New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg Calls For Independent Thought At Franklin And Marshall 2012 Commencement

New York City Major Michael Bloomberg powered past his disappointment after not receiving promised ice cream from Franklin and Marshall College President Daniel Porterfield to remind graduating students to live a life of service.

His 20-minute address centered on thinking independently and evoked the college's founders Benjamin Franklin and John Marshall to inspire students. Bloomberg said the men ignored conventional thinking and had few nice words to say about sitting congressmen. Skip to the six-minute mark, where the speech really starts.

Take an idea–and then turn it on its head. After all, if Ben Franklin had accepted the way things were, we might still be turning on the lights with a match…It may be lonely at times, it may make you unpopular at times, and it may be dangerous to your career. But independence lies at the heart of innovation, progress and pride. So the next time someone tells you why something can’t be done, or why something is the best idea or the worst idea, remember Ben Franklin and his spirit of independence.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story indicated that Franklin and Marshall College's president was Michael Porterfield. It is in fact Daniel Porterfield.

Take a look at other notable speeches coming up this month.

Loading Slideshow

• Walter Isaacson

  Steve Jobs biographer Walter Isaacson will speak at<a href="http://cooper.edu/about/news/2012-commencement-speakers-announced" target="_hplink"> Cooper Union's </a> commencement.

• Ira Glass

  The producer and host of This American Life will be the commencement speaker at <a href="http://towson.patch.com/articles/radio-host-baltimore-native-ira-glass-to-deliver-goucher-commencement" target="_hplink">Goucher College</a>.

• Steve Carell

  Steve Carell will speak at <a href="http://www.princeton.edu/commencement/" target="_hplink">Princeton University</a>'s commencement. We're really hoping he'll say "<a href="http://www.theofficequotes.com/season-3/business-school" target="_hplink">May your hats fly</a> as high as your dreams." I don't know if you can tell we are excited about this.

• Condoleezza Rice

  Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will speak at<a href="http://thescoopblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2012/03/condoleezza-rice-will-speak-at.html" target="_hplink"> Southern Methodist University</a>, where the George W. Bush library is being built.

• Cory Booker

  Cory Booker, the mayor of Newark, New Jersey, will give commencement addresses at both Hampton University in Hampton, Virg. (May 13) and Stanford University, in Palo Alto, Calif. (June 16-17).

• Soledad O'Brien

  CNN's Soledad O'Brien will speak at the <a href="http://www.udel.edu/udaily/2012/mar/Commencement031312.html" target="_hplink">University of Delaware</a>.

• Geoffrey Canada

  Geoffrey Canada will speak at the <a href="http://thedp.com/index.php/article/2012/03/geoffrey_canada_chosen_as_commencement_speaker" target="_hplink">University of Pennsylvania</a>. Canada is the founder of the Harlem Children's Zone, a comprehensive education and health program that aims to end the cycle of poverty for families in Central Harlem.

• Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.)

  U.S. Sen. Mark Warner will speak at <a href="http://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/first-lady-michelle-obama-address-2012-graduating-seniors" target="_hplink">Virginia Tech University</a>.

• Barbara Walters

  TV personality and journalist Barbara Walters will speak at <a href="http://www.yaledailynews.com/news/2012/apr/02/barbara-walters-speak-class-day/" target="_hplink">Yale University.</a>

• Lisa Jackson

  Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson will speak at <a href="http://www.nola.com/education/index.ssf/2012/03/epa_administrator_lisa_jackson.html" target="_hplink">Tulane University</a> and the <a href="http://www.washington.edu/graduation/" target="_hplink">University of Washington</a>.

• Jamaica Kincaid

  Novelist Jamaica Kincaid will speak at <a href="http://www.grinnell.edu/offices/confops/commencement/speaker" target="_hplink">Grinnell College</a>.

• Athol Fugard

  Playwright Athol Fugard will receive an honorary degree at <a href="http://www.juilliard.edu/newsroom/releases/current/2012-May_Commencement.php" target="_hplink">The Juilliard School's commencement</a>.

