Remarks by the President at Furman University Commencement

GREENVILLE, S.C.--(Business Wire)--
Paladin Stadium

Furman University

8:09 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Thank you very much. Mr. President.
President Shi, thank you for that kind introduction. Governor Sanford,
Senator Graham, Congressman Inglis, members of the Board of Trustees,
faculty, staff, members of the Furman community, parents -- and most
important -- the Class of 2008 -- thank you for this kind invitation
to be with you. (Applause.)

I congratulate the parents here who have sacrificed to make this
day possible. When your child graduates from college, it is a glorious
day for your family, and a pretty good day for your bank account.
(Laughter.) I know the graduates will join me in thanking you for your
love and support. (Applause.)

And I thank the members of the Furman faculty. I appreciate your
devoting your career to improving the lives of young people. I know
this is an institution where folks are encouraged to make their voices
heard. I, too, am a strong believer in free speech. And to prove it,
I'm about to give you one. (Laughter and applause.)

For four years, this campus has been your life. You've studied
hard, and I suspect some of you may have played hard. Along the way,
some of you may have wondered whether this day would ever come. Well,
it's finally here, and Laura and I send our heartfelt congratulations
to the Class of 2008.

I'm glad to be joined with my friend and outstanding leader of
South Carolina: Governor Mark Sanford, Class of 1983. (Applause.)
Governor, I'm not going to ask if you ever got caught "swimming in the
fountains." (Laughter.) As the President said, 25 years ago, the
Governor sat where you now sit -- as a member of the graduating class.
As it happens, as he mentioned, the commencement speaker that day was
my dad. Now, that means some at Furman will have heard graduation
speeches from two generations of Bushes. It's a great step forward for
the Bush family -- and a great step backward for your English
Department. (Laughter and applause.)

And as the President mentioned, I have other family ties with
Furman. In the early 1930s, a student named Willa Martin graduated
from the women's college that was soon to become part of Furman. She
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. (Laughter.)

My administration also has another Furman connection. One of the
first people I see almost every morning is a Furman grad and my
Director of National Intelligence: Admiral Mike McConnell, Class of
1966. (Applause.) I asked Mike if he ever took part in the "Midnight
Serenade." He said, I'd like to tell you, but that information is
classified. (Laughter.)

It's a special time in your life. And you're going to find it's a
time when you get a lot of free advice, some of it helpful, some of it
not -- like that one graduation speaker who urged the students to keep
their ears to the ground, their shoulders to the wheel, and their
noses to the grindstone. All I could think was that's a hell of a
position to be in. (Laughter.)

I also remember what it was like to graduate from college and look
out at the world before me. At the time, I must confess the last thing
on my mind was how to be a model citizen. Just ask my mother.
(Laughter.) Yet I found, as you will, the world has a way of helping
you to grow. Soon many of you will be earning a living and getting
married and raising families. As you move ahead in life, you will find
temptations and distractions that can take you off course. 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 the governor of Texas, I talked about the
importance of a responsibility society. In my last commencement
address as President, it seems a fitting subject to return to.

I'm heartened today to see that our country is seeing a resurgence
of personal responsibility. I'm pleased that this resurgence is being
led by many young people who are embracing bedrock values of faith and
family. These are values on which Furman and many other great
universities were founded. And as you leave this campus today, my call
to you is this: Strengthen this rising culture of responsibility in
America by serving others, contributing to our civic life, and being
accountable to your yourself and your families.

A culture of responsibility does mean serving others. Through the
toil of generations and the grace of an Almighty, our nation has been
given a lot, and more and more Americans are recognizing our
obligations to help those who have little.

One of the most uplifting trends in our country is that
volunteerism is at near all-time highs. And we see this spirit here at
Furman. I was impressed when I heard that 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. Through such works of compassion, you've
learned early in life that nothing is more fulfilling than putting the
needs of others ahead of your own. And I thank you for what you've
done for this community and for our country. (Applause.)

I saw the spirit of service in Greensburg, Kansas, which was
destroyed by a tornado last year. In the aftermath, a Greensburg
resident simply said: "My town is gone." And it was. But after the
storm receded, a wave of compassion arrived. First, family members
rushed in with aid. Then folks came from nearby towns doing their
duties to help their neighbors in need. And soon citizens across our
country rallied to help the people of Greensburg. I recently went to
Greensburg High School to deliver their commencement address, and I'm
pleased to report to you the town of Greensburg is recovering, and the
spirit of determination and compassion is alive and well in America's
heartland. (Applause.)

I've seen the spirit of service in 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, and help former
prisoners rejoin society, inspire young people in inner-city
classrooms, ensuring they have the skills they need to live lives of
hope and opportunity.

I've seen the spirit of service in 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 our country -- a kind
and generous nation that is meeting its responsibility to help the
poor and the sick and the hungry.

I've 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. (Applause.) You'll
leave this fine university 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 so is your Commander-in-Chief. (Applause.)

To all of you, my call is to make service to others a way of life.
Wherever you live, whatever you do, find a way to give back to your
communities. And however you choose to serve, you're going to learn a
great lesson, that the more you give, the more you'll benefit.

