Rachel Maddow gave the commencement speech yesterday at Smith College. Likely or not, the speech had to do with "Bar Room Smasher" Carrie Nation, a hatchet-wielding enemy of alcohol.
Maddow's remarks include mention of government officials snorting meth off a toaster, where drinks with orange juice come from, the AMC Gremlin and the KFC Double Down sandwich. Maddow started by noting that Carrie Nation achieved her dreams, and America suffered through 13 years of fatal, stupid Prohibition as a result.
"Some dreams are bad dreams. . . . Hopefully life is long. Do stuff you will enjoy thinking about and telling stories about for many years to come. Do stuff you will want to brag about."
And this:
"Gunning not just for personal triumph for yourself but for durable achievement to be proud of for life is the difference between winning things and leadership. It is the difference between nationalism and patriotism. It is the difference between running for office and devoting yourself to public service. It's agreeing that you are part of something, taking as your baseline that you will not seek to reach your own goals by stepping on the neck of your community."
If you have trouble with the video player above, you can find the full speech, not embeddable, here. While you're there, make sure you see the Barbie story -- it's after the videos.
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my favorite line from your speech: personal triumph is overrated. And of course do stuff you're proud of (advice I've given my kids since they were little). As someone who graduated over 30 years ago, your words speak truth to power. Thank you.
Agree. Concur.
Rachel's speech was good. You know who else did a fantastic commencement speech? JK Rowling, when she spoke to graduating class of Harvard 2008. It was about the benefits of failure and the power of imagination, I watch it when I am doing something creative and need a motivating boost.
Pt 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkREt4ZB-ck
Pt 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nm28K-Dgfxs
Pt 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cElk8cQk2VY
On being a Harvard graduate and American:
"...Your nationality sets you apart. The great majority of you belong to the world's only remaining superpower. The way you vote, the way you live, the way you protest, the pressure you bring to bear on your government has an impact way beyond your borders. That is your privilege, and your burden. If you choose to use your status and influence to raise your voice on behalf of those who have no voice, if you choose to identify not only with the powerful but with the powerless; if you retain your ability to imagine yourself into the lives of those who do not have your advantages then it will not only be your proud families who celebrate your existence; but thousands and millions of people whose reality you have helped change. We do not need magic to transform our world. We carry all the power we need inside ourselves already, we have the power to imagine better."
I graduated under that speech of J.K. Rowling's, and it was good, moving and well-targeted (though she was too far away to see well without the helpful TV), and encouraged me to be ambitious enough to fail. But now I envy my good friend who got *this* speech for commencement. How is it that Rachel Maddow's wit only adds weight to her statements, yet makes me happy to hear them? It's interesting that the two speeches take very different views on personal goals but I think one can fit them together.
I was struck by the bit about firm morality in decisionmaking and expecting the same of the people important to one. That takes so much courage to do, even to advocate! It's wonderful to see how she radiates biting sincerity on her own show. Forgive my gushing, as I am a new fan (first exposure was through Ezra Klein).
That was a great speech. I wanted to be there :)
Hmmm, everyday I like Rachel Maddow even more. Now how is that possible? And I love the way she chuckles to herself although I mostly understand what is making her smile. Ah, the irony of it all. Kudus to you Rachel - you are the bomb.
Is there any way you'd talk for NYU'11? Inspiring stuff.
I really would like to see Rachel as President. Rational, intelligent, with an excellent ability to get her points across in a straightforward understandable manner, and a deep understanding of what is important for the health and well-being of the country and its people. What more do we want? After Barack's run is over (2016) it will be her time.
I would hate to see her soiled like that. She could do it no doubt (if she wanted) and she could do public service better than Obama. But to do that, there would still be deals to be made with the Devil to do what she must. I think she would be at the disadvantage of being the only honest soul in the room.
She would do better and live longer with her soul intact at the right hand of someone she believed in who warranted her trust. Anyone with her in their braintrust would be a big step closer to formidable. Nes pas?
This, of course, calls to mind the Douglas Adams quote:
"Anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job."
I feel like I can reasonably give Maddow the extremely high compliment that I don't believe she could ever get herself elected President.
As I said earlier, I'd hate to see her making the deals with the Devil that the job requires. I fear that those kinds of compromises come too easily to Obama.I was just reading in The Nation that he's getting ready to cut Social Security in his second term so he can make more deals with the Devil...i.e. in return for which Conservatives will allow him to raise certain taxes. Its hideous to contemplate. I recommend reading the article.
nice speech.
one thing I'd add. I think that it was during prohibition that it became acceptable for women to drink.
