Concordia University
Mequon, WI

29 May 2004

Following is the text of Nick Esposito's commencement speech at Concordia University in Mequon as posted by Esposito For America organization:

"The president of the United States does not read newspapers or books, and neither should you.  Like him, you should be incurious.  You should believe in the superiority of your experience to that of all other people's experience.  You should never doubt that you know what you know.  As George Orwell once said, "Ignorance is strength."  It is your birthright as an American.  Never apologize.

"Never study the literature or speak the language of the French.  All you need to know is that they are weasels like the Germans, the Russians, the Spanish and the Greeks.  Be always students of accounting and marketing, advertising and, perhaps, professional athletic management.  These are the disciplines that matter most in making money without producing anything of value — and that, as you know, is the trend of the future of our society.  Avoid knowing anything that does not make you richer in the literal sense.  But most of all, avoid knowing anything that might be outsourced.

"Be literal-minded.  If the news from far-away places is bad, ask yourself this simple question: 'What concern is that of mine?'  The answer 99 out of 100 times will be 'none.'  In the 100th case, call your broker and take it as a write-off.

"Be bold in your faith that 'things will work out for the best.'  This is the secret of passivity disguised as machismo.  Appearing to be macho matters more than having ideas.  When things do not work out — even when the lack of the ideas at the core of your life is exposed — strive to live in complete denial.  Do not permit others to suggest that things have not worked out, or to suggest ways of changing your perspective.  Place your knuckles in your eye-sockets if necessary.  If that is not enough, place your knuckles in the face of the person suggesting that things are not working out.  Do not be afraid to shut people up.

"If necessary, shut them up good.  Tap their phone lines.  Check their library cards.  Set the conditions for their muzzling on 'high stress,' if you know what I mean.  Just don't take any photographs." (Pause for laughter ... )

"See life simply.  Where others see gray, see the black and the white.  Where others see implications, consequences, complications, see yes and no, right and wrong.  This is the secret of feeling justified in doing unjustifiable things.  Learn it, and and you will never feel wrong in anything you do.

"As a citizen of the most powerful country in the world, all you need to know about other countries is whether they are with us or whether we should take them out.  There is nothing that cannot be fixed — even in those first 10 amendments of the Constitution — by that simple code of 'taking them out.'

"Let's say it together, shall we?  Take.  Them.  Out.  Now, doesn't that feel right?

"In closing, I would like to congratulate each of you on your important achievement.  You should be proud of yourself and your accomplishments.  Strive always to keep dissonant voices outside, and to hear only the reassuring inner voice of your ignorance. Believe without question in the infallibility of your popes and presidents and emperors.  They will never lead you wrong.  And if they do lead you wrong — just ignore the evidence of your senses.  Follow them anywhere, and things will work out for the best.

"Good luck.  God bless.  And remember always, when problems arise, as they must in every life, just ... Take! ... Them! ... Out!"