27th Commencement Exercises at Queen Sirikit Centre.

A 3rd Millennium Challenge:

A Democratic Global Society or Demographic Enclaves of Divisiveness?

Dear Graduates, in assembly are members of the University Council, Vice Presidents, deans, chairs, faculty and distinguished guests. All are here to honor and to congratulate you on reaching this significant milestone in your lives.

No matter how many times I address a new graduating class, the first thing I want to say to them is “Congratulations.” You have traveled a long and arduous way to reach this moment in your lives: Now you are here, you made it. Now you are fullfledged adult members of the Assumption University Family.

This Commencement is coming to an end. In this case, ‘commencement' means an awarding of degree ceremony. ‘Commencement,’ however, also means a start or beginning, so before we end this ceremony and you start your new lives as Assumption University Alumni, I would like to use my prerogative and this forum to share with you some of my thoughts as they relate to you...

We began year 2000 with great fanfare and celebration. I wonder what will the people of Earth be celebrating in the year 3000? Will we find a democratic global society or demographic enclaves of divisiveness? Shall we find global citizens living in harmony and seeking self-fulfillment? Or, will the year 3000 be a mere reflection of today with its nationalistic jingoism or iconoclastic theocentrism? What start toward year 3000, will you be making for the improvement and advancement of your progeny?

If the past is prologue, and I think it is, the next millennium and century will be an exciting, demanding, challenging and interesting one in which to live. But the past is inextricably tied to the future as there are consequential connectives between the past, the present and the future that cannot be ignored and must be dealt with. The problems of yesterday and today are not closed out with the closing of a century or even the millenium. They will carry over into the future and must be tackled with vigor.

Fareed Zakaria, writing in Newsweek, espouses the view that Capitalism and Democracy are the two surviving big ideas or principles of the 20th century. He says that the forces associated with these principles will continue to spark man’s creative genius and human potential. Let us hope so.

All, however, is not free of risk because the forces that drive these ideas “... challenge the old orders, hierarchy, tradition, communities, careers, stability and peace of mind itself.” Nevertheless, Capitalism and Democracy are, in Zakaria’s words, “Unsentimental about the world as it exists, they surge forward, changing everything they encounter.” Capitalism and Democracy are associated with freedom, but even this basic concept is subject to change and reinterpretation. Robert J. Samuelson also writing in Newsweek had this to say, “traditional freedom meant liberation from oppression.” Today the concept has broadened and increasingly encompasses ‘self-realization.’ People now need to be freed from whatever it is that stands in their way to becoming whoever they want to be. The Nobel laureate in economics, Amartya Sen, has broadened the concept of freedom to include development because he sees freedom as the primary end and the principal means of development in poorer countries. Hopefully, these men are right, but the divergent forces, some of which were mentioned by Zakaria, cannot be dismissed out of hand.

There are several schools of thought concerning convergent and divergent forces. If the convergent forces are stronger, we will eventually end up in a Global World. If the divergent forces are stronger, we will not. The WWW (World-Wide-Web) and intemet represent the latest and some might say the strongest of the convergent forces.

Some even see nations being replaced by cybercommunities. Others see the biggest struggle as one between glohalism and nationalism. Nationalism is a strong divergent force and we see its effects in all corners of the world. What was once Yugoslavia is now: Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia, Macedonia, and Yugoslavia and perhaps soon to be Kosovo. Czechoslovakia is now the Czech and the Slo-vak Republics. Religious fundamentalism is also a potent divergent wild card. In sum, divergent forces are fueled by deadly passions, zealotry and vicious rivalry.

How can we deal with these negative realities? Two ways come to mind, through education and by adhering to the basic virtues that have been passed down through the ages.

As educated men and women of the 21st century, we should be on the side of globalization and democratization. If we at Assumption have played our part, we would hope that you will be strong and determined to pursue the path that leads to attaining self-realization. As mentioned, self-realization comes with freedom that is derived lrom democracy. Hopefully, democracy is a convergent force. We hope that you will embrace the Life Long Education concept and hold to the pre-cepts contained in AU’s Vision 2000. To add to, or expand on Vision 2000, I would like to recommend to you to take to heart the four human virtues whose roots can be traced to Socratic Greek philosophy. Later, they became known as the four Cardinal Virtues: Prudence, Temperance, Justice and Fortitude.

Prudence is simply common sense, thinking before committing and considering the consequences that may come out of your decisions. Looking before you leap. In the doctrine of St.Thomas, prudence resides in one’s intellect. It is “right reason in actions.” Prudence is practical and not specula-tive. To St. Thomas, prudence was the guiding source for the other virtues. Prudence does not imply fear to act when action is called for. To Cicero, Plato and Aristotle, prudence was in making the choice between good and evil.

Justice is “fairness” and includes truthfulness and keeping one’s word. It embraces the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. To St. Thomas, justice is of, or, in the ‘will.’ To Cicero, Plato and Aristotle, justice was in giving every man his due. Fairness implies upright-ness, impartiality and rectitude.

Fortitude includes two kinds of courage - courage in the face of dan-ger, and courage to endure pain. To Plato, without fortitude, justice cannot prevail; and to St. Thomas, fortitude is resistance to fear that would stop someone from action in the face of dif-ficulties. Fortitude does not include foolhardiness.

Temperance is the moral virtue that sets limits. It moderates our appe-tites and shields us from greed and avarice. To St. Thomas, temperance dealt with restraining - not forgoing - pleasure. Temperance demands fortitude. We might think of temper-ance as reflecting Sigmund Freud’s superego in that in the mind of a normal personality, it automatically modifies and controls the instinctual impulses of the Id that tends to produce antisocial actions and thoughts.

As this presentation nears its end, let me say the future is yours to do with what you will. To move forward toward a global society, or to retreat, or to maintain an uneasy status quo. The four Cardinal Virtues can help show us the way. These virtues are acquired by deliberate acts of will and through perseverance. Virtue cannot be attained by wishing for it or through revelation. They have been revealed, but they must be instilled in us through daily effort. Many may perform virtuous acts, but being a virtuous person is more than that as it deals with the quality of character that one has developed over time. Add the three theological virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity to the four cardinal virtues of Prudence, Justice, Fortitude and Temperance and we have the “Seven Heavenly Virtues” - a true recipe for a life filled with happiness and success and surely one of self-realization.

Life-long education and striving to be a virtuous person will, in my mind, be the keys that unlock a glorious future for those who are yet to be born. Hopefully, those celebrating year 3000 will look back and say that the year 2000 was the beginning of another golden age of mankind.

In closing, let me take this opportunity to once again say: “Welcome to ranks of the AU alumni.” Go on with your life fast forward; fast forward but with a brake pedal and an on-off switch. We know that the toughest of times brings out the best in men and women of character. We believe that you possess the skills, knowledge, will and, above all, the character needed to succeed in the most adverse of situa-tions. Live up to our expectations and set the example for those who are to follow. You are the salt of the earth... you are the light of the world... ! Labor Omnia Vincit!