I also must differ about cheating on your spouse, not that I am condoning it. It is not a simple thing. I won't go into details but for that the question is "Why am I thinking about this?" At any rate I do not equate it with the rest, having lived through it.
Thanks for posting this. I enjoyed it a lot. Made me tear up . Lordy, I'm old!
Truly inspiring advice for all college grads. The greater good is truly more important than personal achievement.
When I heard Rachel Maddow!!! would be the commencement speaker at my alma matter this year, I wowed I would do anything to go and hear you. I have loved your show from day one. My husband and I packed up our 3 year old and 10 month old and drove from Rhode Island at the crack of dawn to arrive at Smith by 9am.
To say it was worth it is an understandstatement. It was an amazing and inspirational speech. You were funny and brilliant. I was thrilled to see and hear you in person and I felt so proud that Smith had the good sense to select you as speaker this year. This is a memory I will cherish for a life time. Thank you!
I was too far away, but Smith is my alma mater, too--and I stayed home from the commencement at the university where I teach to watch this speech! It was a wise choice. And I chatted online while watching with my niece who is Smith '14, and SO proud of her alma mater-to-be....
's wonderful. 's marvelous. During the speech, even dark clouds gathered quickly above to eavesdrop. I particularly liked it when someone blew a party Horn in approval to something she said and Rachel enthusiastically requested: "Can you do that again?" Thank You, Rachel. :)
Great speech Rachel! Well done!
My Grandpa owned a saloon, and strived to stay above water during prohibition. He had the double gas tanks one for gas one for booze. We have heard the stories of his knowing Al Capone and Baby face Nelson. My family elders tell those stories with a sense of embarrasment while expressing a smirk. It is amazing what he had to do to keep his saloon/restaurant open and fight the political fight. My cousin was the President of Howard University. He fought to build the Library, and worked closely with Roosevelt, and Booker T. Washington in the education of African Americans, and spreading the word of the Methodist church. I wonder if my Grandpa was the black sheep :).. Both were political fights in there own right, at different times in history and two very different causes. I am very proud of the history, whether it be freedom of education for all or a cold one after a long day, and what my Grandpa thought was one of the dumbest laws ever enacted. I think it comes down to what you feel is fair in life. Whether you just want to complain about it or actually do something to change it.
And I thought the speech would be about Beneath the Valley of the Dolls...
Awesome^2 speech.
Fantastic, Rachel!! I wish you had been my comencement speaker...but we're the same age, so that wouldn't have worked out! Great speech...the Smith grads are very lucky!
The future enters into us, in order to transform itself in us, long before it happens.
Rainer Maria Rilke
Thank you Rachel
awesome speech
We just updated the video to include embedding.
I hope our website can handle it. We have already had 5000 views!
The many small, kind, unrecognized deeds of ordinary people is what enriches our lives and our nation; stay educated, stay informed and VOTE! Rachel, thank you as always!
I'm so glad to see Dr. Rachel Maddow bring light to this thing that happened with prohibition. It's good that alcohol is legal and regulated now, that's why shady people aren't hanging around the jr high selling it to kids, no they are selling the illegal stuff. The guy at liquor store usually takes cash, not the stereo someone stole. Non violent law abiding people are making profits from alcohol instead of gangsters. Isn't it funny how that works. A lot of folks don't understand this and the criminal world does not want them to and probably some of the law enforcement who's job depends on keeping things illegal. I could see You were a little nervous but You did good. You are so humble, a DJ - You forgot to mention that You do have the Dr. title credentials to the front of your name. Rock On Rachel
Gotta ask - especially given the venue. Shouldn't Rachel have been introduced as "Dr. Rachel Maddow"?
I am constantly awed by her.
Smith doesn't use "Dr." title--all faculty are "Ms." and "Mr."
I'm a big fan of Rachel's show. In my opinion it was a good speech, but not a great one.
I graduated from law school on Friday, and I'm going to work for an agency that provides free legal representation to low-income clients in September. My commencement address was from a state legal aid director, and he talked about giving of yourself for the greater good. His speech and Dr. Maddow's made me feel even better to go into public service. Thanks, Dr. Maddow!
Prohibition? Is that like making smoking pot illegal when people are going to do it any way.?
As usual, you never cease to amaze and inspire, Rachel!