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inadequate. We need to bring business and industry into a leadership role in
problem-solving, along with government, at all levels.
And we must cultivate a new measure of understanding among the American
people--the realization, as Abraham Lincoln expressed it, that a House divided
against itself cannot stand.
We must live the self-evident truth set forth in our Declaration of
Independence--that all men are created equal.
Why do I speak of these matters here in a peaceful part of America and on
a campus where students have exhibited the self-discipline and sturdiness of
character which distinguish the responsible individual?
I do so because you are not only a part of America but people like you are
its backbone.
America's problems will not be solved by radical students who bring the
educational process to a halt or by faculty members who encourage violent student
activists or by black militants who talk of burning America down.
America's problems will be solved by people like you--if you will let
yourself become a part of those problems, get yourself involved.
We should not be afraid of change. We should be the architects of it. But
the architects of change who are to be admired are those who build, not those who
destroy.
Diogenes asked that he be buried on his face. When he was asked why, he
replied: "Because in a little while everything will be turned upside down."
Today's young people are, perhaps more than those of the past, the children
of change. You are impatient with the status quo, and properly so. Living in the
shadow of the bomb and the Vietnam War, you are looking within yourselves for
values and meaning.
It is here, in college, that you come to grips with many moral and
philosophical questions. You want the freedom to strive toward your own individual
goals in your own way--and you should have it. You want to be part of the
decision-making process in America--and you should be.
Anybody in this country who lumps all college students together as
irresponsible is badly mistaken.
Most college students simply want to stand for something--and they should.
They are seekers after the truth-and that really is what life is all about.
I am proud that in today's affluent society, most young Americans are more
interested in meaning and in basic values than in money.
(more)
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"ocrText": "-5-\ninadequate. We need to bring business and industry into a leadership role in\nproblem-solving, along with government, at all levels.\nAnd we must cultivate a new measure of understanding among the American\npeople--the realization, as Abraham Lincoln expressed it, that a House divided\nagainst itself cannot stand.\nWe must live the self-evident truth set forth in our Declaration of\nIndependence--that all men are created equal.\nWhy do I speak of these matters here in a peaceful part of America and on\na campus where students have exhibited the self-discipline and sturdiness of\ncharacter which distinguish the responsible individual?\nI do so because you are not only a part of America but people like you are\nits backbone.\nAmerica's problems will not be solved by radical students who bring the\neducational process to a halt or by faculty members who encourage violent student\nactivists or by black militants who talk of burning America down.\nAmerica's problems will be solved by people like you--if you will let\nyourself become a part of those problems, get yourself involved.\nWe should not be afraid of change. We should be the architects of it. But\nthe architects of change who are to be admired are those who build, not those who\ndestroy.\nDiogenes asked that he be buried on his face. When he was asked why, he\nreplied: \"Because in a little while everything will be turned upside down.\"\nToday's young people are, perhaps more than those of the past, the children\nof change. You are impatient with the status quo, and properly so. Living in the\nshadow of the bomb and the Vietnam War, you are looking within yourselves for\nvalues and meaning.\nIt is here, in college, that you come to grips with many moral and\nphilosophical questions. You want the freedom to strive toward your own individual\ngoals in your own way--and you should have it. You want to be part of the\ndecision-making process in America--and you should be.\nAnybody in this country who lumps all college students together as\nirresponsible is badly mistaken.\nMost college students simply want to stand for something--and they should.\nThey are seekers after the truth-and that really is what life is all about.\nI am proud that in today's affluent society, most young Americans are more\ninterested in meaning and in basic values than in money.\n(more)"
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