Think about the state of our country right now; Do you believe that speeches from the past can predict our country? I most certainly do. In a commencement speech by Colin Powell presented for Howard University in 1994, Powell talks about several adversities and issues, such as freedom of speech at Howard University, the moving forward of several countries, having pride in your race and heritage, and how if you want to succeed in life, you must be prepared to go through copious of adversities and challenges. I believe that with this speech and the contents of it, a message was purveyed stronger than what Powell intended, carrying past this university and completely into future generations, even more so now than ever. Powell’s main topics to
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Powell specifically uses Howard University and its policy on freedom of speech as an example, talking about while it has had its controversy, it’s overall policy allows for the freedom to talk about both sides of an issues, whether it be positive, or negative. A sample you can take from this text is Powell’s quote, “The First Amendment right of free speech is intended to protect the outrageous word, and not just comforting platitudes, too mundane to need protection.” This proves that even nowadays, freedom of speech should not be subdued, even if it is controversial or “offensive.” That we as Americans have the right and the obligation to hear people out, regardless of their differentiating viewpoints on stances and subjects, and even if we have to sit back and evaluate if this is wrong or right, we as a people have the ability to do that. With all of the censoring of “offensive” and “demeaning” talk today, a safe space culture nation, these words carry true, showing that while you may not agree with what is being said, you as an American have the right to agree or disagree, and that is a beautiful …show more content…
While these events are now out of date, relations with other countries in our modern era such as Russia, the Middle East, and even China, are not as “peachy keen” as most Americans would like. Powell talks about how Mandela went from being a prisoner for twenty seven years, to becoming the President of South Africa, uniting not only the black Africans, but the white Africans as well, even becoming and inviting three jailers from the prison that Mandela was in. To quote Powell, “In these two historic events, intractable enemies of the past have shown how you can join hands to create a force of moral authority powerful than any army and which can change the world.” This quote not only carries meaning then, but even now, with the more recent talks of relations with Russia and China, two countries that while have been tame with us recently, have also proven to have its less than agreeable differences with in the past. While the road to better relations with these nations and other nations in the future may not come quickly, it is never too late to start making amends and forming lifelong pacts that can change the outcome of the world for the
Powell specifically uses Howard University and its policy on freedom of speech as an example, talking about while it has had its controversy, it’s overall policy allows for the freedom to talk about both sides of an issues, whether it be positive, or negative. A sample you can take from this text is Powell’s quote, “The First Amendment right of free speech is intended to protect the outrageous word, and not just comforting platitudes, too mundane to need protection.” This proves that even nowadays, freedom of speech should not be subdued, even if it is controversial or “offensive.” That we as Americans have the right and the obligation to hear people out, regardless of their differentiating viewpoints on stances and subjects, and even if we have to sit back and evaluate if this is wrong or right, we as a people have the ability to do that. With all of the censoring of “offensive” and “demeaning” talk today, a safe space culture nation, these words carry true, showing that while you may not agree with what is being said, you as an American have the right to agree or disagree, and that is a beautiful …show more content…
While these events are now out of date, relations with other countries in our modern era such as Russia, the Middle East, and even China, are not as “peachy keen” as most Americans would like. Powell talks about how Mandela went from being a prisoner for twenty seven years, to becoming the President of South Africa, uniting not only the black Africans, but the white Africans as well, even becoming and inviting three jailers from the prison that Mandela was in. To quote Powell, “In these two historic events, intractable enemies of the past have shown how you can join hands to create a force of moral authority powerful than any army and which can change the world.” This quote not only carries meaning then, but even now, with the more recent talks of relations with Russia and China, two countries that while have been tame with us recently, have also proven to have its less than agreeable differences with in the past. While the road to better relations with these nations and other nations in the future may not come quickly, it is never too late to start making amends and forming lifelong pacts that can change the outcome of the world for the