[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 86 (Friday, June 26, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1263-E1264]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   PEIRCE COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS BY THE HONORABLE MARJORIE O. 
      RENDELL, THURSDAY, MAY 14, 1998, PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CHAKA FATTAH

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 25, 1998

  Mr. FATTAH. Mr. Speaker, I am submitting for the record a recent 
speech given by the Honorable Marjorie O. Rendell, Judge of the U.S. 
District Court of Appeals, on the occasion of the recent commencement 
at Peirce College, in my Congressional district.

   Peirce College Commencement Address by the Honorable Marjorie O. 
                                Rendell

       This is not my first graduation address, so I was not 
     surprised when Dr. Lendo made an appointment to discuss with 
     me the attributes of the school and the class that I should 
     be aware of. He started by saying, ``We're not your normal 
     college,'' and twenty minutes later, I had the picture.
       This is not your normal college. I have no intention of 
     talking about you going out into the world. You are the 
     world. I will not liken your school environment to a cocoon 
     because you have all clearly left that developmental stage 
     long ago.
       I was quite taken by Dr. Lendo's description of the class 
     and realized how distinctly different my address would have 
     to be from a ``traditional'' commencement speech. My mind 
     started working overtime, and I awoke at 6:00 a.m. the next 
     morning with the wheels a-turning (My horoscope that day, I 
     later discovered, said that I would be a steamroller. We've 
     all had days like that--and some not quite like that.)
       In any event--and this is the truth,--three songs from my 
     past came to mind, songs that set the tone and frame the 
     content of what I want to impart today.
       I will take Dr. Lendo's description as gospel, and assume 
     that most of the graduates have ``been there, done that''. In 
     that we have a common ground (You don't get to age fifty 
     without having ``been there'', and having ``done that.') So 
     allow me to share with you some thoughts about how wonderful 
     you should feel about your arrival at this moment with many 
     accomplishments and experiences tucked in your pockets and 
     finally, the diploma in hand.
       The first song is a children's song, ``The Bear Went Over 
     the Mountain.'' It goes like this: The bear . . . and whaddya 
     think he saw; he saw another mountain, he saw another 
     mountain. . .
       You do not know until you get to the top of that mountain 
     what you will see. Now, I take issue with the bear seeing 
     only another mountain ahead of him. I think the look back 
     down the mountain is rather nice. In fact I tell mothers 
     struggling with career and kids and the fun that entails, 
     that these times are tough, but, believe it or not, they're 
     really great to look back upon. It's fun to look back upon 
     juggling the sick child, the busy husband, the demanding 
     client, the needy parent, the barking dog--all needing you at 
     once. Tough going up the mountain, for sure, but much easier 
     to look back down.
       I find that life is a mountain, with two sides. The first 
     part, the trip up, is largely trial and error, while at the 
     top, you stop, take a breath, appreciate your accomplishment, 
     and start down, with the rest being somewhat easier due to 
     what you've learned. Being at the top is fun . . . and many 
     of you are there today.
       Now, the bear did see other mountains ahead, so the trip 
     down may not be the end of it, but I urge you to stop and 
     enjoy, take pride not only in the fact that you arrived, but 
     on how you got there. All the trials and tribulations, the 
     trailblazing and exploration of uncharted territory that Dr. 
     Lendo spoke of, the ``going it aloneness'' of what you did, 
     these should bring a rush, a sense of satisfaction and 
     accomplishment. Bask in it today, for tomorrow there's, as 
     they say, the rest of the journey!
       The second phrase is from a popular song ``I can see 
     clearly now''.
     I can see clearly now the rain is gone
     I can see all obstacles in my way
     Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind*
     It's gonna be a bright, bright sunshiny day
     *[Here is that rainbow I've been praying for]
       Wait a minute. This guy's as bad as the bear. He sees the 
     obstacles clearly and it's going to be a bright day? What's 
     his problem? Well, again, seeing your problems clearly, as 
     compared to not being able to see them at all, or having a 
     less than clear picture of what lies ahead is not all that 
     bad. All of us have our struggles, whether financial, health, 
     family issues, frustrations, and setbacks. Education, pride 
     and confidence enable us to deal with them. The knowledge 
     that comes from what you have learned in the classroom and in 
     life helps you deal with what you must confront.
       I have always liked the passage from the Bible, ``When I 
     was child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I 
     thought as a child; but when I became a man I put away 
     childish things. For now we see as in a mirror, dimly, but 
     then I shall know just as I also am known'' Your 
     life experiences and your education give you the kind of 
     self-knowledge that is rewarding and satisfying in and of 
     itself.
       When I was interviewed for the position of judge, someone 
     asked me, ``What in your background has prepared you to sit 
     in judgment on others and make solitary decisions that will 
     affect people's lives?'' It was a very good question. My 
     response was:
       First, I have raised a child;
       Second, I have experienced political campaigns which, truth 
     be told, prepares you to single-handedly withstand World War 
     III; and
       Third, I have been a female bankruptcy lawyer, in a 
     profession in which females, let alone female bankruptcy 
     attorneys, have not always been, shall we say, welcomed.
       In any event, I interpreted the question as, ``What has 
     formed your insides'', and those were my thoughts. As Dr. 
     Lendo has spoken of today, we've got some well-developed 
     insides here today. I don't need to tell you that the things 
     you confront that are burdensome are nonetheless 
     opportunities; you know that. I don't need to tell you that 
     your families are proud of you today, that's already part of 
     you. Take some satisfaction in what

