUALLY DESERVING
OF SIR FRANCIS BACON'S TRENCHANT COMMENT:
TIIBY ARE ILL DISCOVERERS
THAT THINK THERE IS NO LAND,
WHEN THEY SEE NOTHING BUT SEA.
I AM CONVINCED THAT THE DRASTIC CHANGES WHICH HAVE SHAKEN THE SOCIAL AND
PHYSICAL ORDERS OF THIS PLANET DURING THE FIRST TWO THIRDS OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
CAN PORTEND A GOLDEl-:J AGE FOR MANKIND.
YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN CAN INAUGURATE THAT ERA.
IT IS NOT ONLY THAT THE HUMAN RACt HAS ACQUIRED A GROWING MASTERY OF THE MATERIAL
UNIVERSE, A MASfERY WHICH CAN ENABLE ALL MEN TO HAVE THE MATERIAL NECESSITIES OF
LIFE.
WHILE MODERN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ARE BY NO MEANS UNMITIGATED BLESSINGS,
THEY DO PERMIT US TO FACE THE FUTURE WITH THE REASONABLE EXPECTATION THAT WE CAN,
WITH PRUDENT MANAG~mNT, MEET THE PHYSICAL NEEDS OF ALL THOSE ON EARTH.
M_9REOVER,
THEY HOLD SOME PROMISE OF CORRECTING THE UNWANTED BYPRODUCTS WlitCH THEY THEMSELVES
GENERATE.
THUS, IT IS THROUGH RESEARCH THAT WE HAVE THE GREATEST HOPE FOR CONTROL-:-:
LING THE ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION WHICH HAS ARISEN FROM APPLICATtON OF MODERN TECH~
NOLOGY; IT IS THROUGH RESEARCH THAT WE MAY HOPE TO FIND CURES FOR THE PHYSICAL AND
MENTAL TRAUMAS WHICH ARISE FROM THE STRESSES OF MODERN SOCIETY; IT IS THROUGH RESEARCH THAT WE MAY EVEN BE ABLE TO FIND SOME OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE SAFEGUARDS AGAINST
THE ACTUAL USE OF THE DESTRUCTIVE TECHNOLOGY WHICH DEFINES THE NUCLEAR AGE.
YET IT IS NOT THE PHYSICAL PROSPECTS RAISED BY CONTEMPORARY SCIENCE
WHICH LEAD ME TO BET ON THE FUTURE.
--TO BET ON YOU.
I BELIEVE THAT THE-TRULY EN-
COURAGING TRENDS FOR THE INHABITANTS OF SPACESHIP EARTH ARE SOCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL IN NATURE.
THE TRENDS TO WHICH I REFER ARE RUNNING MOST STRONGLY IN THIS
COUNTRY AND THEY ARE EPITOMIZED BY MEMBERS OF YOUR GENERATION.
THESE TRENDS ARE
COMPLEX AND DIFFICULT TO DESCRIBE BRIEFLY, BUT I WOULD SUGGEST THAT THEIR PRINCIPAL
EFFECT IS TO INCREASE OUR COLLECTIVE CAPACITY TO ADAPT TO SOCIAL CHANGE.
AMONG THE YOUNG ELITE OF AMERICA, THOSE WHO WILL BEAR THE MAJOR RESPONSIBILITY FOR GUIDING THIS NATION THROUGH THE TURBULENCE WHICH LIES AHEAD, COMPLACENCY IS GIVING WAY TO CONCERN, APATHY TO INVOLVEMENT, SELF-SACRIFICE.
WHILE YOU
HAVE BEEN GROWING UP, A VAST SHIFT IN SOCIAL ATTITUDES HAS BEEN UNDERWAY IN THIS
COUNTRY.
WE ARE BECOMING, IN MY CONSIDERED JUDGMENT, A FUTURE-ORIENTED SOCIETY, A
NATION ACUTELY AWARE OF THE PAST FAILURES AND PRESENT DEFECTS AND DETERMINED TO ALLEVIATE THEM IN THE YEARS AHEAD.
