Tuesday, May 4, 2010 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com OBAMA From page 1 and implored graduates to par- ticipate in their government in the way they see most fit. After severe thunderstorms drenched Ann Arbor Saturday morning and threatened to under- mine some of the excitement over the event, the rain slowed to a drizzle about an hour out from the ceremony's start and came to a complete halt shortly before it was set to begin. The gray clouds over- head did linger though throughout most of the ceremony. In attendance for Obama's speech was a big crowd of Univer- sity and state officials, including University President Mary Sue Coleman, Democratic Gov. Jenni- fer Granholm, University Provost Teresa Sullivan, University Presi- dent Emeritus James Duderstadt, the University's current Board of Regents and several former regents. Those on stage and in the crowd alike roared when Obama was pre- sented with his honorary degree and took to the podium to deliver his remarks. As the president approached the microphone, one person in the crowd yelled out, "We love you," to which Obama responded "I love you back." Beginning his speech, Obama described the current political atmosphere by highlighting a let- ter sent to him by a kindergarten class that included the question, "Are people being nice?" "Well, if you turn on the news today, or yesterday, or a week ago, or a month ago -particularly one of the cable channels - you can see why even a kindergartener would ask this question," Obama told the audience. And while Obama pointed to name calling by politicians and pundits and a media that high- lights "every hint of conflict," he admitted that recent events have largely contributed to the charged political climate. "The fact is, when you leave here today you will search for work in an economy that is still emerging from the worst crisis since the Great Depression," Obama said. "You live in a century where the speed with which jobs and indus- tries move across the globe is forc- ing America to compete like never before." However, Obama added that America has had a long history of partisan rancor. "Since the days of our found- ing, American politics has never been a particularly nice business," Obama said. "It's always been a little less genteel during times of great change." Obama's speech then turned from these challenges and the toxic political discourse of today, to what role graduates must play to improve the country's democ- racy in the future. "And now the question for your generation is this: how will you keep our democracy going?" Obama asked. "At a moment when our challenges seem so big and our politics seem so small, how will you keep our democracy alive and well in this century?" While not wishing to offer "some grand theory or detailed policy prescription," Obama did have three ingredients he said he believes are necessary for a func- tioning democracy: a limited, yet adaptive government, the main- taining of a "basic level of civil- ity in our public debate" and civic participation. On his first point, Obama con- ceded that there has, since the days of the Founding Fathers, been a belief in this country that government cannot solve every problem facing its people. But at the same time, he said many believe that some problems are too big for people to solve for them- selves, "some things we can only do together." The president cited a series of examples of the government's greatest successes, from the con- struction of cross-continental rail- roads to the creation of a system of public high schools to the imple- mentation of financial reforms in the wake of the Great Depression. Obama sought to blur parti- san lines surrounding arguments over the size of government, dis- cussing massive public initiatives launched by Republican presi- dents, like Abraham Lincoln and the first land-grant colleges, Teddy Roosevelt's empowering the gov- ernment to break up monopolies and Dwight Eisenhower's creation of the Interstate Highway System. Eschewing the common par- tisan argument over big govern- ment or small government, Obama reframed the question, asking instead "how we can create a smarter, better government." "Our government shouldn't try to guarantee results" Obama said, "but it should guarantee a shot at opportunity for every American who's willing to work hard. "The point is, we can and should debate the role of govern- ment in our lives," he continued, "but remember, as you are asked to meet the challenges of our time, that the ability for us to adapt our government to the needs of the age SALAM RIDA/Daily Tate, a resident of Tent City, a self-governing community of homeless people who live in tents, discusses the challenges of trying to find a place to stay and the stereotypes behind homeless individuals. has helped make our democracy work since its inception." Another way to maintain the health of the American democ- racy, Obama said, is by ensuring a fundamental level of civility in the political arena. "You can question somebody's views and their judgment without questioning their motives or their patriotism," he said. "Throw- ing around phrases like 'social- ists' and 'Soviet-style takeover' and 'fascist' and 'right-wing nut' - that may grab headlines, but it also has the effect of compar- ing our government, our political opponents, to authoritarian, even murderous regimes." However, Obama cautioned graduates that moving away from such a political culture would not be easy. "As I found out after a year in the White House, changing this type of politics is not easy," Obama said. "And part of what civil- ity requires is that we recall the simple lesson most of us learned from our parents: Treat others as you would like to be treated, with courtesy and respect." Obama continued: "But civil- ity in this age also requires some- thing more than just asking if we can't just all get along." L] Fortthe rest of this story, see M icgaDay...m TENT CITY From page 2 Williams said three cases of domestic assault at the camp indeed have been reported but that CTN has a strict non-violence policy and any resident who violates the policy is asked to leave. Williams also said the camp does not present any discern- ible health concerns. "It isn't a written rule, but it's cer- tainly a spoken one - don't make a mess," he said. According to Williams, residents at the I-94 campsite used facilities available at the nearby Meijer store and gas station without complaint from the businesses' respective own- ers. Last Thursday, the night after CTN relocated to a new patch of land off of v Online at MichiganDaily.com The Commencement Scene: Log on to watch the Big House's craziest non- Football Saturday ever. I-94 near Wagner, the camp held its weekly group meeting. In attendance were six residents, including Poirier and Williams, along with Nord and Brian Durrance, another MISSION board member and Poirier's previous employer. Gathered around a fire pit, the group discussed the eviction notice and addressed concerns about the move and about life at the camp in general. With many around the campfire concerned about CTN's uncertain future, Poirier assured the group that it will persevere. It is still unclear if local authorities will allow the camp to stay at its new location. "(If they're on state land), the same thing is going to happen," said Nolan Przybylo, a Michigan State Police trooper. "They're either going to be arrested or they're going to move." WANT TO WRITE FOR THE DAILY? E-mail alapin@umich.edu for details.