A Tale of Two Commencement Speeches

On the same day, no less!  

Barack Obama speaking to graduating cadets at the Coast Guard Academy in Connecticut on Wednesday, May 20, 2015.

"Climate change, especially rising seas, is a threat to our homeland security--our economic infrastructure, and the safety and health of the American people . . . We all know what needs to happen--it's no secret: The world finally has to start reducing its carbon emissions now. This is a place where we need you." 

Obama Recasts Climate Change as a Peril with Far-Reaching Effects (Julie Hirschfeld David, New York Times)

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaking at the Imam Hussein Military University in Tehran on Wednesday, May 20, 2015

"They say new things in the negotiations. Regarding inspections, we have said that we will not let foreigners inspect any military center."  

Iran's Supreme Leader Rules out Broad Nuclear Inspections (Thomas Erdbrink, David E. Sanger, New York Times). 

That President Obama could speak about global warming as a threat to our homeland security only a few days after the fall of Ramadi to Islamic State, seemingly oblivious to the defiance of Iran's Supreme Leader regarding the supposed "deal" John Kerry is negotiating with Iran suggests that this president is quite possibly delusional. 

"Fall Forward" (Denzel Washington)

I like this commencement speech by Denzel Washington (University of Pennsylvania, 2011). He seems sincere, humble, honest. The speech is sweet, funny, a little clumsy, but ultimately, quite moving.

I like his emphasis on faith, on persistence (even after failure), on trying things you don't feel comfortable doing (like speaking at commencement ceremonies). I like that he himself didn't quit, even when he almost flunked out of college. 

I like that he's a man of faith. Thank you, Lord, for this man, for this speech. It's a good message for this generation.