-3-
WHEN COMPARED WlTH THE UNCERTAINTY AND ANXIETY WHlCH Al.WAYS ACCOMPANY
SIGNIFICANT CHANGE, ''THE GOOD OLD DAYS AND THE GOOD OLD WAYS" HAVE -POWERFUL APPEAL.
BUT
IF ONE SUCCUMBS UNCRITICALLY TO THAT APPEAL, THE PRACTICAL RESULT IS TO GLOSS
OVER THE SHORTCOMINGS OF THE EXISTING SOCIAL ORDER AND TO DENY THE POSSIBILITY OF
IMPROVING IT.
ONE IS DRAWN TO RESIST CHANGE ON THE GENERAL ASSUMPTION THAT IT MAY
NOT BE HELPFUL, RATHER THAN TO ACCEPT OR DISCOURAGE' CHANGE ACCORDING TO A PRAGMATIC
APPRAISAL OF !TS PROBABLE EFFECTS IN COMPARISON WITH THE STATUS QUO.
AMERICANS HAVE BEEN LESS CONSTRAINED BY TRADITION THAN OTHER PEOPLES,
BUT I BELIEVE THAT THE ATTITUDES NOW COMING TO PREVAIL IN OUR SOCIETY ARE FAR MORE
RECEPTIVE TO CHANGE THAN THOSE WHICH DOMINATED IN PAST DECADES.
FURTHERMORE, THERE
IS DEVELOPING A HEIGHTENED AWARENESS OF THE INEQUITIES WHICH STILL PLAGUE OUR SOCIETY AND A STRONGER DETER11INATION TO MAKE THE CHANGES NECESSARY TO DEAL WITH THEM.
I
BELIEVE THAT THE OUTCOME WILL BE A MORE RESPONSIVE AND A MORE RESPONSIBLE COMMUNITY.
THIS PSYCHOLOGICAL REVOLUTION HAS ITS PARALLELS IN OTHER COUNTRIES,
BOTH IN THE WEST AND IN THE EAST.
IT IS OF THE UTMCST CONSEQUENCE TO US ALL THAT THE
SOVIET UNION, AS THE OTHER POWER WITH PRIMARY INFLUENCE ON THE QUESTIONS OF WAR AND
PEACE, HAS SHOWN THAT IT TOO IS ADAPTABLE TO THE REALITIES OF OUR TIME.
UNTIL
FORMER PREMIER KHRUSHCHEV REPUDIATED THE LENtNIST DOCTRINE OF THE INEVITABILITY OF
WAR BETWEEN CAPITALIST AND COMMUNIST STATES, THE RISK OF A THERMONUCLEAR ARMAGEDDON
WAS REAL AND INCREASING.
THAT RISK HAS NOT DISAPPEARED -- FAR FROM IT -- BUT THE
SHIFT IN SOVIET ATTITUDES HAS MADE POSSIBLE A NUMBER OF CONSTRUCTIVE INNOVATIOMS IN
THE INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL SYSTEl-1.
THERE CAN BE NO DOUBT THAT THE REALIZATION THAT NUCLEAR WAR WOULD BE
~UALLY SUICIDAL HAS CONTRIBU'IED SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE POSSIBILITIES OF PEACEFUL AC
COMMODATION BETWEEN MOSCOW AND WASHINGTON.
ONE MAY HOPE THAT A SIMILAR MATURITY WILL
EMERGE IN CHINA, AS THE CHINESE BECOME MORE FAMILIAR WITH THE AWESOME INPLICATIONS
OF THE NUCLEAR FORCES THEY ARE DEVELOPING.
PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT RESULT OF THE ALTERED PSYCHOLOGY OF SOVIETAMERICAN RELATIONS HAS BEEN THE RESTRAINT SHOWN BY BOTH COUNTRIES DURING THE STRUGGLE IN VIETNAM.
HOWEVER BRUTAL AND PAINFUL THE WAR IN SOUTHEAST ASIA HAS BEEN, THE
SEEDS OF GLOBAL STRIFE WHICH IT CONTAINS HAVE NOT BEEN ALLOWED TO SPROUT.
