Shortly after the Big Bang – let’s call it 1964 – I was a
freshman at SU, and the U.S. was at war in Vietnam. I was on full scholarship.
For reason only post-adolescent males can fathom, I gave up my scholarship as a
second-semester junior, withdrew from SU as a dean’s list student, joined the
Army, went to officer candidate school and was commissioned a 2d lieutenant in
February 1968. That November was my first chance to vote (one had to be 21 to
vote in those days). By then I was
married and facing deployment overseas. I was a 22-year-old knucklehead, and
yet, all by myself I found out how to get an absentee ballot to vote in the
presidential election between Democrat Hubert Humphrey and Republican Richard
Nixon. My wife did too. (Incidentally, our candidate lost.) I have a greater fondness than you might imagine for all
you students of today. I actually know some of you. Please participate. As
my good friend Bob McClure said in this story, “If you want to participate,
it’s not rocket science.” I’m old
(66). I have an exit strategy: death. But you’re young and you’re bright and you’re
the smartest bunch of students SU has ever had. The mere act of voting gets you only
a C+ in citizenship, but it’s better than F in political participation. Keep
this story in mind: At the close of the Constitutional Convention, a woman
asked Benjamin Franklin what type of government the Constitution was bringing
into existence. Franklin replied, “A republic, if you can keep it.” That part
is up to you.