I was enormously moved

. . . I was enormously moved by a quotation, a sentence in the petition that brought about this particular day, and I would like to read it:

"Only through mutual respect and understanding can we come to be thoughtful, discriminant, tolerant, compassionate toward each other, and that respect and understanding comes about only through perceiving, and being comfortable with, our differences as human beings."

I think that sentence is key to the success of this day. It is unfortunate that human society breaks down into very small groups. We all have our friends; you talk together, you join the same organizations, and even when you go to eat in Thayer, the chances are you sit down with your closest friends.

Therefore one of the saddest things that I know is a student who says to me, "But sir, everyone I know agrees with me, or agrees with what I am saying."

That is very, very sad because that student is telling me that he does not know any of the people who disagree with him.

I therefore urge you strongly today to try to communicate not with those who are already converted to your point of view, but to try to communicate with someone whose views are very different from your own. This afternoon. when you break up into groups where there is a chance for all of you to participate, don't play the game to win because if each of you is there to win an argument, we will all lose.

In any such group, on any issue, some of you will be in the majority, and the key is not who is in the majority by accident in a given group, but the two key questions are: Can the minority position, whatever it may be in that particular group, can it be heard and will it be heard with respect? And, can you understand the position of someone who totally disagrees with you?

Excerpts of remarks to the "men and women ofDartmouth," Webster Hall, March 8.