REJOICE AT WHAT HAS HAPPENED
TAINLY CAUSE FOR PRAYERFUL GRATITUDE.
NO ONE CAN
IN VIETNAM, BUT WHAT HAS NOT HAPPENED IS CER_:THE PRUDENCE EXHIBITED BY THE UNITED STATES
AND THE SOVIET UNION CAN PROVILE US TIME TO IDENTIFY AND DEVELOP OUR MUTUAL INTER:
ESTS, AND IN THOSE MUTUAL INTERESTS LIES THE WORLD"S BEST CHANCE FOR LONG-_TERM SECURITY AND PROSPERITY.
-4I MUST TELL YOU OF MY DEEP APPREHENSION THAT THIS DAWNING PERCEPTION OF
OUR MUTUAL INTERESTS IS THREATENED BY THE MOST MENACING TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS
IN SOME YEARS.
TEGIC ARMS RACE.
WE AND THE SOVIETS ARE ON THE VERGE OF AN OMINOUS ROUND IN THE STRAUNLESS WE CAN TOGETHER MUSTER THE POLITICAL WISDOM TO SUCCEED IN
THE IMPENDING ABMS CONTROL NEGOTIATIONS, A WHOLE NEW GENERATION OF WEAPONS WILL SOON
BE UPON US, THREATENING THE STABILITY OF THE NUCLEAR BALANCE AND THE STRENGm OF THE
PEACE.
THE CENTRAL PROBLEM IN THIS REGARD IS THE EMERGENCE OF THE SO-CALLED
MIRV SYSTEMS WHICH BOTH THE SOVIET UNION AND THE tmITED STATES ARE P!JRSUING.
THESE
SYSTEMS WOUU> RAPIDLY MULTIPLY THE NUMBER OF WARHEADS WHICH EACH SIDE'S ROCKETS COUL~
DELIVER.
IF THEY ARE IN FACT'DEPLOYED THEY WOULD INCREASE THE CAPACITY OF BOTH
SIDES TO ATTACK THE OTHER SIDE'S RETALIATORY FORCES.
IN PERIODS OF EXTREME CRISIS
THERE COULD BE HEIGHTENED DANGERS OF PRE-EMPTIVE ATTACK. AS EACH SIDE HAS TO WORRY
THAT IF IT DOES NOT STRIKE FIRST THE OTHER MAY DO SO.
THIS SITUATION IS NO RECIPE
FOR SECURITY, AND COMPARED TO IT, THE QUESTIONS RAISED CONCERNING ABM SYSTEMS PALE.
I STRONGLY FEEL THAT WE NEED TO INITIATE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE SOVIET
UNION AT THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE MOMENT, TO SEE IF IT IS POSSIBLE TO FOREGO SUCH DESTABILIZING WEAPONS ON BOTH SIDES.
A NUMBBR OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE JOINED ME IN
URGING THAT, IN THE MEANTIME, BOTH SIDES SUSPEND FURTHER FLIGHT TESTS OF MIRV SYSTEMS.
AT THE SAME TIME I HAVE PROPOSED AND HOPE THE SENATE WILL ADOPT A PLAN TO AVOID COMMITTING THE UNITED STATES TO DEPLOYMENT OF AN ABM WEAPONS SYSTEM AT THIS TilfE' WHILE
PERMITTING EXTENSIVE TESTS AND EVALUATION OF THE RADARS, COMPUTERS, AND ASSOCIATED
ELECTRONICS FOR SUCH A SYSTEM.
SUCH RESTRAINT ON OUR PART, WOULD I BELIEVE, CONTRIBUTE SUCCESS OF THE
PLANNED NEGOTIATIONS.
IT WOULD BUY A LITTLE TD-fE IN WHICH TO EXPLORE POSSIBLE AR-
RANGEMENTS WITH THE SOVIET UNION FOR PREVENTING THE WASTEFUL AND~SINISTER COMPETITION
IN ARMS IN WHICH WE HAVE BEEN LOCKED FOR SO MANY YEARS.