[[Page E1264]]

     has formed your insides, because today it's written all over 
     your face.
       Another memorable question (and I know you're waiting for 
     the third song, which I'll get to) was posed to me by the 
     mother of one of Jesse's friends. We had taken the boys on a 
     short ski trip--husbands not invited--and were preparing 
     dinner. We were talking about family, kids, work and 
     juggling--what else--and she asked me, ``What sustains you?'' 
     I was taken aback; I'd never really thought about being 
     sustained, let alone what did it. I thought a minute and 
     replied, ``love of those around me''. When it comes right 
     down to it, the love and support of those around us provides 
     the sustenance for us to go on and do what we do.
       The point of sharing these two questions and answers is 
     that the self-knowledge--the seeing clearly, even of 
     obstacles, that you are capping off with your diploma today 
     is a reward in itself. Obstacles seen through the rainbow of 
     the light of knowledge are manageable. Take a few minutes 
     over the next week and ask your self these questions--what 
     has formed you, and what sustains you?--and you will take 
     great pride I am sure in your answers, and appreciate even 
     more this great day.
       Now for the third song. I actually sang this at a 
     fundraiser for Bill Gray. It was at the Franklin Institute. 
     The acoustics were bad, and everyone kept talking during the 
     speeches. No one could hear the speakers, who were praising 
     Bill for his years in Congress, as he was retiring to head 
     the United Negro College Fund. So I decided to sing, and I 
     sang ``Oh, the Lord Is''. I thanked Bill for using the tools 
     God had given him to benefit us all. But I thought of doing 
     this because this song is my joyful tune. It gives glory, yet 
     has humility in it. It says that all we need, Lord, is the 
     tools, just give us the tools and we'll do the rest. We'll do 
     the hard work, sweat the sweat, take the time, apply the 
     creativity, nurture, plant, prune, water, and cause the tree 
     to grow. Give us the brains, the brawn, the fortitude, the 
     courage, the hope, and we'll do the rest.
       And, when I would leave a college exam on which I had 
     guessed right as to what was going to be asked, I thanked God 
     for the tools. And after a fairly short and very successful 
     childbirth, I thanked God for the tools.
       Well, today, I do hope you, too will take the time, to look 
     around at all you have accomplished, at the people who have 
     sustained and supported you, at the year you have put into 
     doing all the things that wear you down and yet build you up, 
     and give thanks for the tools.

     

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