At my old alma mater, the University of Pennsylvania, the selected speaker
was Jodie Foster. Some of the graduates had complained before the ceremony
that they were "underwhelmed" with the choice, but I think some of them forgot that
she is a brilliant intellect on her own right, as well as a graduate of Yale.
Her speech was recorded, and can be heard here:
http://www.upenn.edu/video/podcast/pvn/foster.mp3 Even if you can't see the video, listen to the audio. It's very impressive speech.
Today's speech at my nephew's commencement is by John McCain. I won't
be sticking around for it. I do not need to hear a man who voluntarily spoke
at Jerry Falwell's school.
But I am jealous of those who were at my old school in Philadelphia. Jodie
Foster gave one tremendously inspiring speech--just glowing with intelligence,
humor, and the spark of one who really remembers what it was to have been the
shoes of those she was speaking to. From what I heard from the Penn campus,
after the speech, no one was underwhelmed any more.