by Mark Silva
President Bush, delivering the commencement address at Furman University in South Carolina this evening, noted a common link: "In the early 1930's, a student named Willa Martin graduated from the women's college that soon became part of Furman. Willa went on to marry my mother's 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,'' said Bush, with a requisite dose of humor in Greenville.
"My administration also has a Furman connection. One of the first people I see every morning is a Furman grad and my Director of National Intelligence: Admiral Mike McConnell, Class of 1966,'' Bush said of his daily intelligence briefer. "I asked Mike if he ever took part in the "Midnight Serenade." I would like to tell you what he said, but that information is classified.
"As you move ahead in life, you will find temptations and distractions that can take you off course,'' the president told the graduates. "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 Governor of Texas, I talked about the importance of a responsibility society,'' the president said. "And in my last commencement address as President of the United States, this seems a fitting subject to return to.
"Today, I am heartened to see that our country is seeing a resurgence of personal responsibility. And I am pleased that this resurgence is being led by many young people who are embracing bedrock values of faith and family.
"A culture of responsibility means serving others,'' he said. "Through the toil of generations and the grace of God, our Nation has been given much, and more and more Americans are recognizing our obligation to help those who have little.
"One of the most uplifting trends in our country is that volunteerism is near all-time highs. And we see that spirit of service here at Furman. 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. And through such works of compassion, you have learned early in life that nothing is more fulfilling than putting the needs of others ahead of your own. I thank you for what you have done to help your community and strengthen your country...
"I have seen the spirit of service in the 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, help former prisoners rejoin society, and inspire young people in inner city classrooms, ensuring they have the skills they need to live lives of hope and opportunity.
"I have seen the spirit of service in the 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 America - a kind and generous Nation that is meeting its responsibility to help the poor, the sick, and the hungry.
"I have 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. You will leave Furman 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 I am proud to be your Commander-in-Chief. ''
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Comments
Bush is in a word pathetic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=to2hIhXrRTk&feature=related
Posted by: Logic Prisoner | May 31, 2008 7:48 PM
His duplicity knows no bounds. The biggest bone-head decision in American foreign policy history, the Iraq War/Occupation, and he accepts no blame for loss of American lives, let alone, Iraqi lives. No blame for the tremendous loss of monies, upwards of 2 TRILLION DOLLARS, which includes the dastardly treatment of our Veterans, especially our Iraqi Veterans !! Shall we discuss the Katrina Disaster, still in progress, or how about the Mortgage Crisis. Unfortunately, I could go on and on, but I want to see the lengths to which the Ridiculous Republicans will try to justify, deny or plain out lie about of the Bush/Cheney blunders. So, I will end here. President Bush probably thought he was at the Comedy Store and he was working on a new routine !! That seems to be the only answer that makes any sense !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOP, BRING THEM BACK HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, Chicago | May 31, 2008 8:17 PM
"...resurgence of personal responsibility."
The deluded Chickenhawk-in-Chief wouldn't know personal responsibility if the Alabama Air National Guard walked up and slapped him in the face.
Can January 20, 2009 get here any sooner?
Posted by: Doug "Hussein" Zook | May 31, 2008 8:17 PM
That is LOL funny!
Posted by: KYJurisDoctor | May 31, 2008 9:36 PM
Bush: "Culture of Reponsibility"
Huh?
HERE'S AN IDEA BUSH, YOU DON'T INVADE A COUNTRY, KILL A FEW HUNDRED THOUSAND PEOPLE (INCLUDING 4000 OF OUR OWN TROOPS) AND THEN SAY "OOPS" WHEN YOU "DISCOVER" THERE IS NO WMD. WHAT YOU DO, IF YOU HAVE ANY DECENCY, IS MAKE A TEARFUL APOLOGY TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, THE IRAQI PEOPLE, AND THE WORLD, AND THEN YOU RESIGN!
THAT'S WHAT'S CALLED R E S P O N S I B I L I T Y, BUSH!
Posted by: John E | May 31, 2008 9:39 PM
Maybe all those "BUSH" haters should start taking responsibility for aiding the people who want us dead. It is not Bush who straps bombs around their wastes, and then walks into a crowd of people and blow everyone up.
These people love when you BUSH Haters talk,they play your videos and e-mail your comments to their followers. You see the REAL KILLERS ARE YOU BUSH HATERS. You have on your hands the blood of all those people that the bombs have killed.
The funny thing is if these people will blow you up too. The HATE YOU TOO. Just go over and say you hate their leader and see what happens to you.
Wake up, and admit it. They would Kill you if you said these things about their leader.
If you don't believe take a trip to Iran or Iraq and say the same things about them, and see what happens to you.
VJ Machiavelli
http:/www.vjmachiavelli.blog.spot.com
Posted by: VJ Machiavelli | May 31, 2008 11:50 PM
Best wishes to the Furman grads. W. Bush suggests to them to act responsibly?!?!? That is like Cheech and Chong, in the 70's and 80's, telling people not to do drugs. Bush's irresponsibility has killed too many, ruined too many families, caused too many suicides, and sent America--and life as we knew it--to the crapper. May we all survive W. Bush's kind of responsibility. Surviving Bu$$$hCo is like the Chinese farmers attempting to survive their government in reality, or in a Pearl S. Buck novel. Isn't that American-hating creep and his sinister puppet master out of the WH yet? Wish they'd take an early buy-out. It wouldn't hurt them. Their pockets are already lined for the future from their actions in office--after being not elected--but selected by the Supreme Court the first time. Then, the second time, held there by fear, big lies, and "the troops". Bush--how he irresponsibly used the troops for his own benefit while hating them so much by not protecting them or caring about a safe exit strategy, by not providing the best VA medical care, by not making it easier to screen for psych. needs, by forcing too many back breaking, family-ruining tours, then not wanting to pay for promised GI college benefits. Bush has a love/hate/use thing for the troops. Someone needs to do an ad blitz about responsibility for young people. Just show a picture of George W. Bush in his 'Mission Accomplished' suit with the words, "Liars are Losers". Or, "Chicken-Hawks Make Bad Deciders", Or, "Real Chimps Are More Responsible". Or, "The Office Doesn't Necessarily Make The Man".
Posted by: Vivian | June 1, 2008 12:23 AM
George Dubya Bush giving a speech on responsibility:
"I'll conclude with the golden rule of politics Karl Rove taught me - never ever admit errors or actually take responsibility for your incompetence. Blame it on the Arabs or the Persians or the liberals or the gays or the guy in the next cubicle. You should always keep your scapegoats ready to go at a moments notice."
Posted by: Anonymous | June 1, 2008 1:35 AM
"One of the most uplifting trends in our country is that volunteerism is near all-time highs."
...because folks are trying to help fix the country that YOU broke.
Posted by: Aunt Sam | June 1, 2008 8:07 AM
VJ,
You might want to surrender your 1st Amendment right to free speech to appease terrorists. Me? I'm keeping mine.
Posted by: Doug "Hussein" Zook | June 1, 2008 8:59 AM
Personal responsibility? Stop it. You're killing me.
Posted by: Irving Lewis "scooter" Libby | June 1, 2008 9:55 AM
What the hell? It's like Dr. Goebbels lecturing about the virtues of a free press.
Posted by: C.Morris | June 1, 2008 7:46 PM
There is a back-story at Furman involving presidential arrogance --
http://notionscapital.wordpress.com/2008/05/31/imperial-presidency-is-contagious/
Posted by: Mike Licht | June 1, 2008 8:08 PM
Sadly the "Culture of Responsibility" has been sorely lacking in his own administation.
Posted by: Miss T | June 1, 2008 9:15 PM