Graduates: End the War and Help Get America Back on Track

Congressman Charles Rangel delivered the Bard College Commencement Address on Saturday, May 24. He urged the Class of 2008 to be the part of the generation that ends the war in Iraq, provides important social investments like education and healthcare to all residents and restores our democracy to the ideals that once made us the envy of the world.

First, let me thank Walter Swett, the class of '96, for making it possible for me to be here on this occasion, at this historic college. I want to thank the clergy, the trustees, the professors who have really groomed you to make you ready for this wonderful day. Of course your parents and friends some of whom probably thought it never would happen, but I know that they are excited on this wonderful, wonderful occasion.

I really think that this class is going to be one that's going to be historic in nature, and I'll tell you why. But, before I get into that, I hope you will turn to your fellow graduate to your left and right and just say to them "you ain't seen the last of me yet." And the reason I say that is because there's no question in my mind that, as you leave this great historic university, you are going to be embarking on an historic journey that this nation has never seen. And, we're going to need you, your courage, and your talents to make certain that our great country can once again be all that she can be and beyond.

When I think in terms of occasions in my life, and it just seems sometimes like just another day or that it would not be a part of any historic, memorable part in my life--the seeing off of my late brother in 1941 to fight the great war, the coming back and joining the military in 1948, the being shot and left for dead in Korea in 1950, the finishing of school and going off into the civil rights movement. When I marched with Dr. Martin Luther King from Selma to Montgomery, I cursed every step of the 54 miles; I had no clue as to how I got caught up in that. What I did not know was the greatness of Dr. Martin Luther King, this spirit of the movement, and that, as a result of that march, the 1965 voters act would be enacted, and as a result of that, it was possible for me to become a candidate, to go into the Congress and to be one of the founding members of the Congressional Black Caucus, which had only 13 members at that time, and now we have 43 members, and one who aspires to become the president of these great United States.

None of these events in my younger life appeared really to be historic. But, at 78, as I review where I've been, what I participated in, it becomes abundantly clear how many shoulders I stood on to be able to have the honor of addressing you today. And in the world that you're going out into, you will be the leaders in making certain that never again in your lifetime would you allow this great country to enter into a war that is so unjust, so immoral, or to allow a Congress to allow a President to do that.

Soon you'll be able to tell your children and your grandchildren that one of the very first things that you wanted to do is to get this great country back on track. To make certain that war is to be a defensive mechanism and not one just to show the power of a great country. You will be able to speak, with so much pride, of the dignity that you brought to our country abroad. You will be able to beam as foreigners say that it's your class that made the changes, your class that made the differences, your class that restored all of the wonderful things that this democracy had been so proud of in the past.

It will be on your terms that we will see our nation not depend on fossil fuel. It will be your ingeniousness that will bring the powers of our wind, of our sun, our geothermal, our oceans. It will be your genius to be able to say just how slow our country had been until the class of '08 came out and put us right on the straightforward feet.

At the end of the day, you will be able to say that when you graduated, 40 million Americans had no idea what healthcare was all about. They went to work everyday and still couldn't afford to have healthcare. That they were subjected to so many diseases that could have been prevented were not because of lack of preventive care. Even in terms of international trade, our workforce was not as successful as it could have been because healthcare was not universal. I can just here you exaggerating your contributions now and saying "it was our class that changed all of that."

And with the exciting personalities of [Bard President] Leon [Berstein] and the trustees and the exchanges that you've had in getting to know each other and in getting to know what potential America has, you are not going to tolerate people two million people locked up in jail when they could be out there working. And how so very proud I am of your university, not just to be concerned about you, but to be concerned about the lesser of our brothers and sisters, those who have no hopes and no dreams, those who are incarcerated, or those who really need more than anyone the tools to negotiate through their lives. And when we see the failure of our public school system, where half the kids are in the street without jobs, without hope, and we know that it's not only just the right thing to do, but it's in our national interest to have the strongest, most educated and healthiest workforce, and I can here it now, "there goes the class of '08, they said that they were the ones that changed it around."