ONLY BY DEVISING SUCH ARRANGEMENTS CAN WE AND THE SOVIETS HOPE TO STEM
THE FLOW OF NATIONAL RESOURCES INTO UNPRODUCTIVE MILITARY INVESTMENTS.
ONLY BY STEM-
MING THAT FLOW WILL WE BE ABLE TO CONCENTRATE OUR ENERGIES AND INVESTMENTS ON THE
PRESSING SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC NEEDS WHICH AFFLICT BOTH COUNTRIES.
WE MUST NOT ALLOW
THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SLIP THROUGH OUR FINGERS.
A DIFFERENT KIND OF PSYCHOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT HAS EVOLVED ON THE
DOMESTIC SCENE.
HERE AT
nmm
THE DISPOSITION HAS BECOME NOT ONE OF CAUTION AND RE-
STRAINT, BUT OF RAPID AND ENERGETIC ACTION TO PROMOTE SOCIAL CHANGE.
ATTITUDE HAS COME INCREASINGLY TO THE FORE IN THE LAST DECADE.
THE NEEDS OF THE NATION.
THIS ACTIVIST
IT IS WELL-MATCHED TO
THE NEW ACTIVISM HAS BEGUN TO ZERO IN ON THE CRITICAL RE-
QUIREMENTS OF MODERN AMERICA, ON THE PRESSING NEED TO IMPROVE LIFE IN OUR URBAN
-sCENTERS, TO RELEIVF THE LINGERING INJUSTICE FROM WHICH TOO MANY SUFFER, TO PROVIDE
A DECENT STANDARD OF LIVING FOR ALL CITIZENS.
THE UPWELLING OF SOCIAL CONCERN IS CREATING A NEW ETHIC FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
IF I JUDGE THE MATTER CORRECTLY, THE NEW ETHIC WILL RETAIN THE TRADI-
TIONAL AMERICAN REVERENCE FOR THE INDIVIDUAL PERSONALITY BUT IT WILL TEMPER THE
HARSHEST OVERTONES OF OUR PURITAN HERITAGE.
THAT HERITAGE HAS TENDED TO SEE INDIVI-
DUAL FAILURE IN THE ECONOMIC SPHERE AS A REFLECTION OF PERSONAL CORRUPTION AND HAS
TENDED TO DISCOURAGE COMMUNITY ACTION TO ASSIST THE DISADVANTAGED MIDIBERS OF SOCIETY.
MR. DOOLEY ONCE OBSERVED THAT THE PURITANS HAD CELEBRATED THANKSGIVING
TO GIVE THANKS FOR BEING PRESERVED FROM THE INDIANS AND THAT WE CELEBRATE IT TO GIVE
THANKS FOR BEING PRESERVED FROM THE PURITANS.
HIS CONCLUSION THAT WE HAVE BEEN SO
PRESERVED WAS PREMATURE, FOR WE HAVE NEVER FULLY SHAKEN THE PURITAN SUSPICION THAT
AN INDIVIDUAL WHO COULD NOT PROVIDE FOR Hil1SELF WAS NOT QUITE WORTH BEING PROVIDED
FOR.
WE ARE BEGINNING TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE OPERATION OF A Cm.1PLEX ECONOMY
OFTEN WREAKS HAVOC ON THE FORTUNES OF INDIVIDUALS.
THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIIl OWN,
SOME PEOPLE HAVE LITTLE OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME SELF-SUPPORTING, MUCH LESS TO 1fAKE A
FULL CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIETY.
WE ARE BEGINNING TO PERCEIVE THE REALITY OF POVERTY IN AMERICA. A REALITY COMPOUNDED OF INADEQUARE EDUCATION, ~YNEMPLOYMENT, MISERABLE HOUSING, AND MALNUTltITION.
