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Texas A & M 2008 Commencement Address

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Chris Farris View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Chris Farris Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Texas A & M 2008 Commencement Address
    Posted: April/12/2008 at 16:34
Take a few minutes and read this advice to graduates. This Texas lawyer, himself recipient of an Honorary Degree, is obviously opinionated, but to say what he does, in a commencement address a couple of weeks ago, in front of a class of Texas A & M graduates, and especially the faculty, is amazing. I would have loved to be there just to see the faculty reaction.
 
 
Commencement Address (Texas A&M) Date: Thu, 24 Jan 2008 
  
 
This should be considered must-reading for every adult in North America.  It is extremely rare that anyone speaks the truth like this at any College or High School Commencement Address.  
Neal Boortz is a Texan, a lawyer, a Texas AGGIE (Texas A&M), and now a nationally syndicated talk show host from Atlanta .  His commencement address to the graduates of this years A&M class is far different from what either the students or the faculty expected. His views are thought provoking.


"I am honored by the invitation to address you on this august occasion.  It's about time.  Be warned, however, that I am not here to impress you; you'll have enough smoke blown up your bloomers today.  And you can bet your tassels I'm not here to impress the faculty and administration.  You may not like much of what I have to say, and that's fine.  You will remember it though.  Especially after about 10 years out there in the real world.  This, it goes without saying, does not apply to those of you who will seek your careers and your fortunes as government employees.

This gowned gaggle behind me is your faculty.  You've heard the old saying that those who can - do.  Those who can't - teach.  That sounds deliciously insensitive.  But there is often raw truth in insensitivity, just as you often find feel-good falsehoods and lies in compassion.  Say good-bye to your faculty because now you are getting ready to go out there and do.  These folks behind me are going to stay right here and teach.

By the way, just because you are leaving this place with a diploma doesn't mean the learning is over.  When an FAA flight examiner handed me my private pilot's license many years ago, he said, 'Here, this is your ticket to learn.'  The same can be said for your diploma.  Believe me, the learning has just begun.

Now, I realize that most of you consider yourselves Liberals.  In fact, you are probably very proud of your liberal views.  You care so much.  You feel so much.  You want to help so much.  After all you're a compassionate and caring person, aren't you now?  Well, isn't that just so extraordinarily special.  Now, at this age, is as good a time as any to be a liberal; as good a time as any to know absolutely everything.  You have plenty of time, starting tomorrow, for the truth to set in.

Over the next few years, as you begin to feel the cold breath of reality down your neck, things are going to start changing pretty fast...  including your own assessment of just how much you really know.

So here are the first assignments for your initial class in reality:  Pay attention to the news, read newspapers, and listen to the words and phrases that proud Liberals use to promote their causes.  Then, compare the words of the left to the words and phrases you hear from those evil, heartless, greedy conservatives.  From the Left you will hear "I feel."  From the Right you will hear "I think."  From the Liberals you will hear references to groups -- The Blacks, the Poor, The Rich, The Disadvantaged, The Less Fortunate.  From the Right you will hear references to individuals.  On the Left you hear talk of group rights; on the Right, individual rights.

That about sums it up, really:  Liberals feel.  Liberals care.  They are pack animals whose identity is tied up in group dynamics.  Conservatives and Libertarians think -- and, setting aside the theocracy crowd, their identity is centered on the individual.

Liberals feel that their favored groups have enforceable rights to the property and services of productive individuals.  Conservatives and Libertarians, I among them I might add, think that individuals have the right to protect their lives and their property from the plunder of the masses.

In college you developed a group mentality, but if you look closely at your diplomas you will see that they have your individual names on them.  Not the name of your school mascot, or of your fraternity or sorority, but your name.  Your group identity is going away.  Your recognition and appreciation of your individual identity starts now.

If, by the time you reach the age of 30, you do not consider yourself to be a libertarian or a conservative, rush right back here as quickly as you can and apply for a faculty position.  These people will welcome you with open arms.  They will welcome you, that is, so long as you haven't developed an individual identity.  Once again you will have to be willing to sign on to the group mentality you embraced during the past four years.

Something is going to happen soon that is going to really open your eyes.  You're going to actually get a full time job!

You're also going to get a lifelong work partner.  This partner isn't going to help you do your job.  This partner is just going to sit back and wait for payday.  This partner doesn't want to share in your effort, but in your earnings.

Your new lifelong partner is actually an agent;  an agent representing a strange and diverse group of people;  an agent for every teenager with an illegitimate child;  an agent for a research scientist who wanted to make some cash answering the age-old question of why monkeys grind their teeth.  An agent for some poor demented hippie who considers herself to be a meaningful and talented arist, but who just can't manage to sell any of her artwork on the open market.

