Warrior Speech: Penn State
Warrior Speaks On Conservatism
By Nicholas Norcia
Collegian Staff Writer
Oct.17.2003
"The difference between conservatism and liberalism is the difference between thinking and feeling. Those who think make the world work -- not those who feel."
So said former pro wrestler Warrior, addressing a standing-room-only crowd in 101 Thomas Building in a speech sponsored by Young Americans for Freedom.
The evening began on a whimsical note -- with a video montage of Warrior's finer moments in professional wrestling, culminating with his classic Wrestlemania VI victory over Hulk Hogan. During another early highlight, Warrior called forward two students who came dressed as he and Hogan.
But after a brief summary of his wrestling career, Warrior was quick to re-establish the evening's mood as one of serious-minded intellectuality. "How many people here know about the great books of the Western World?" Warrior asked. When only a few hands went up, he shook his head and sighed.
He gave his three primary reasons for public speaking: "To inspire activists ... to get people who previously haven't paid attention to politics to start paying attention, and lastly to piss liberals off."
The audience answered these with resounding applause.
In his speech, Warrior stressed the importance of a conservative philosophy of life, which he sees as embracing morality and what is "right, true and good over what is wrong, false and evil."
He stressed a differentiation between this conservative philosophy of life and conservative politics. "Most conservative politicians do not live by a conservative philosophy of life," he said.
Warrior constantly made challenges to the members of the audience.
He finished his speech with a final challenge: "No iniquity or cruelty can exceed our own if we pusillanimously ... surrender successive generations to a condition of wretchedness. Will you do in your life what will live forever?"
That closer was met with a standing ovation. Most who attended stayed for all of Warrior's 75-minute speech; many had to stand the entire time.
"That was the greatest speech I've seen at this school," said Mike Jozkowski (senior-mathematics). "He emphasized that what makes this country great is self-reliance -- the pull-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps mentality."
Young Americans for Freedom Chairman Toby Eberhart was pleased with the turnout. He conceded that it had a lot to do with Warrior's celebrity, but he felt the audience was receptive to the message. "If 10 people walk away from this with a better knowledge of themselves, we've accomplished our goal," Eberhart said.
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