November 6, 2004
Macalester College, St. Paul, Minnesota
Thank you very much, Brian. Acknowledging your most generous citation, I quote Euripedes --- in Iphigenea, he wrote, " Good men hate those who praise them, if they praise them too much." Friends, don't you believe it!
Fellow Pericleans and friends: This has been quite a day. I left home at 4 o'clock this morning, arrived here at 9, attended two sessions with students, had lunch in the Board Room, tangled with faculty in the library, returned to an intellectual free-for-all in the Board Room, now end the day with dinner and, as icing on the cake, graduate to the proud estate of a Macalester alumnus. All in one day. At this rate, I should have a great future. Or, perhaps I should quit while I'm ahead!
Yes, this truly has been a wonderful day. I thank you Brian, and I thank Macalester for the great personal honor. For all of us, I thank Kurt Schmoke for the inspiration of his keynote words. Also, on behalf of Project Pericles and all Pericleans, I thank the Macalester community for so graciously and generously hosting this conference. And also, please join me in acknowledging the architects and builders of this Conference, Project Pericles Executive Director Karen Holt and her Executive Assistant Heather Ohaneson, in magnificently cooperative association with our Macalester partner, Karin Trail-Johnson and, in absentia, with my two right arms in New York, Lauren McGrail and Mary Sivak. Will the two Karens and Heather please stand up.
In April of last year, when we, as ten pilot Pericleans met for the first time, the focus was very much on establishing who we are. We defined our mission and characterized our collective role with three verbs--to advocate--to facilitate--and to inspire. Today, our charter as pilot Pericleans is further empowered, as we welcome nine more enthusiastic and committed colleagues. With this conference, our focus has been redirected from who we are, to what all of us are doing to develop and promote our Periclean commitment--to "Putting it All Together."
For these two days, it's been exciting to hear the imaginative range of initiatives you are creating, individually and cooperatively, to enrich your Periclean Programs. Among many such creations, there's Allegheny's great idea " Model Campaign USA" --- a concept that Allegheny students and faculty have cooperatively designed and activated with four local high schools. Conceived and developed under Professor Dan Shea's direction at Allegheny's newly-established Center for Political Participation, the concept may well become a Periclean project for nationwide replication. Also outstanding --- the daring project sparked by Elon University's Professor Tom Arcaro. Undertaken by an Elon class whose students are formally identified as Periclean Scholars, the project is well under way to study and prepare a documentary on the dire problem of AIDS in Namibia. The project also seeks to enlist support and facilitate means for relieving the profound suffering of the Namibian people.
Reflect for a moment on these and other experiences that have been formally and informally shared at this conference -- and the relationships that have developed among us. What better reasons could we have to expect that students, faculty and, indeed, all institutional constituencies, in coming years, will challenge and extend the elastic limit of their Periclean enterprise. This morning, I had an intensive interview session with students -- which I thoroughly enjoyed. However, retrospectively, I can't be objective without conceding the limitations of my wit and knowledge. The truth is, we've got some mighty smart overachieving interlocutors in this dining hall. To all of you, my sincere compliments. Your comments and questions were better than my answers.
Also to the students, I'm sorry I could not be here yesterday for your brainstorming session about organizing our " Debating for Democracy " project. I am told that your comments and recommendations have qualified you as primary architects as well as essential protagonists of the program. The lively discussion that preceded this dinner made that clear. I truly believe -- and I hope you do too --- that the future of American democracy can be conditioned by the thoughtful substance and vigor of your Periclean debates. In that faith, I have a dream! I see the finals of perhaps an annual competition of Periclean advocacy taking place in the Supreme Court Building in Washington, moderated by the Chief Justice --- with the finalists dining in the White House as guests of the President.
It is also a pleasure to note -- on every pilot Periclean campus, faculty members of all disciplines are currently engaged in our program to develop a range of Civic Engagement Courses -- courses that, without disturbing their essential disciplinary substance, appropriately reflect their connection with relevant issues of social and civic concern. We intend that these CEC courses will serve as examples, not only for Pericleans, but for faculty nationwide, to connect the classrooms of all colleges and universities with an awareness of Periclean objectives.
Last week, in preparing my thoughts for this evening, I was, perhaps like most of us, uptight about the coming election. I was enormously proud of the students on all Periclean campuses, including our newest Pericleans, who were actively making their Choices, and raising their Voices. But, with the outcome in doubt, I couldn't know whether my thoughts tonight would be happy or philosophic. Well, now I know --- I think they should be both. Our democracy has spoken with civility, has provoked a comprehensive ventilation of issues and has inspired an excellent turnout of voters -- particularly of young voters. With these happy and philosophic thoughts, my congratulations to all of us. No matter how we voted --- I believe all of us won.
Although I could wish that my wisdom were less seasoned, I would still like to add the perspective of my advanced years. I remember well the days, going back to the thirties of the last century, the depth of the great depression. There was no such thing as social security, Americorps, Medicare, Pell grants, equal opportunity, unemployment insurance, and other social supports of government. Civic leaders who proposed them were frequently labeled by respectable opposition as Communists, un-American, seeking to destroy our Constitution. I couldn't vote --- even had I been 18. Still, I was a persistent young activist with friends who you might identify as primordial Pericleans. Over the years, I have seen how our democracy has resolved these civic issues -- not perfectly, but significantly --- and, today, these resolutions in principle are generally accepted as basic values of our society -- even by the senior people who cursed their establishment. And, I'd bet, their grandchildren stand with you today.
I heard Sam Bell, Jose Gonzales and Rachel Hinson earlier today express their disillusionment with the election outcome, especially after having manifested their strong Choices and persuasive Voices in the political process --- along with thousands of Periclean and millions of non- Periclean students. To them, I say -- take courage and keep the faith -- time, history and democracy are on your sides.
But, as Pericleans, we also know that our commitment to civic and social responsibility continues. I hope you will agree that our Choices must be made and our Voices cannot be silent until our victory translates into realities ---- realities that no child is being left behind, that college educations are affordable for all students, that all Americans have proper healthcare and social security, that our environment is no longer abused, that our taxes are equitably assessed and paid, that privacy, human and personal rights are systemically respected, that our country regains the free world's regard and moral leadership.
These realities are associated with the legacy of Pericles --- a legacy of commitment to democracy as the medium for expressing personal conscience, promoting human values, and effecting social change. As the spirit and substance of this conference attests, we can take inspiration from our progress and accomplishments, pride in our commitment to claim the legacy of Pericles, and faith that we will succeed.
On that note, I want again to thank our Macalester colleagues for being such wonderful hosts, to thank all of you for coming, and for contributing to two successful days of spirited interaction. I wish you Godspeed, and declare this conference adjourned.
