By CHRIS EDWARDS
Superior Court Judge

[Editor's note: The following speech was delivered May 24 at the Fayette County High School baccalaureate service by Fayette Superior Court Judge Chris Edwards. It is reprinted here with his permission.]

Thank you, Mr. Adams.

Mr. Phillips, Mrs. Ridgeway, Mr. Greenhaw, Mr. Sheets, Mr. Martin, Mrs. McVae, honorable members of the faculty, much loved parents and grandparents, honored guests, and most of all to the fabulous Fayette County High School Class of 2000.

Good evening.

I am Griffin Judicial Circuit Superior Court Judge Chris Edwards.

I quote and paraphrase without attribution tonight from Jesus and several he loved: Moses, Solomon, David, Elijah, Paul, Twain, Adlai Stevenson, Coolidge, Churchill, Eisenhower, Dr. Ira Slade and my adored wife, Jenny. Now that you're graduating, remember, one source is plagiarism, but two or more is research.

I am aware that countless moralists, like me, are rising in countless pulpits and platforms all over America to tell thousands of helpless captives, like you, in exactly 12 minutes, how eternal truths should be applied to their lives in these uncertain times. These speakers are telling these seniors everywhere about their role as responsible, privileged, educated citizens in a free society. Thank you for the honor of speaking with you.

My humble graduation gift to you is a few words that I hope ring true wherever my tears and laughter meet yours.

First, on persistence:

The greatest graduation speech ever is this: “Never, never, never give up,” from Winston Churchill.

To that, add President Calvin Coolidge: “Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”

I implore you to persist first and always in discovering the truth about God's existence and if you are convinced he exists, persist in discovering who God is, and whom you shall serve. You can make yourself a god to yourself, called selfishness; you can choose among the many gods available after asking around; or you can ask out loud, when your desperation finally exceeds your embarrassment, for God to reveal himself to you. The meaning of your life and death depends on what you believe. The meaning of your life is revealed not in how you die, but in what belief you were willing to die for.

On being politically correct:

You've heard about the delicate business of being politically correct. The real truth is, the root of being political is merely being polite. Good manners is the art of making others feel comfortable. No impolite person is politically correct and no polite person can be politically incorrect. Love and respect are reflected in politeness to all. Your heart will follow your words.

On relativity:

You may have heard that everything is relative. This is not true. Right and wrong, truth and falsehood, are not matters of taste and mere opinion, and this will never change. Live in truth and you live in peace.

On social change:

If you want to make enemies, try to change something. The truth is, the existing system is the result of thousands of years of sacrifice, creativity, genius, and constant change.

You cannot change the world unless you first change the human heart, meaning, what you believe, beginning with yourself. You cannot change the hearts and attitudes of others unless your own heart is changed first. The best way to improve the world is to first improve yourself beginning with what you believe and then your family. On the way there, you will help others, just being who you are.

As real life begins, you'll go from writing poetry to writing grocery lists, from reading Faulkner to reading Consumer Reports, from discussing the great artists until late into the night to doing the dishes until late into the night, and in real life, for those so blessed, changing the world is first achieved by changing diapers.

In college there is lots of cynical talk from some professors, and students, about how bad past generations have left the world. Let me tell you again, you only really believe what you are willing to die for. My dad believed in every one of you at Anzio. My uncle, for whom I am proud to be named, believed in you as a Pacific prisoner of war tortured every day for three years, 10 months at the hands of your country's enemies, 85 pounds when found, so you could be free.

Twice in this century your noble ancestors, American soldiers, have delivered the world from certain conquest by alliances of madmen claiming to lead master races. Anyone who doesn't appreciate this, understands nothing.

Your parents and teachers have given their lives and sacrificed higher incomes to bring you to this very moment. They believe in you. When you have children, remember this: their financial success as adults is largely determined by how much they are read to as infants and how much they practice reading as little children. Their every other success depends on your unselfishness as a model for them to follow.

On addictions:

You may have heard that only weak-willed people get addicted. The truth is, addiction runs in families, by proven genetic predisposition and also by environmental exposure. Look at your family and friends and assess your genetic and environmental risk of addiction. If you're using tobacco, alcohol, or other drugs and tell yourself, “I can handle it,” or “I can quit when I want,” you may already be believing the addict's twin lies.

Addictions steal destinies, turning lives into human train wrecks. Addiction is the single biggest threat to your future. The legal drugs, nicotine and ethyl alcohol, both highly addictive, will kill more people, ruin more lives, destroy more families, cost more jobs and careers, cost society more money, and inflict more misery to your generation, than all other drugs combined, evil as they are. Fun does not include sudden or gradual self-destruction.

On friends:

A true friend, if you have one that sticks closer than a brother, is a wonderful gift. The truth is, bad company corrupts your good character. Do not waste your life or risk your future hanging around so-called friends who engage in self-destructive behaviors, like complaining, disloyalty, procrastination, drugs, habitual lying, acting without purpose, alcohol, bragging, talking about who and what they hate, abusing trust, smoking, avoiding duties, slandering others, cheating.

Beware of those who brag about how much good they've done for others, because these people are wrongly motivated, without understanding that there is no lasting reward in the approval of mere men. If you lack good judgment, then for starters avoid unreliable people and look for reliable people. Unreliable people are often also untruthful and unfaithful. A true friend is one who would trade his life for yours. Don't let the users and abusers make a fool out of you.

On Art:

You may have been told that art, music, and maybe even writing, are not the best ways to make money. If you have been a little discouraged this way, I encourage you now, without neglecting your education or work, to go try to do these things you wanted to do as a little child. Discover your gifts now before they are stolen by any unintended discouraging words. You are not too old to start painting or buy a guitar, but soon you may be. And, fill your new homes with great art, great music, and great literature, and you will discover the greatness of the greatest creative minds God has placed on earth.

On love and money:

You have heard, go to college or technical school to make money. The truth is, happiness is the ability to work and to love.

Never forget that love and charity begin at home. Your brothers and sisters will be your true friends when other friendships may fade, and the greatest contribution to the community is hollow when your own house is not in order. It is like the flight attendant's speech at the beginning of a flight — first put the oxygen mask on yourself, then on your own children and family, then on others. Unless you first are saved, you cannot save others. Giving back to your community means first improving yourself beginning with what you believe, then improving your family by loving them, then others by loving them. We have a deep desire to love others deposited in us, so prepare your own heart first, then enjoy the richness of loving and helping others.

Here is a secret: The Golden Rule, doing good toward others, is really nothing but man's love for God but expressed toward other men, because they are made in the image of God.

Remember, at the end of life, all you take with you is what you gave away.

To parents:

Get ready.

It is a scientifically proven fact that the smartest person in the world is a college freshman home for Christmas. I pray you have patience as you persist in teaching and modeling wisdom, while remembering, our children are loaned to us.

Graduates of the fabulous Fayette County High School class of the year 2000: from you now, to your much loved parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles, brothers and sisters, faculty, administration, and all who got you here, please stand up and say “thank you” and “we love you” now with your applause.

The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you, the Lord lift his face upon you, and give you peace.

Good night.

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