This was my sister's commencment, and I was incredibly fortunate to be there in person for this speech. Truly inspiring and thought-provoking. As my mom said on the way out, "this is why you always get a writer to do a big speech."
@@bedfordnhdonkey - It's a line from a West Wing episode, and it means you only get to be part of something, able to have input or an influence on what happens, if you show up and engage in the process. You don't show up, you have no say in what happens, nor any right to complain.
Sorry, full of himself? He's one of the best scriptwriters out there. He's sharing the way his education and experience at Syracuse prepared him for life. That's what they do.
Amazing, well-written, well-spoken speech. I come to this video a lot since my own commencement speech was so pathetic in comparison. This is the one I want to remember.
Great speech Aaron! Thrilled to hear him talk about taking class with Geri Clark-- she's such a character. And hey! Brewster-Boland got a shout out-- nice.
'Decisions are made by those who are show up' (said by CJ at Rock the Vote). And the bit about probable impossibilities is said by Sam when he realises he's going to be running for office in California.
This really motivated me, to do something, but I don't know what. I've got an urge for change, and I have for a long time, but I feel I'm too young to accomplish anything...
I love Sorkin, but I kinda wish he'd give attribution when he quotes someone. "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed it is the only thing that ever has" is from the brilliant anthropologist Margaret Mead. Sorkin swiped it for The West Wing too. Hey, it's okay to steal but how about giving a little credit where it's due? Easy to do in a commencement speech. Maybe some of these kids will look up Mead and learn more from her.
A prevalent tendency to disregard the limited mission of this power and duty should, I think, be steadfastly resisted, to the end that the lesson should be constantly enforced that, though the people support the government, the government should not support the people. The friendliness and charity of our countrymen can always be relied upon to relieve their fellow-citizens in misfortune.
Wonderful speech. I'm more Boston Legal than West Wing one but he's done some great stuff. The Newsroom struggles a bit but (another but) it's got some gems. Presumably, Georgetown is the college's sporting opponents (?), a bit like Charlton and Millwall in SE London.
Aaron, whatever may be the truth…no matter how many things I got wrong, if you’re gonna deny a good deal of dumbness pervading this whole operation, you’re dumb too. But you’re not and they’re and I love you
This has been repeatedly and quite lately demonstrated. Federal aid in such cases encourages the expectation of paternal care on the part of the government and weakens the sturdiness of our national character, while it prevents the indulgence among our people of that kindly sentiment and conduct which strengthens the bonds of a common brotherhood.
Since no one answered you, SU and Georgetown were big rivals when SU was still in the Big East conference, especially in basketball. Their games were legendary. Sorkin was poking fun at that.
IAmTDurden: "the people support the government, the government should not support the people" - seriously? we are all, the world over, abused by government, but we're supposed to support it and not expect to be supported? Nobody in their right mind says the government should take care of me anytime I scrap my knee. But evening the scales a bit in a very unfairly competitive society? That's just plain FAIR.
I can find no warrant for such an appropriation in the Constitution, and I do not believe that the power and duty of the general government ought to be extended to the relief of individual suffering which is in no manner properly related to the public service or benefit.
I love Aaron Sorkin. And this is, mostly, a very good speech. But he literally lifted at least three phrases from his own fictional characters and just grafted them into this address. He's often lifted lines from one of his works -- say, "Sports Night" or "The West Wing" and dropped them in another -- say, "The Social Network" or "Studio 60." It makes you want to say to him: "Aaron. Those were great lines. But leave them where they were. You can write new great lines. You're Aaron Sorkin."
And? Have you never watched yourself on video after you've given a 15 minute speech? You don't even realise that you 'rearrange' yourself. That secretly says more about you, than him as an ex coke addict.
I'm not sure what you meant by full of himself or why you think his faults are way worse than your own shortcomings. Perhaps it's you who is full of yourself and you're just deflecting. I hope that over the past five years you've grown up, and you've come to realise that the world does not revolve around your opinions.
You obviously were not paying attention. He told you several times that he was addressing a group of dumb people. Obviously that's all they were able to handle or understand at that point.
