In WSU address, Gates lauds service

PULLMAN – U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates implored Washington State University graduates on Saturday to ignore the rancor often aimed at government workers and consider a career in public service.

Gates said he’s worried that too many of the “brightest Americans” are dissuaded from government work.

“I understand that it can be disheartening to hear today’s talk of rancorous and even tawdry political discourse,” he said. “Too often those who chose public service are dismissed as bureaucrats or worse.”

Speaking at the second of three WSU graduation ceremonies at Beasley Performing Arts Coliseum, Gates only briefly referred to the Navy SEAL operation that led to the death of Osama bin Laden last week.

“To serve our country you don’t need to deploy to a war zone or Third World country or be buried in a windowless cube in a Gothic structure by the Potomac River. You don’t have to be a CIA spy or analyst or Navy SEAL who tracked down to bring to justice the most notorious terrorist in the world,” Gates said to loud applause in his only mention of bin Laden’s death.

Careers in public service will give graduates the “chance to give back to the community, the state or the country that have already given you so much,” he said.

The speech was Gates’ second public comment since SEALs stormed bin Laden’s compound in Pakistan last weekend. On Friday, at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina, Gates said the death of bin Laden could be a “game changer,” according to the Associated Press.

“Frankly I think it’s too early to make a judgment in terms of the impact inside Afghanistan, but I think in six months or so, we’ll know if it’s made a difference,” Gates said Friday.

At WSU, Gates focused mainly on the traditional commencement themes of pursuing careers, dreams and service.

He said the recent economic downturn reminds him of other periods in the country’s history when the outlook seemed dire, including the Cold War, the aftermath of the Vietnam War and the oil crisis of the late 1970s.

“I lived through each of these periods of declinism, when many were convinced America was stuck in a downward spiral. And yet after meeting the many challenges we faced head-on, our nation emerged from each of these” stronger than before, he said. “I’m convinced that we will do so again.

“While the obligations in any democracy are considerable, they are even more profound and more demanding as citizens of a nation with America’s global challenges, responsibilities, and America’s values and aspirations,” he said.

Semone Andu, a global politics bachelor’s degree recipient, said he was unimpressed with Gates, noting that he used to lead the CIA. Andu said the intelligence agency has a history of interfering negatively in Latin America, Africa and other places.

“He had a political message behind his speech,” said Andu, who is from Eritrea and moved to the United States in October 2001.

Kevin Zobrist, a WSU forestry extension professor, said Gates’ message was heartening, especially after several years of contentious debates surrounding state funding of universities.

“Higher education has been vilified,” he said. “It’s looked down upon that you work for a public agency.”

His mother, Mary Anne Zobrist, received a social science bachelor’s degree at Saturday’s event. She said the crowd reacted appropriately after Gates’ mention of bin Laden’s death, with some cheers but no “hooting and hollering.”

She added that she was grateful Gates didn’t focus on bin Laden and centered on the students.

“He struck the right tone,” she said.

Many of Saturday’s graduates were junior high school students on Sept. 11, 2001.

Franciesca Bulaclac, of Edmonds, Wash., who received a political science bachelor’s degree and plans to pursue law school, said 9/11 “probably made me more passionate about my career. It made me more passionate to live in this country.”

At least a few of the graduates said 9/11 made them more likely to pursue a career in public service or least pay closer attention to world affairs.

Arthur Sawe, who earned a political science bachelor’s degree, said the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks made him more interested in foreign relations and diplomacy.

“I don’t really agree with some of the things that happened in the last 10 years,” said Sawe, citing the U.S. decision to pursue war in Iraq. “But I’m glad we were able to catch Osama.”

Trisha Elliot-Napier, of Everett, was a student at Shoreline Community College and the mother of a 3-month-old on 9/11.

Since then, she has worked to pass on to her children values that promote peace and to make her kids aware of the political process.

“It wasn’t part of my childhood, and I wanted it to be part of theirs,” she said.

WSU announced last month that Gates would be a featured speaker at Saturday’s ceremony. Gates’ wife, Becky, earned a history degree from WSU in 1965 and sits on WSU’s College of Liberal Arts council. Their son also is a WSU graduate.

Gates, who has served as the defense secretary since 2006, is retiring June 30. President Barack Obama plans to replace him with Leon Panetta, who leads the CIA. Gates said he and his wife plan to retire to the Northwest.

Saturday’s graduating class was the largest in WSU’s history, with more than 3,200 undergraduate degrees awarded.

Gates’ speech lasted about 15 minutes. He promised at the start to keep it short.

“I am probably an obstacle between you and a great party and for many of you a continuation of a great party.”