• James Earl Jones

  James Earl Jones will also receive an honorary degree at <a href="http://www.juilliard.edu/newsroom/releases/current/2012-May_Commencement.php" target="_hplink">The Juilliard School's commencement.</a>

• Adam Savage

  Mythbuster Adam Savage will speak at <a href="http://www.slc.edu/news-events/news/2012-03-14-commencement-speaker-adam-savage-nr.html" target="_hplink">Sarah Lawrence College.</a>

• Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)

  U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal will speak at the <a href="http://www.hartford.edu/arts-events/commencement/" target="_hplink">University of Hartford.</a>

• Soledad O'Brien

  CNN's Starting Point anchor will speak at the University of Delaware.

From our partners

• 25 Signs You're A Hot Mess | Thought Catalog - thoughtcatalog.com

Comments

[ricchh]

08:58 AM on 05/15/2012

But, Bloomy, throwing your beliefs on the stupid people in the south is just as bad.

[Whogivesafox]

09:26 PM on 05/14/2012

Bloomberg to minority grads: "Feet back and spread 'em>

[MrStat1]

12:32 PM on 05/14/2012

Why anyone would invite this Leftist to speak is beyond belief!

[Whogivesafox]

09:27 PM on 05/14/2012

You misuse of the word "Leftist" is beyond belief!!

[Spazzznyc]

08:41 AM on 05/14/2012

Would Ben Franklin have supported the stop and frisking of hundreds of innocent people by police and laws against smoking in public, taxpayer funded parks?

[nelandquinten]

04:12 PM on 05/13/2012

What a very proud and true statement. Thanks Bloomberg!

[bar1ed]

10:52 AM on 05/13/2012

Yes, ignore Term Limits, and just have them overturned!

[darksky01]

10:20 AM on 05/13/2012

thanks for sharing, asking permission share for my blog.Dark Sky

[Swedenworks]

09:32 AM on 05/13/2012

The mayor only supports independent thought when it is in line with his independent thought. Otherwise he's the "wise" patrician who knows better than anyone what's good for you. What a hypocrite!

[Absolute]

08:52 AM on 05/13/2012

Better that they ignore Mayor Nanny State.

[ennui the third]

07:32 AM on 05/13/2012

This little cipher has it all wrong...they should ignore people like HIM....go away already.

[rodnox]

10:19 PM on 05/12/2012

this is one of the most despicapble people on the face of the earth----sure he made it big---big deal---he spends his life squashing people and inflicting his way-----

[jonnyquest]

09:38 PM on 05/12/2012

Funny, Mayor Mike doesn't want independent thought when people disagree from him.

[JacksonHts]

08:46 AM on 05/13/2012

Yeah, be independent ....unless you work for Bloomberg News in which case the Cult of Mikey must be espoused 24/7....do what I say kids....

[hjo4]

09:29 PM on 05/12/2012

Americans ignore Congress at their own peril as we are witnessing today, only a person who is Anti American would advise citizens do such a thing. Our country was Created for the people by The People one of our problems as citizens is that we've ignored Congress and the policies they created and enforced that have us where we are today as a country,in the crapper.Shame on the tyrant and bully Billionaire Mayor Bloomberg.

[mail4warding]

08:21 PM on 05/12/2012

bloomie is a beeg deeque, but he does live some of what he preaches. Act independently like a dictator, take term-limits, turn it on its head and ignore all those who legislated term-limits. Then make nice and put everything back in its place. Beeg rich deeque.

[bklynnupe]

01:25 PM on 05/14/2012

love it!

[dknyc00]

08:00 PM on 05/12/2012

... I dont think billionaires like Bloomberg 'ignore' congress, instead they are constantly lobbying to get their ways with congress so why is Bloomb telling students to do something he and his rich friends don't do?!? Fishy shameless.