RECOGNITION OF THESE FACTS HAS BROUGHT INCREASING NUMBERS OF AMERICANS
TO SUPPORT THE PRINCIPLE THAT SOCIETY HAS AN OBLIGATION TO ITS LESS FORTUNATE MEMBERS.
AS THIS PRINCIPLE WINS WIDER ACCEPTANCE, AND AS AMERICA'S ABUNDANT RESOURCES
MAKE POSSIBLE A LARGER INVESTMENT IN PROGRAMS TO ATTACK THE ROOT CAUSES OF POVERTY,
THE POSSIBILITIES FOR EFFECTIVE SOCIAL REFORM RISE PROPORTIONATELY.
CLEAR, WORKABLE
SOLUTIONS TO THESE PERENNIAL PROBLEMS ARE NOT YET IN HAND, BUT MANY OF THE CENTRAL
DIFFICULTIES HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AND PROMISING APPROACHES ARE BEING EXPLORED.
THE EMERGENCE OF THIS NEW PERSPECTIVE ON POVERTY IS A WATERSHED IN OUR
HISTORY, BUT NO ONE CAN STATE WITH CONFIDENCE EXACTLY WHAT WILL BE REQUIRED OF US,
OR OVER HOW LONG A PERIOD OF TIME, TO SUCCOR THE DISTRESS WE NOW PERCEIVE.
THAT IS
WHY THE ACTIVIST BENT OF YOU AND YOUR GENERATION IS SO ESSENTIAL TO OUR COUNTRY.
THE
TASK OF DESIGNING AND IMPLEMENTING A SOUND STRATEGY TO COPE WITH THESE MOMENTOUS PROBLEMS IS BOUND TO TAKE OUR BEST EFFORTS FOR MANY YEARS.
THE NATION DESPERATELY NEEDS
A SPECIAL BREED OF TOUGHMINDED IDEALISTS, MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE PREPARED TO ENTER THE
LONG CAMPAIGN WHICH LIES AHEAD.
-6FRESH TROOPS ARE NE.EDED IN ALL THE FIELDS OF SOCIAL SERVICE.
WE WILL
HAVE TO FIND DEDICATED AND INSPIRED TEACHERS TO UNDERTAKE THE DIFFICULT BURDENS OF
INSTRUCTION IN THE GHETTO SCHOOLS.
TO CONTROL THE SELF-DISRUPTIVE TENDENCIES OF
MANY OF OUR DISADVANTAGED FAMitIES, COMPETENT AND CREDIBLE SOCIAL WORKERS WILL BE
NEEDED.
TO HELP MAP THE WAY OUT OF THE CLUSTER OF DILEMMAS WHICH FRUSTRATE MILLIONS
IN OUR CENTER CITIES,
HISTORY.
WE
MUST TRAIN AND EMPLOY THE MOST CAPABLE URBAN PLANNERS IH
IN ALL THESE FIELDS AND OTHERS, THE CHALLENGES OF THE COMING DECADES WILL
DEMAND A TOTAL COMMITMENT 'FROM THOSE BRAVE ENOUGH TO ACCEPT THEM.
BUT A CONSTRUCTIVE ATTACK ON THESE CRUCIAL SOCIAL ILLS WILL REQUIRE MORE
THAN INDIVIDUAL COMMITME?-ITS TO SPECIALIZED PURSUITS, HOWEVER WORTHY THOSE PURSUITS
MAY BE.
EACH AMERICAN WILL HAVE TO GUIDE HIS SERVICE BY CONSTANT REFERENCE TO THE
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS OF A FREE SOCIETY.
WE MUST HAVE, AS WALTER LIPPMAN SO ELOQUENT-
LY ARGUED A DECADE AGO, A REVIVAL OF APPRECIATION FOR A PUBLIC PHILOSOPHY IN THIS
COUNTRY, A RENEWED RESPECT FOR THE PUBLIC INTEREST.
IT WILL NOT SUFFICE, IN A NATION
WHOSE CITIZENS HAVE DEVELOPED A HITHERTO UNKNOWN INTERDEPENDENCE, FOR EACH MAN TO
PURSUE HIS Ot~~ DESIRES WITHOUT REGARD TO THE RIGHTS AND NEEDS OF OTHERS.
