Mexico's president tells Stanford grads: 'You must never, ever give up' on ideals

Stanford Report ^ | June 12, 2011 | CYNTHIA HAVEN

[KittyKares]

Mexican President Felipe Calderón urged graduating students to "do what so many said was impossible" during Stanford University's 120th Commencement on Sunday in Stanford Stadium.

Calderón's visit took place under tight security and with a large contingent of Mexican journalists. Calderón is known internationally for his fight against drug cartels, an effort that has cost many lives. Within Mexico, however, he is also known as a champion who has taken on the tax system, the judicial system, arms control, and financial and immigration reform.

*** "It is possible to prevent climate change and foster growth simultaneously," he said, noting Mexico's initiatives to protect forests and other resources while generating income for families.

[KittyKares]

Too bad he can't generate enough income for Mexico's citizens so they don't have to come here for work.

A side bar has a link to the commencement speech, but it does not seem to translate what he said in Spanish. This is all it reads:

Know there are many Mexican and Mexican-American students graduating today.

So, let me say to them and to all Latinos... (Speaks Spanish).

[chrismich2610]

the only thing impossible seems to be controlling illegal immigration

[davetex]

Calderón is just another marxist who has zero control over his own country. He’s in bed with the cartels.

[babyfreep]

The president of Mexico speaks at Stanford’s commencement? Isn’t that unusual?

[Flycatcher]

"It is possible to prevent climate change and foster growth simultaneously,"

Well, sure, but do they really want to renew virgin sacrifices at the Mayan temples in the Yucatan...?

[MacMattico]

If you never give up, you to can be the President of a third-world nation run by drug lords whose biggest export is it's people that leave in order to take the resources of their neighbors to the north!

[AnotherUnixGeek]

Within Mexico, however, he is also known as a champion who has taken on the tax system, the judicial system, arms control, and financial and immigration reform.

Yeah, whatever he and the rest of the Mexican leadership are doing, it isn't working. Mexico has proven oil reserves, vast national resources and is an immediate neighbor of the most powerful economy that has ever existed, with free trade access to that economy - and yet Mexico is a basket case.

It takes monumental governmental incompetence to manage that. Calderon and his colleagues should be an object lesson on how even the most favorable situations for governance can be screwed up.

[A Navy Vet]

"Know there are many Mexican and Mexican-American students graduating today. So, let me say to them and to all Latinos...".

Race, race, race,... as goes La Raza.
GIMME MORE STUFF. WE WERE THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES OF THIS LAND UNTIL THE EUROPEONS came. You owe us! Actually, you weren't. Go back far enough and your ancestors were just another tribe that crossed the Bearing Sea to filter down in north america and build monuments for stupid gods and sacrifice humans for dumb ass beliefs.

You DO realize that the awful Europeons provided the language you now speak? Sure you know what that language is.

POP QUIZ: What language does Brazil speak? No fair Google. You got 60 seconds.

[americanophile]

This president is different than almost all those who have preceeded him; unlike all the others he isn’t corrupt and is trying desperately to establish the rule of law in his country. I am not a big fan of Mexican society - it’s proven to be lawless, corrupt, unproductive, etc., but I know plenty of individual Mexicans who are decent people and only want a better life for their families. Unlike so many other politicians, Calderon is attempting to make a difference. He was wrong to criticize Arizona, and I don’t think the Mexican economy is anything to write home about, but he’s trying to make a break from the past, and I give him great credit for that. I fear it will all revert when he leaves offices, but for once, Mexico will have had a president who genuinely attempted positive change. A successful Mexico is in everyone’s interest.

[Cowboy Bob]

POP QUIZ: What language does Brazil speak? No fair Google. You got 60 seconds.

ANSWER: Portuguese

Question to you: WHY?

:o)

[onona]

Senor Navy Vet is just making sure you are on your toes !

BOM DIA !

[KJC1]

Calderon is attempting to make a difference. He was wrong to criticize Arizona, and I don’t think the Mexican economy is anything to write home about, but he’s trying to make a break from the past, and I give him great credit for that. I fear it will all revert when he leaves offices, but for once, Mexico will have had a president who genuinely attempted positive change. A successful Mexico is in everyone’s interest.

Sorry, but we don't need a foreign president telling us what to do. Mexico has their own strict border policies and to have El Presidente act like a vicim is disgusting.

[DaxtonBrown]

My ideal was to take over the world, build a giant spaceship and populate the Milky Way, but I’ve had to scale back a little because of the recession.

[Dick Vomer]

This clown should only be allowed to comment on stuff he knows about, prostitution, marijuana, cocaine, and chiclets. Otherwise he needs to STFU and get his country in order and quit lecturing us about what to do

[Dogbert41]

I came out of Walmart and as I got in my car I get acosted by what looked like a nine month pregnant hispanic woman with a toddler in tow hitting me up for money by showing me a handwritten sign and saying “please”.

Same thing happened to us inside a diner two weeks ago, where the pregnant lady went from table to table with her sign. Only that one was from India or Pah-ki-stahn.

Job well done Homeland Security. We are becoming a freaking third world s-hole.

[Victoria_R]

What? Did Stanford decline to invite Obama?

[grey_whiskers]

Did each graduate get a "gift bag" with a few ounces of weed as a going-away present?

Cheers!

[9YearLurker]

Mexico—that global beacon for environmentalism and conservation.

[Melchior]

King Canute halts the tide.

[VRW Conspirator]

Mexico has proven oil reserves, vast national resources and is an immediate neighbor of the most powerful economy that has ever existed, with free trade access to that economy - and yet Mexico is a basket case. It takes monumental governmental incompetence to manage that

Amen brother! Somebody finally said it. ANY country that is butt up against the United States should be worth ten times what it is and poised to have a booming economy. But Mexico is among the most corrupt nations in the world that is basically run by an oligarcy of families. You cannot build a house on soft ground as you cannot elevate a country when the entire system of commerce and government is corrupt.