Harris, 1st woman to give commencement speech at West Point, welcomes cadets to 'unsettled world'

[brooklynite]

Source: Politico

NEW YORK — Vice President Kamala Harris, the first woman to deliver a commencement speech at West Point, lauded graduating cadets Saturday for their noble sacrifice in serving their country, but noted they were entering an “unsettled world” because of Russian aggression and the rising threats from China.

“The world has drastically changed,” Harris told the roughly 950 graduating cadets. She referred to the global pandemic that took millions of lives and the fraught shifts in global politics in Europe and in Asia.

“It is clear you graduate into an increasingly unsettled world where long-standing principles are at risk,” she said.

As the U.S. ended two decades of war in Afghanistan, the longest in the country’s history, the vice president again condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the first major ground war in Europe since World War II.

Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2023/05/27/harris-west-point-commencement-speech-00099102

[rainin]

1. I watched it streamed live. It was moving. This year's graduates are so lucky

to have her. I still feel sorry for the WP Class of 2020 having to endure trump's speech on top of everything else they were going through in the middle of the pandemic. The only good thing about 2020 was the underclassmen didn't have to attend it.

I love our VP. Her words were spot on. She captured the moment outlining the threats we face domestically and abroad while still acknowledging what the graduates have accomplished in the 4 years they've been at West Point. Academy cadets make a huge commitment just to be there and they will continue to sacrifice for our country for a number of years in the future. I hope for their safety, which includes never again allowing a madman to occupy the position of Commander in Chief.

[Gaugamela]

2. They've been admitting female cadets since the late 70s but they haven't had a woman

deliver a commencement speech until now?

FFS.

[OnlinePoker]

4. It's always the President/Vice-President or a Secretary of Defence or Chief of Staff

https://www.westpoint.edu/graduation/history/commencement-speakers

[Gaugamela]

5. Got it. Thanks!

[iluvtennis]

3. Awesome 👏

[CTyankee]

6. My uncle, a West Point graduate that graduated just in time for WW2, would approve.

However, he was sent to Iran (then Persia) to guard oil reserves. After the war he served in the occupation of Japan. He used to send my brother and me little Japanese items, like the footwear and other objects, toys. He was a lifelong Democrat and spent his retirement teaching math. If it weren't for WWII he would never have had a college education.

[Rhiannon12866]

7. I have two cousins who are West Point graduates - and the younger one is female

[llmart]

8. Our Vice President does us proud!

We are so fortunate to have her. She and Joe are class acts all the way.