A culture of responsibility means contributing to our civic life.
I ask you to be citizens, not spectators, and help to build a nation
of virtue and character. You could strengthen our country by
participating in the democratic process. In recent years, we've seen
millions of people in places like Afghanistan, Iraq, and Georgia and
Ukraine risk their lives for the right to cast a ballot. These
courageous people should inspire us to take our votes just as
seriously. I know the democratic spirit is alive in our country
because there was a big vote recently -- the new American Idol got
about 55 million votes. (Laughter.) I hope we see even a bigger
turnout this November. For some of you, this will be your first
presidential election. I ask you to get involved in the process, and
do your duty and vote. By the way, if you're wondering who to vote
for, the Governor and I would be happy to offer a few suggestions.
(Laughter.)

You can strengthen our country by showing fiscal discipline in
your lives. It may sound funny coming from a visitor from Washington,
D.C., but it's important to your futures and the future of our
country. Many of you have debts from student loans -- it's an
investment that I expect you will find worthwhile. In the next few
years, you may find it tempting to amass more debt, particularly from
credit cards, on expenses that bring little long-term benefit. My
advice to you is not to dig a financial hole that you can't get out
of. Live within your means. And bear in mind that there are no
shortcuts to the American Dream.

Your Furman degree will open the door to a wide variety of career
options. One of the most noble paths you can take is a career in
public service. I know you probably look the debates in Washington and
in the political campaigns and conclude that public service isn't
worth it. That's a mistake. I've had my fair share of critics, but no
criticism can overcome the satisfaction of serving your fellow
citizens and pursuing great goals for our nation. If you choose a
career in public service, maintain the highest ethical standards,
bring honor to whatever position you hold, and always put the people
you serve ahead of yourself.

But public service is not just politics. It can include social
work and teaching and careers in the non-profit sector. There are
countless organizations across our country that devote themselves to
improving the lives of others -- such as the American Red Cross, or
Teach for America, or the Boys and Girls Clubs. These groups fulfill a
noble mission and they're a vital part of the responsibility society.

Others of you will make your careers in the private sector. If you
choose this path, take pride in what you do and work hard and bring
value to the enterprise you work for. And remember this: Our country
needs corporate responsibility, as well as personal responsibility. So
if you enter the business world, be honest with your shareholders, be
truthful to your customers, and give back to the communities in which
you live. And all of us have a responsibility to be good stewards of
the environment. (Applause.)

Finally, a culture of responsibility means being accountable to
your families and to yourself. I found family to be a source of great
comfort and strength. When people talk about my family, they often say
I inherited my dad's eyes and my mother's mouth. (Laughter.) But I got
far more from them than that. From my dad, I learned that a gentle
soul can also be strong. From my mother, I saw the blessings of humor
and honesty and unqualified love. And from the two of them, I got an
inspiring example of how a strong marriage can carry you through any
challenge. And what has carried me through the challenges in my life
has been the love and support of a wonderful woman named Laura Bush.
(Applause.)

My wish is that you find a partner in life who loves you, and
challenges you and comforts you and gives your life meaning. And if
you have the blessings of becoming a parent, I would like for you to
remember that the most important job you will ever have is to love
your child with all your heart. (Applause.)

In life there's going to be many temptations to distract you from
your responsibilities. Popular culture can give you the impression
that alcohol, drugs, or promiscuity can lead to fulfillment in life.
It's an illusion, and I urge you to reject it.

If you do fall short, know that it's never too late to recover and
get back on the right track. There was a time in my life when alcohol
competed for my affections, but I found salvation in my family and my
faith. There's no shame in recognizing your failings or getting help
if you need it. The tragedy comes when we fail to take responsibility
for our weaknesses and surrender to them.

And finally, you probably don't realize it, but you're role models
for others in your life, whether it's a little brother or sister who
looks up to you, or someone else who admires you. Positive role models
are greatly needed in this society. And I urge you to set a hopeful
example by leading lives of character and integrity. And if you do,
you'll be proud of who you are; you'll teach others around you that a
life of responsibility leads to a life of fulfillment.

In all these ways, your generation has an opportunity to show how
timeless values can be applied in a modern world. And as you do so,
history offers noble examples to follow, including many from right
here in South Carolina. From this state came a signer of the
Declaration of Independence who lost his fortune fighting for our
freedom, but never regretted the fight. From this state came the brave
colonel who drew a line in the sand against oppressive rule at the old
Spanish mission called the Alamo. And from this state came the child
of slaves who was among the first black women to be an advisor to
presidents.

And from this state came a young man who went off to serve his
country in World War II. His last name was Smith, and it happens his
first name was Furman. Private Furman Smith -- he never attended this
school, but he grew up right down the road. While on duty in Italy,
Private Smith's unit came under heavy fire. He fended off 80 enemy
soldiers to defend his wounded buddies. He died at the age of 19, with
his rifle still clutched in his hand. For the acts of courage and
character that cost him his life, Furman Smith was awarded the Medal
of Honor. Sixty-four years ago this very day, that young man carried
the Furman name into history. And now, in a very different way, so
will each of you. (Applause.)

May the values you learned here always guide your course. May you
always make the right choices. And may you always look in the mirror,
and be proud of what you see.

Congratulations. God bless you. (Applause.)

END 8:26 P.M. EDT

White House Press Office
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Copyright Business Wire 2008