And that's the way it should be because we have so many things that we have to accomplish. And just as were talking about the wars to end all wars, the immorality of what we're doing in Iraq today, in Vietnam before, that we will be able to say, as Leon had pointed out, that progress has been made, but we have taken one gigantic step backward. It's up to us as Americans to make certain that we change this on our watch, that we have the mutual respect of all people regardless of their color or their religion. That there is no glass ceiling on women or black folks or brown people in this country, because what makes us so great is the contributions that are made by so many people from so many different parts of the world.

And so it is with deep pride that I will be going home and telling my great, great kids and my grandkids that I was able to talk to the class of 2008. And if you think that you guys are doing something, you wait till they hit the ground. God bless each and every one of you. I'm so proud of what you're going to do.

Comments

[cheforacle]

Mr. Rangel, thank you for your decades of diligent service to our country. I must take this opportunity to say that, if the war in Iraq was so important to you, you should have endorsed Barack Obama who warned with a correct prognostication why we shouldn't start this war. For the sake of consistency, you should have supported him.

[ccortezz]

Charlie, can I call you Charlie? I can only assume that your endorsement of Sen. Clinton is for Political reasons, I understand that if she was to have won the nomination you did not want to be on the wrong side of the fence. The nomination is over and you are on the wrong side of the fence, it's time to demonstrate political courage.

[Hastings]

Rep. Rangel"s comments about Vietnam and Iraq are a perfect example of the false liberalism of the left when it come to foreign policy. I always find it odd when leftist claim that their antiprogressive, antidemocractic, and antihumanitarian positions on Iraq and Vietnam are moral when in fact they are just the opposite.

[cheforacle]

How are their positions "antiprogressive, antidemocratic and antihumanitarian"? We bombed hundreds of thousands of people in a war in Vietnam that had not done anything to us. We propped up a government in the south that was less popular than the VietCong in the north. The problem with Iraq is that it gave Al Qaeda a new breeding ground they did not have before. You make conclusory allegations without providing any explanations for your claims.

[Hastings]

If you only view United States involvement in Vietnam from the distorted and blatantly false history of the radical left then the United States was the evil aggressor. The truth is one must view the war in Southeast Asia within the context of the cold war. What happened in Korea, Berlin, and Cuba before we got involved in Vietnam? A big piece of the picture that the radical left always conveniently leaves out of their "history" of Vietnam was the aggression of the North Vietnamese Communist and their proxies the Vietcong. Don't you find this a little bit puzzleing?
As for Iraq, I will ask you a couple of questions. Why did the radical left oppose the removal of a mass mudering despot who was and most certianly would have been a threat to our national security? Why doesn't the radical left voice support for the freely elected constitutional democracy now ruleing Iraq? Have you ever heard anybody from the radical left or the "antiwar" movement condem the brutal mass mudering tatics of al-Qaeda and the Iranian proxie thugs? Sound familar?
The truth is that what we are trying to accomplish in Iraq is the most liberal and progressive foreign policy mission in the history of the United States.

[Chavez08]

When is Charlie Rangel going to get on the same page as the Democratic "Liberal" base and stop peddling these Bush-sponsored anti-worker trade agreements?

[VSamuels]

Sadly, the team they employed had this strategy---one designed specifically against the republicans to rally the Democrats---and none other when the fight ensued against Obama. And, for this reason and this reason only, I can not in good conscience support Hillary, because like Bush, she refused to look out in the here and now, and see anything other than what she wanted to see. We have for nearly 8 years experienced what such narrowly focused leadership gets us, and it is not something we should wish to continue. While I do share your sentiments for a new tomorrow in Iraq, I can't see how Hillary and her tunnel vision mentality would take us to such a place.

And as ironic as it may be, Hillary and George Bush share a fatal flaw; they both believe that their adherence to principle, over-rules random and unexpected factors which often transcends reality. Sure, we want our superheroes and movie figures to be these unwavering characters, but we need our politicians to be humble, human and capable of acknowledging circumstances which run counter to their viewpoint.

And, here is why this certain defeat will hurt so badly for Hillary, that she knew how to beat the republicans because they shared the same weaknesses; weaknesses she was more than willing to acknowledge in their examples, not her own.

[burnt]

thank you.

