Idealism and Wonder Reigned at Tulane Commencement

NEW ORLEANS, May 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2,300 graduates at Tulane University's 2011 commencement heard an appeal of love from one of the world's greatest entertainers and a message of hope from a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist.

This year's commencement was unquestionably highlighted by two impromptu musical performances by Stevie Wonder, who was in attendance to receive an honorary doctor of fine arts degree. Lending his harmonica to "Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans," a song that has become a standard at Tulane commencements, Wonder later sat down at a piano to perform an unhurried, ardent version of his hit song, "You Are the Sunshine of My Life."

Watch a synopsis on video:  http://youtu.be/ycaco3Tozzo

The full commencement is streamed online at http://events.powerstream.net/002/00350/2011_TulanePlayer/?contid=2011_UC

The soft-spoken Wonder also recited the lyrics of the song he recently penned to benefit those suffering from disaster in Haiti and Japan:  

On this day I fathom
Just how much could happen
For our world and everything above
Lost could be all sorrow,
Joy we needn't borrow
If 10 billion hearts were joined in love.

Less poetic, but perhaps no less idealistic, keynote speaker Thomas Friedman, a writer for The New York Times, imparted to his audience lessons he learned while covering the spirit of revolution this spring in Cairo's Tahrir Square. Friedman, recipient of three Pulitzer Prizes, sounded like anything but a hard-nosed journalist when he trumpeted the value of hope.

"Those Egyptian kids who first dared to go into Tahrir Square and call for their dictator's ouster," said Friedman, "their only strategy was hope. They had no idea what would follow … but they were propelled by a powerful hope and optimism that trumped every other concern."

After receiving so much in the way of advice and entertainment during the ceremony, the class of 2011 was called upon to return the favor. With a prompt from Tulane President Scott S. Cowen, the audience joined voices in singing "Happy Birthday" to Stevie Wonder, who celebrated the very next day. (May 13).

SOURCE Tulane University