TO FUNCTION AS A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY AMERICA WILL IIAVE TO DEVISE NEW
MODES tOR THE VOLUNTARY COORDINATION OF THE MANIFOLD ACTIVITIES WHICH ENGAGE THE
ENERGIES OF HER PEOPLE.
THIS WILL BE THE SUPREME T)J:ST OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT,
BUT IT WILL ALSO BE THE ULTilfATE CHALLENGE TO ALL THE INSTITUTIONS WHICH COMPRISE
THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
BUSINESS, LABOR, CHURCHES, UNIVERSITIES, FAMILIES, AND INDIVI-
PUALS IN EVERY SPHERE OF OUR NATIONAL LIFE MUST LEARN TO ACT IN FULL CONSCIOUSNESS
OF THE IMPLICATIONS OF THEIR ACTIONS FOR OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY.
TO STATE THIS IS TO STATE THE OBVIOUS PREREQUISITE OF LIFE IN A MODERN
NATION.
OUR POLITICAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC ORGANIZATION HAS GROWN SO COMPLEX THAT
~ACH OF US SURVIVES QUITE LITERALLY AT THE MERCY OF DOZENS OF OTHERS.
BY THE SAME
TOKEN EACH OF US HAS COME TO HOLD A KIND OF VETO POWER OVER THE HAPPINESS AND WELLBEING OF MANY OF OUR FELLOW CITIZENS. ALL OF US ARE DRIVING DOWN A CROWDED HIGHWAY,
AND THE FATE OF EVERY PASSENGER IS LINKED TO TlIB BEHAVIOR OF EVERY OTHER.
WE MUST
SURELY LEARN TO GUIDE OURSELVES, FOR THERE IS NO INVISIBLE HAND TO DO THE JOB FOR US.
THE ODDS ARE GOOD THAT MOST OF YOU WILL BE HERE TO GREET THE NEXT CENTURY.
BETWEEN NOW AND THE YEAR 2000, AMERICA AND THE OTHER NATIONS OF THE WORLD WILL
UNDERGO THE MOST STUPENDOUS CHANGES IN ALL THEIR HISTORY.
CAN TELL YOURS HOW TO GRAPPLE WITH THE FUTURE.
NO ONE FROM MY GENERATION
PERSONAL FULFILLMENT DOES NOT COME
OUT OF A DO-IT-YOURSELF KIT, ANY MORE THAN SOCIAL PROGRESS PiOCEEDS FROM A PAT FORMULA SET DOWN BY THE ELDERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
-7-
IT IS NOT SO MUCH THE RADICAL INNOVATIONS OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AS
THE CHANGES IN HUMAN ATTITUDES AND INSTITUTIONS WHICH WILL SHAPE THIS FUTURE.
IF WE
ARE TO BUILD A BETTER WORLD FOR OURSELVES AND OUR POSTERITY, WE MUST FIND OUR SALVATION, NOT IN MOTHER NATURE, BUT IN HUMAN NATURE.
IN THIS PERPETUAL QUEST YOU HAVE A VERY SPECIAL CONTRIBUTION TO MAKE.
THE GRADUATES OF THIS DISTINGUISHED UNIVERSITY JOIN THE COMPANY OF THOSE WHO UNDERSTAND THATt THOUGH OFTEN FLAWED, THE HUMAN PERSONALITY IS CAPABLE OF MIGHTY DEEDS.
THIS IS A FAITH WHICH ALL AMERICANS NEED.
PROSPERITY AND ESSENTIAL IN ADVERSITY.
IT IS A FAITH HELPFUL IN
WITHOUT THIS FAITH THE ASPIRATION.OF MEN TO
BE FREE MUST PERISH; WITH IT THAT ASPIRATION WILL FUEL A SURGE OF HUMAN ACCOMPLISHMENT
THAT WILL CAPTURE THE FUTURE AND MAKE IT OUR CWN.