We are exceptions
Downing, Michael B.
physical destruction of the inmates . In Shelkov's case, advanced age and ill health hastened the process . On January 27, 1980, at the age of eighty-four, he died. Observers of these events...
...What crime could compel Soviet authorities to inflict certain death upon such an old man...
...He is no teaching and traveling-ngland as a Harvard Shrewsbury Fellow...
...Believe me, I am more disappointed by that fact than you are . Naturally, then, a certain question arises: Whywas I chosen as Class Day speaker for you, the class of 1980...
...it is what you have earned . Without exception . ploma;but most have been graduated from a public school-MICHAEL B. DOWNING - 26 September 1980: 519dhists, and Muslims .Despite the promise of Helsinki, they continue to be deprived of higher education, threatened with fines, incarceration, confiscation of property and children, subjected to violent raids, rape, murder, denied their right to emigrate simply because of their beliefs...
...It waseasy to do that here...
...sitting around in this typical high school auditorium?We have all heard, perhaps toomany times, that our faith Celebrating, I believe . And celebrating what...
...Frankly,I am not sure...
...We do...
...Secondly, how could such a sentence be imposed under the Helsinki Agreement...
...We have more moneythanexperienced here, we, canexpectand achieve far more than most...
...For these individuals, Shelkov remains a symbol of indestructible devotion to freedom of conscience .His death is an egregious affront to the spirit of Helsinki, and it illustrates with utter clarity how far Soviet authorities are prepared to go to destroy an individual of conscience when Western support is weak or conspicuously absent.WALTER PARCHOMENKO (Walter Parchomenko is a free-lance writer whose articles on Soviet-American relations have appeared in theChristian Science Monitor, Commonweal, Americaand other publications...
...In afewdays, you willfools...
...On allcounts . osviouProcter a d Gamble notwithstanding, withstanding, Pittsis n-n an average Americancity . e can dis'thcity an, the surrounding, ea as the itts, but Herman Melville, Nathaniel' Hawthorn C' Wendell Holmes, and Edith Whartonanxiously made this their home . And if ours Ives' of Tanglewood, Greylock heateash Bish Falls-then I suppose weservetobe buried in samples of Biz detergent . Hag dismissed Procterd Gamble.I guess t is tame take on Time ma azine a.ole cast ofst and statisticians who constantly reminda middle class.Inpurelyrelative terms the designation ;middle class' is o course,entirelyinaccurate...
...very much alike . For exampleave you ever noticed''the mailman occasionally delivers a sample of Folger's coffee or Crest ooaste to your home?residents of Pittsfield,we ese samples not becauseare special but becauseProc and Gamble believe'ttsfield' is avery average American city...
...The speaker was Michael B : Downingho graduated magna cant laude from Harvard College in June...
...Vance...
...Joseph's is a typicaland C tholic, high school . In terms of religion, wvery iverse group ven theseacts," perhaps the most sensible thing, o all ousedly average folks would be to set our sights low, dreamall dreams, attempt to accomplish only those hings that we know we're capable of-and thereby avoid disappointment . If wearestatisticallymediocre shI act accordingly . Wrong...
...Therefore . . .the average .We are the exceptions...
...Whenan old man stops you on some street and begs forDespite the fact that I am willing to dismiss Procter and change, remember-we have the power...
...Observers of these events must ask two questions...
...Today, money is power...
...When we com-Gamble, Timemagazine, and theceremonious language of plain about the price of gasoline and heating oil-nonommencement, I amnot willing to dismiss the church . As renewable resources--will we also conserve...
...Vladimir Shelkov was the spiritual leader of the Church of True and Free Seventh Day Adventists, a group which rejects any state interference in its religious affairs as immoral . In March 1978 he was arrested in a violent crackdown on Adventist communities in several, Soviet republics and held in pre-trial detention in a KGB prison for the next year . Shelkov's only "crime" was that he was an uncompromising religious believer, who tirelessly defended unjustly persecuted religious WE ARE E CEPTIONS A TALK TO GRADUATING SENIORS Thefollowing is excerptedfrom the Class Day talk given last May 28 at St...
...Congress, and private citizens, the protective spotlight of world attention was not sufficiently cast upon Shelkov . His persecution and death did not arouse a storm of Western indignation...
...HIS IS NOTa position in which I often find myself...
...oh, but we have the power.creed together, we are acknowledging that faith in a very Well then, if we are not the products of an average citypublic way...
...Moreover, there were no vigorous appeals by foreign leaders in his defense...
...I think it is important and we are not the middle class, what are we all doingto continue to do that...
