The dutiful son has a pierced tongue. The student government president dresses like Morticia Addams. Where once we could identify who was who by the college, the color, the crew neck sweater, now the lines of identity are constantly blurred, in our perceptions and in the stages of your lives. This is disconcerting, difficult, and wonderful. Socratic is better than rote.
Discussion teaches more than dictums.
And paths set in stone are, we ve discovered, often rocky as we move along them. You are the children of peace, prosperity and pluralism, and you have done us proud. And by giving your parents, your grandparents and your neighbors a model of service, individuality, tolerance, adventure and risk-taking, you have already done great things. Camus wrote Real generosity towards the future lies in giving all to the present. Listen to your conscience and your best friend.