[VSamuels]

Soon you'll be able to tell your children and your grandchildren that one of the very first things that you wanted to do is to get this great country back on track. To make certain that war is to be a defensive mechanism and not one just to show the power of a great country. You will be able to speak, with so much pride, of the dignity that you brought to our country abroad. You will be able to beam as foreigners say that it's your class that made the changes, your class that made the differences, your class that restored all of the wonderful things that this democracy had been so proud of in the past.---Rangel
__________­__________­__________­__________­__________­__________­__________­________

In defense of Hillary & Bill Clinton they never expected to be staring defeat in the eye. They expected to move to the general and face down the big, bad republicans who they saw between them and redemption of their lost legacy. The miscalculation that has caused them to stumble was classic; in that they had only set their sights on fighting the republicans, not a fellow Democrat. Nothing else would then explain why they would set forth to demonize an equal number of Obama supporters---who would be needed to help them win, had their 'divisive' methods worked. (1)

[Barky]

Rep.. Rangel, Sen. Obama (the candidate you are not backing) gave the essence of that speech before you did. Now why dont you get America moving forward and switch your vote to the Senator so we can all get going with the general election.

[lastams]

Maybe Mr. Rangel can shed some light on the actions of our Congress in recent days.
God knows you won't hear of it in the media.
I would like an explanation of how this so-called do-nothing congress has managed to spend over two trillion tax dollars in the last six month.
This week alone the Congress will override the veto on the Farm Bill, spending billions on wealthy landowners pretending to be farmers, giving huge tax breaks to the timber industry, and extending subsidizes to race horses (the other white meat).
They have approved the supplemental spending bill after adding 10 billion in domestic spending to the 160 billion supposedly going to support the war effort in Iraq and Afghanistan. Much of the 160 billion however is earmarked for “special” Pentagon programs and will be used as a slush fund for projects not covered in the Defense Authorization Act of 2008; legislation which itself cost over 600 billion dollars, contained over one thousand earmarks, and was passed in the Senate by a vote of 91 to 3.
The House has already authorized another 600 billion for "Defense", or more accurately Defense contractors, in 2009.
600 billion Mr. Rangel!
Would that we actually had a do-nothing Congress instead of this bi-partisan porkfest,
and would that our media, at least occasionally, mention this disgusting display.

[LuckyKay]

Congressman Rangel,

As one of you constituents whose mother worked for you in your Harlem offices so many years ago I respect your service to the community over the last few decades. With that said, I'm enraged by your unwavering support for a candidate who has been nothing but divisive in this Democratic primary. Sen. Clinton has offended a huge portion of your district, many of whom voted for Obama (and whose votes were never counted). My suggestion to you would be to help heal the wounds she's inflicted on many in your district before you start "preaching" to millions of Americans on the war.

Sincerely,
Karen Abrams
Harlem, NY

[tyrdofwaitin]

Dear Rep. Rangel:

I too, am a Harlem resident --- and a neighbor of yours to boot. Don't preach to us about getting us out of the war: our next president, Barack Obama, will manage to get us there..

My question is: Why in heck do you continue to support a feckless candidate who has alienated large numbers of black folks in this Democratic primary contest? You put your money on the wrong horse. HRC is about the cynical past; Barack is about a better future.

Don't expect big favors from the next president nor the history books. You need him more than he needs you. And don't count on Barack's forgiveness; he's a good man and a good Christian, but he needed your assistance BEFORE the November election.

Rep Rangel: It's time you made room for more visionary leadership.

[Stirner]

Thanks! But hozabout mentioning the ONE candidate who voted against the war, against its funding and wants us out NOW (don't wait for things to settle down in and around Israel, they have been killing one another for at least the last 3,000 years), and wants to protect the U.S. Constitution from such as Bush and his neoconned Republicans? Come on, you know who I mean. Hint: initials are R.P.

[blackrome]

CHARLES: How about you do your job and make the entire Bush Admin do the perp walk.

[monique]

Congressman Rangel,

Thanks for the post.

Don't let the negative comments get to you. That is how it is here at Huffington Post if you fail to support the candidacy of Obama.

But I am with you, and Hillary Clinton. Thank you for supporting her. I am sure the pressure has been very intense to desert her. You obviously have strong convictions. So do I.

Keep up the good work.

[VSamuels]

Can it, Monique!