...Joseph's High School, Pittsfield, Alas sachusetts...
...No, not a should bethe center of our lives.It strikes me that the reason beginning . Despite the honorary title, I do not believe thatwehear it so often is that so many people believe it, and say, this is your commencement . Besides, in two or four years,so...
...Many of youw' enter colleges in the fall ; I...
...In fact, in less than a week I expect to find myself in a situation very much likeyour own assembled with my friends, surrounded by teachers and relatives, listeni g to onespeaker or another attempt to make sense of an experience of which he was not a part . The major difference isthat the speaker for my Class Day will be Walter Cronkite and the commencement address will be delivered by Cyrus Vance . Being no less than uating seniors you will, by now, have guessed that I a neither Mr...
...We don'tI already noted, in terms of religion, we are not a very have to, we have the power . There are thousands of Cubandiverse group . refugees looking for work and homes in our country-Goodforus...
...Generations have said "I believe"for thousands of you will be told again that you are about to commence . Asyears...
...I, don't thinkthat they were fools to say that . Our long as they keep telling us that we have just arrived at thegrandparentsbelieved so strongly that they willingly gave beginning, it remains hard to understand why we should beup the money--their power-to raise up churches where doing anything in the meantime.we could gather.' I don't think that our grandparents were None of us here is only beginning...
...Our parents chose forus an education that would have your diploma from a small Catholic high school . Werevolve around our religion.I don't believe that it was a are all well on our way .foolish decision .As we leave behind daily contact with I do not intend to catalogue the peculiar benefits that wefriends and family and so many of the familiar pieces of our enjoyed as students of St . Joseph's . To agreat degree, thelives, I think it is we who would be fools to give up the good and the bad memories that we have from the four yearsexceptional center that binds us . spent here are entirely self-made memories, self-taughtAnd, finally, only thislessons.But it is easy to overlook the objective qualities ofCongratulations . `There seems to be no need to wish you the place.es, most Americans have a high' school di-the best...
...Downing has also written for America, the Harvard Magazine, and the Berkshire Eagle...
...to say, out loud,I believe...
...Joseph's I can at leastsze with your experience of the past four years...
...did that too-so in some way I suppose I have seen your future-and yes, it wo s. fact,acasual observer amight say that all of us here are Commonweal:518believers and human rights activists.For this he was bitterly attacked in the official press and convicted of "slandering the state and infringing citizens' rights under the guise of religious activity ."For steadfastly refusing to renounce his beliefs, Shelkov has been persecuted for most of his adult life ; he has been a prisoner of conscience for twenty-five years, including fifty-five days spent on death row . Because authorities could not cause his moral death, they decided to destroy him physically . Despite support from Amnesty International, the U.S...
...Soviet officials will probably offer the West concessions in the field of human rights-increased Jewish emigration, more family reunification-if Western delegates agree not to "poison the atmosphere" of the conference by criticizing the Soviet record on human rights . Additionally, Soviet delegates will likely demand Western support for a post-Madrid European conference on disarmament . Any Soviet concessions on human rights matters should be welcomed and encouraged...
...We enjoy' one of the est per capita incomes in the world : In Afghanistan small, eastern country that we may have the chance to tour in the near future-there is not a single sanitary water In November representatives of thirty-five countries will meet in Madrid to review compliance with the Helsinki Agreement...
...The Madrid conference should not degenerate into an anti-Soviet campaign.However, it is an appropriate occasion to send Soviet leaders a message :the calculated death of Vladimir Shelkov will not be forgotten, nor will the suffering of thousands of Soviet Christians, Budsupply .system that offered themfar less opportunity, I don't think So, happy graduation, and welcome o the world'sthat I am' overstating the case when Isay thatyou will never tocratic class .again beinan environment in which the impulse to learn In the sixteenth century, Sir Francis Bacon wrote thatand grow as a community is so consistently and freely knowledge is power.We have helped America rewrite thatprovided for you . Onthe basis of what we have learned and phrase...
...More than onethird ofworl s population, is presently starving . They d n't have enough to eat...
...But I can venture 1976 graduate of St...
...Our religion is the center of this community, we have the power . Even here in Pittsfield, there isaUniteda kind of adhesive between the individuals gathered here . Way, a Catholic Overseas Relief Fund,' a Salvation, too, is exceptional . - Army -a lot of people with alot of good ideas and practicalWhether or not we fully understandit, when we recite a solutions...
...So, pee all very average here . Like vofit into the middle-class c umnn Time magazine surveys . St...
...Cronkite nor Mr...
Vol. 107 • September 1980 • No. 17
