Scott Pelley delivered the 2025 commencement speech @ Wake University and it is an amazing listen.
Just go to the 22 min mark to see his honorary award of doctorate or to 26 min mark for his speech.
QUOTE: "Our sacred rule of law is under attack. Journalism is under attack. Universities are under attack. Freedom of speech is under attack, and insidious fear is reaching through our schools, our businesses, our homes and into our private thoughts." "Power can rewrite history with grotesque false narratives," Pelley warned, according to the HuffPost. "They can make criminals heroes and heroes criminals. Power can change the definition of the words we use to describe reality. Diversity is now described as illegal. Equity is to be shunned. Inclusion is a dirty word."
EDIT: I have been thinking on this since I watched it originally, I have rewatched it a second time with a focus on the audience. It is interesting to me the following observation.
I have always believed education is the great equalizer that allows people on both sides of the political spectrum, religious spectrum, legal spectrum to have intelligent conversations and when they do not agree on a point, can at least agree to disagree and still have a meal together.
My observation is that 1/3rd of the sitting students who are graduating have a I disagree with this guy 100%, another 1/3rd is I totally agree with this guy and the final 1/3rd is I agree with some, but not all.
In this, I see critical thinking skills in about 2/3rds of the kids and about 1/3rd that seem to just be going along with situation as once they get their diploma they are out of there.
It is interesting as I feel this speech is a call to action be you agree or not with him, it is a call to action to stand up for what one believes.
I hope that more folks stand up for what our constitution stands for and help get us back on the right footing in this global multi-cultural world we live in so that we can get back to our jobs, making money and finding a long-term solution to how folks can immigrate to this great country and work contributing.
It is time for folks to stand up and let us get back to the pleasures of our auto driven world imho.