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Here’s the context in his commencement speech at Hampton U today: > “You’re coming of age in a 24/7 media environment that bombards > us with all kinds of content and exposes us to all
kinds of > arguments, some of which don’t rank all that high on the truth > meter. With iPods and iPads; Xboxes and PlayStations; information > becomes a distraction, a diversion,
a form of entertainment, rather > than a tool of empowerment. All of this is not only putting new > pressures on you; it is putting new pressures on our country and on > our
democracy. > It’s a period of breathtaking change, like few others in our > history. We can’t stop these changes, but we can adapt to them. > And education is what can allow us to
do so. It can fortify you, as > it did earlier generations, to meet the tests of your own time. > > …With so many voices clamoring for attention on blogs, on cable, > on talk
radio, it can be difficult, at times, to sift through it > all; to know what to believe; to figure out who’s telling the > truth and who’s not. Let’s face it, even some of the craziest
> claims can quickly gain traction. I’ve had some experience with > that myself. > > Fortunately, you’ll be well positioned to navigate this terrain. > Your education has
honed your research abilities, sharpened your > analytical powers, and given you a context for understanding the > world. Those skills will come in handy.