Those of you lucky — or unlucky — enough to be giving commencement addresses are polishing them right now, if you have any sense about getting these things done before deadline.
Consider the wisdom of the not-well-enough-known folksinger, Utah Phillips, who is said to have once said to a high school class:
“You are about to be told, again, that you are America’s most valuable natural resource. Have you seen what this country does to its valuable natural resources?” -Utah Phillips, addressing a high school class.
Tip of the old scrub brush to Rob Lopresti and his trademarked Unfamiliar Quotations. [Hey, Rob: Got a more detailed citation on that one?]
Amen and amen to your observation that Utah Phillips is not known well enough. We all should be singing along with Utah Phillips, Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, and their kin, and by “singing” I mean not only repeating the lyrics of their songs (many of which were written by anonymous masses and/or Joe Hill and other Wobblies), but also increasing the strength of their and our commitment to social justice.