Actor and human rights activist Danny Glover presented an address at Cornell University's Senior Convocation today (May 25, 2002) to an audience of more than 5,200 graduates and their families. Senior Convocation is part of Cornell's celebratory Commencement weekend. The university's commencement ceremony will be held Sunday, with President Hunter Rawlings presenting the commencement address.

Following are excerpts from Glover's address:

"This is an exciting day -- indeed it is the best of times [yet] even as we gather here today. But I need not remind you that it is also the worst of times in many places in the world. In many places in the world right now it is a time of deep, deep sorrow, a time of profound sadness and mourning. That's your reality as you prepare to leave the hallowed sanctuary called Cornell University."

"When the French philosopher Alexis De Toqueville visited America in the 1830s ... he was excited about what he saw ... yet [he] cautioned that the preservation and maintenance of the democratic society assumes an informed electorate … I would add that it assumes an informed and involved electorate and informed and involved citizens."

"The major part of citizenship means that taking responsibility also means taking action."

"It is only your vision, your voice, your clarity that can make the world -- your community -- a better place, a healthier place, a safer place

"Perhaps the question is whether or not we are willing to tolerate living in a world designed to meet the exaggerated consumptive needs of a few people at the expense of not only the planet, but of a majority of the world's population. And, also, whether we are prepared to build more schools for our children, or more prisons. "

"It's not only your immediate community that you are now being asked to serve, it's a global community. There's much to be done and you are on the frontline of making sure that it gets done."

"I am here today to remind you as a way of reminding myself that it is imperative that we not become cynical, that we not lose heart, that we not lose faith ."