Your new partner is an agent for every person with limited, if any, job skills, but who wanted a job at City Hall.  An agent for tin-horn dictators in fancy military uniforms grasping for American foreign aid.  An agent for multi-million- dollar companies who want someone else to pay for their overseas advertising.  An agent for everybody who wants to use the unimaginable power of this agent's for their personal enrichment and benefit.

That agent is our wonderful, caring, compassionate, oppressive government.  Believe me, you will be awed by the unimaginable power this agent has.  Power that you do not have  A power that no individual has, or will have.  This agent has the legal power to use force, deadly force to accomplish its goals.

You have no choice here.  Your new friend is just going to walk up to you, introduce itself rather gruffly, hand you a few forms to fill out, and move right on in.  Say hello to your own personal one ton gorilla.  It will sleep anywhere it wants to.

Now, let me tell you, this agent is not cheap.  As you become successful it will seize about 40% of everything you earn.  And no, I'm sorry, there just isn't any way you can fire this agent of plunder, and you can't decrease its share of y
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote supertool73 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/12/2008 at 17:24
Fantastic
Lifetime warranty and excellent customer service don't mean a thing when your gun fails during a zombie attack.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote pyro6999 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/12/2008 at 20:41
it so true to life and so many people dont realize that. well put the whole country needs that shot in the arm to wake up.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote helo18 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/12/2008 at 22:13
Excellent
To be prepared for War is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tahqua Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/13/2008 at 09:53
Good words, thanks.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ckk1106 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/13/2008 at 14:57
Excellent post, Chris.  I just hope those students took that to heart... and that faculty.  
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dogger Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/14/2008 at 07:23
Need many more commencement addresses like this - would be willing to bet that most opinions formed on university campus' have no relevance in the real world.
God save the Empire!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jonbravado Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/14/2008 at 07:55
simply brilliant. bravo.
 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote koshkin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/14/2008 at 15:36
That is very good.

I would love to see the faces of the faculty as he was talking.

ILya
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 3_tens Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/14/2008 at 16:18
Kneel%20Suckers
Truth has spoken. Will it be heard by any that need to listen.   
 I can hope but -- I also doubt. This is my curse.
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Now the rules have changed again.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Duce Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/14/2008 at 16:22
Duce
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote lucznik Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/14/2008 at 16:40
Originally posted by Duce Duce wrote:

http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/boortz.asp
Duce Wink
 
Quote It is extremely rare that anyone speaks the truth like this at any College or High School Commencement Address...

In fact, it is so rare that even this time it didn't really happen!Big%20Grin
 
 
Man, I love snopes.  Thanks Duce.
What if the hokey pokey really is what it's all about?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Chris Farris Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/14/2008 at 16:41
I hate Snopes, I liked the story a lot better when I thought it was true. Sad%20Pacer
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Duce Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/14/2008 at 16:46
If its on the Internet and it sounds to good to be true or you have just been contacted to receive 30 + million from Nigeria it may be a good idea to check snopes.
 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Chris Farris Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/14/2008 at 16:50
Damn it man, stop!  First the commencement address and now Nigeria. Really%20Sad
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Duce Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/14/2008 at 16:54
I am still waiting for the certified check from Nigeria, its supposed to be  on the Left Bank of the Nile according to my email from there.
 
Duce Big%20Grin
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote lucznik Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/14/2008 at 17:18
Actually, the best part was that, according to snopes, he wrote this faux commencement speech as a "protest for having never been invited to deliver a commencement address, despite decades of hosting radio talk shows."
 
Now remember what he said in his own "commencement address?"
Originally posted by Neal Boortz Neal Boortz wrote:

 Nobody owes you anything, except to respect your privacy and your rights, and leave you the hell alone.
 
 
What if the hokey pokey really is what it's all about?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dogger Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/14/2008 at 17:31
Still trying to get the hook out of my mouth.  Just when I thought sanity might prevail.
God save the Empire!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Steelbenz Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/17/2008 at 16:53
Don't worry about it Dogger, most of US have been had once or twice.  In the words of my friend CT "I'll save a seat on the short bus for ya."   Wink


edited for Quotation!!!


Edited by Steelbenz - April/17/2008 at 16:54
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote supertool73 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/17/2008 at 17:12
Originally posted by Duce Duce wrote:

If its on the Internet and it sounds to good to be true or you have just been contacted to receive 30 + million from Nigeria it may be a good idea to check snopes.
 
Duce  Thinking


So you are saying that check I got a few days ago from Mr. Song Lile from the Hang Seng Bank Hong Kong that was written out for $19,500,000 might not be real?  But damnit, I already bought a new house and a new truck, and one of those 80mm ATN scopes that I want so bad.   And I sent him $10,000 back, I mean it was the least I could do since he gave me nearly $20,000,000
What am I going to do.
Lifetime warranty and excellent customer service don't mean a thing when your gun fails during a zombie attack.

"A Liberal is a person who will give away everything they don't own."
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