Interesting Commencement Address

The other day I was bored and surfing the TV. I came across a channel that was re-broadcasting keynote addresses from various Colleges and Universities. As I hit the channel, Gen Tommy Franks, an alumnus, was about half way through his comments at the University of Texas, Arlington, on May 12, 2006.

The thing that caught my attention initially was the fact that he wasn?t using a tele-prompter or reading from a script. Very articulate. Didn?t slur or stumble on words. Sentences were complete, except where interrupted by applause.

Of the part of the address that I did see/hear ignited interest in the entire speech. A search on the www failed to find a transcript. I e-mailed the Public Affairs Office at UT-A asking for a source, hard copy or on-line, and within a day they thanked me for my interest and advised me they had now put the transcript on their web site. Great immediate response.

Now before anyone gets ?political? on me, check this remark from that speech:

?Six years ago, late one evening my phone rang and I picked it up. The voice on the other end said, ?How would you like to be a four-star general?? I said, ?Oh, yeah.? I said, ?I?d like that Mr. President.? I said ?Mr. President? because that?s what I called Bill Clinton.?

?It?s an interesting thing that many in our country will associate me with George W. Bush because of my service since 9-11-01. Probably, the reason for getting along with him was the fact that I didn?t owe him anything because it was Bill Clinton who gave me my job.?

Some other tid bits from that speech:

?Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much. I never cease to be amazed at wonderful introductions like that. From time to time when I hear such an introduction like that, it makes me think about entering politics. The blessing is that the thought doesn?t last long. Although I would tell you it would be so cool to stand here and say, ?Hi, I am Tommy Franks and I approved that message.?

?If I have a regret, it is only that you are so terribly young. The implication being that I am so terribly??? Look, were I your age and I had it all to do again, next time I?d get it right.?

?I have been a Maverick all my life. I have a friend who recently told me, ?Franks, if you?re not living on the edge, you?re taking up too much room.? Class of ?06, as you move forward with the rest of your lives, you?re going to need to be on the edge because you?re going to be leading.?

?This is America and this is the beginning of your time?.the complexity, the difficulty, the issues, the recriminations. Many, many challenges and great opportunities lie before you. Everyone here, this faculty, your families, your friends have great confidence in you and so do I.?

?Graduates, it?s all yours. It?s on you. God bless you, your families and our country.?

Full speech....worth the read: http://www.uta.edu/public-affairs/pressreleases/page.php?id=1718