Collegemayor-michael-bloombergslidepollajaxBen Franklin

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg Calls For Independent Thought At Franklin And Marshall 2012 Commencement

Bloomberg To Grads: Ignore Congress, Think Independently
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New York City Major Michael Bloomberg powered past his disappointment after not receiving promised ice cream from Franklin and Marshall College President Daniel Porterfield to remind graduating students to live a life of service.

His 20-minute address centered on thinking independently and evoked the college's founders Benjamin Franklin and John Marshall to inspire students. Bloomberg said the men ignored conventional thinking and had few nice words to say about sitting congressmen. Skip to the six-minute mark, where the speech really starts.

Take an idea–and then turn it on its head. After all, if Ben Franklin had accepted the way things were, we might still be turning on the lights with a match…It may be lonely at times, it may make you unpopular at times, and it may be dangerous to your career. But independence lies at the heart of innovation, progress and pride. So the next time someone tells you why something can’t be done, or why something is the best idea or the worst idea, remember Ben Franklin and his spirit of independence.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story indicated that Franklin and Marshall College's president was Michael Porterfield. It is in fact Daniel Porterfield.

Take a look at other notable speeches coming up this month.

round 2 of commencement speakers
Walter Isaacson(01 of15)
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Steve Jobs biographer Walter Isaacson will speak at Cooper Union's commencement. (credit:Getty)
Ira Glass(02 of15)
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The producer and host of This American Life will be the commencement speaker at Goucher College. (credit:Getty)
Steve Carell(03 of15)
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Steve Carell will speak at Princeton University's commencement. We're really hoping he'll say "May your hats fly as high as your dreams." I don't know if you can tell we are excited about this. (credit:Getty)
Condoleezza Rice(04 of15)
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Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will speak at Southern Methodist University, where the George W. Bush library is being built. (credit:Getty)
Cory Booker(05 of15)
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Cory Booker, the mayor of Newark, New Jersey, will give commencement addresses at both Hampton University in Hampton, Virg. (May 13) and Stanford University, in Palo Alto, Calif. (June 16-17). (credit:Getty)
Soledad O'Brien(06 of15)
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CNN's Soledad O'Brien will speak at the University of Delaware. (credit:Getty)
Geoffrey Canada(07 of15)
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Geoffrey Canada will speak at the University of Pennsylvania. Canada is the founder of the Harlem Children's Zone, a comprehensive education and health program that aims to end the cycle of poverty for families in Central Harlem. (credit:Getty)
Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.)(08 of15)
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U.S. Sen. Mark Warner will speak at Virginia Tech University. (credit:Getty)
Barbara Walters (09 of15)
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TV personality and journalist Barbara Walters will speak at Yale University. (credit:Getty)
Lisa Jackson(10 of15)
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Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson will speak at Tulane University and the University of Washington. (credit:Getty)
Jamaica Kincaid(11 of15)
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Novelist Jamaica Kincaid will speak at Grinnell College. (credit:Royce Carlton via Grinnell College)
Athol Fugard(12 of15)
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Playwright Athol Fugard will receive an honorary degree at The Juilliard School's commencement. (credit:Juilliard)
James Earl Jones(13 of15)
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James Earl Jones will also receive an honorary degree at The Juilliard School's commencement. (credit:Getty)
Adam Savage(14 of15)
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Mythbuster Adam Savage will speak at Sarah Lawrence College. (credit:Getty)
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)(15 of15)
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U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal will speak at the University of Hartford. (credit:Getty)

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