Rangel came here to speak so he obviously must be aware not everyone is in agreement with his position; and not everyone is directing their ire towards his statements, merely because they are supporting Obama. Clearly, Hillary and Bill Clinton were the Democratic brand at the onset of this primary, and through their joint actions they have proven the case against them; for us to believe that we can speak of a brighter tomorrow while watching these two leaders use divisive tactics, not only has to be defeated; but, it must be defeated.

For to have Hillary and Bill Clinton win the primary in such fashion would serve to make a mockery of truth, reason and common sense; that instead, reality like that under the present Bush regime is nothing more than what those in control and power, so deem it to be. Hillary had all the chance in the world to have been my leader, but she squandered it when she believed that I wished to pertake in her methods and approaches.

Sadly, for us Democrats we have become our own worse enemies; that some refuse to acknowledge the mistakes of Hillary and Bill, much like they themseles refuse to acknowledge.

[jsarets]

Congressman Rangel, I appreciate the fact that you were among the true American patriots that voted against the authorization of the Iraq War. It's too bad you couldn't have been more persuasive amongst your colleagues in the House.

I also appreciate your warning to the class of 2008 to never allow this sort of thing to happen again. However, the baby boomers who came of age during the Vietnam War apparently didn't apply the same lesson in 2002, and I doubt that my generation will be any different when we preside atop the power structure.

We were lied into WWI (Lusitania). We were lied into WWII (Pearl Harbor). We were lied into Vietnam (Gulf of Tonkin). We were lied into Iraq (9/11). All of our engagements in foreign wars start with the government perpetrating a massive fraud on the American people, and it will happen again and again and again. We never learn.

We always believe the Big Lie, and people like me will always be in the minority, branded conspiracy theorists whose beliefs are unpatriotic, irresponsible, and deserving of ridicule. We're soft, weak, terrorist-appeasing surrender monkeys. We undermine America's national security and endanger our men and women fighting for the freedom we don't seem to appreciate.

(continued)

[jsarets]

(page 2)

Or so they say.

Why is it so hard for the truth to prevail in American politics? Why are we so willing to waive our Constitutional civil liberties in the face of a marginal threat and so adamantly opposed to placing any societal burden on our economy in the face of an existential threat to human civilization as we know it? Why are we selling ourselves into debt slavery?

America is in the advanced stages of a systemic failure of its democratic processes. We're unable to distinguish the truth from the myth. We're unable to hold our representatives accountable. We're unable to demand substantive political analysis from our media outlets. We're unable to effectively self-govern, and our leaders are unable to put the interests of their constituents above their own political ambitions.

That's why, when my generation is old and gray, we'll be giving commencement speeches exactly like this one, in the futile hope that the next generation will finally take back the democracy that we yet again let slip further away from our grasp.

[dadw5boys]

A lie can circle the world before the truth has got it's shoes on.

[MariaHopeful]

I have a problem. It is one I really have to start working on. I must admit that I have tried before and failed miserably but I just must overcome this problem. My problem is this: There are a number of people whom I previously loved, liked and or respected that I just cannot stand anymore. It has gotten so bad that I have to really, really force myself to read their essays or to listen and or watch them speak. People like Bill Clinton, Tavis Smiley, Charlie Rangel, Terry McAuliffe, Stephanopoulous and the list continues. The first step in my recovery is to admit that I do have this problem. This seems like a laudatory speech just wish I could get over the fact that you, such a wise person, would choose to support Hillary Rodham Clinton in such an unhealthy way as was shown by your anti-Obama words earlier in the campaign. Too sad!

[monique]

Good luck with your problem.

Because you are correct -- it is a problem when you fail to respect that others can have a different opinion than you.

However, you are not alone. The problem is rampant amongst Obama supporters. If others do not agree with them and support their candidate, those Obama supporters feel compelled to attack, dismiss, disrespect, and accuse those people of things -- like being racist.

Good luck in your recovery.

[MariaHopeful]

You missed the point Monique. There are a number of supporters of Clinton whom I respect and admire. Maya Angelou, Evan Bayh even Allan Colmes (even tho he has allowed himself to become a doormat for Hannity) and others. My problem is with those who went out of their way to disparage Barack Obama someone who has done absolutely nothing to warrant the sort of vitriol that was directed at him. That is my problem.