Remarks by U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain at University of Pennsylvania Law School

PHILADELPHIA – U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain was honored to speak at Penn Law’s 2018 Veterans Week keynote event on November 14, 2018, hosted by the Penn Law Veterans Club. 

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Remarks as prepared for delivery

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United We Stand:  Honoring the Core Values of Our Veterans in Our Everyday Civic Discourse

First, I want to thank the organizers of Penn Law’s Veterans Week and those members of the Penn Law Veterans Club who invited me here today.  In particular, I’d like to thank Aaron McKenney, who interned at our Office this summer.  Thank you, Aaron, for inviting me here today and for your service to my Office and to our nation. 

I’d also like to acknowledge and thank the Dean of Penn Law, Ted Ruger, for hosting me today and for supporting this club and all of the great work that it does.  I know a critical part of the club’s mission is to recruit students with military backgrounds to come to Penn Law and to encourage discourse in the Penn Law community about veterans’ issues.  And as I look out into this audience, I can see firsthand that the club is succeeding in its mission.  

In addition to the Veterans Week activities here, just in this week alone, we’ve celebrated notable markers in our nations’ military history.  On Saturday, November 10, we celebrated the 243rd birthday of my beloved United States Marine Corps.  And on Sunday, November 11, we celebrated the 100^th anniversary of Armistice Day—the official end of World War I—the war known as the “War to End All Wars.”  On the 11^th day, at the 11^th hour, of the 11^th month, a bugle call signified the truce among all nations and a recommitment to world peace. 

But the world did not remain a peaceful place for very long.  After World War II and the Korean War, Armistice Day was renamed Veterans Day – a day to honor veterans from all wars.  And, unlike Memorial Day – the day set aside to remember America’s fallen heroes – Veterans Day is a day to honor all Americans who have served our country.  That includes those living and dead, those who served in war and peace, those who served yesterday and today.  On November 11th, we recognize all those who have worn the uniform.

Which brings me to the main point I want to address today.  As Aaron mentioned in his opening remarks, the theme of Penn Law’s Veterans Week programming is “United We Stand.”  It is a theme that has multiple layers of meaning.  For one thing, it references the widely held sentiment that America’s military, as an institution, is one of the greatest unifying forces in our country today. 

This theme also speaks to the remarkable reality that our military successfully brings together a mix of people from every corner of the country – a mix of different races, ethnicities, religions, and socio-economic backgrounds.  And it works.  It is that mix of perspectives that contributes to the military’s continued vitality.  

This observation undoubtedly raises questions about what lessons we can learn from the military ethos – that is, from the core values of those serving in our American armed forces.  How is it that the military manages to bring out the best in people from different backgrounds and with different points of view, and how can we honor and apply those core values in our daily lives?  

But first, on the broader point – let’s consider the fact that, in an era marked by political divisiveness, the public’s confidence in the military as an institution is stronger than ever.  So is our respect for those who have bravely worn the uniform to protect our country.

 In a survey recently published by the Pew Research Center, 80% of Americans respondents from both political parties said they have confidence that the military will act in the best interests of the public.[1]  Not surprisingly, other institutions received far lower marks.  For example, only 40% of Americans surveyed said they have confidence in the news media to act in the public’s best interest.  And our elected officials fared even worse: only 25% of those surveyed said the same about our representatives in government. 

America’s outpouring of support for veterans and our military over this past weekend tracks these survey results.  We honored and celebrated the achievements in many ways – we attended parades and watched pre-game celebrations; we listened to speeches and read news stories about sacrifice, strength, and resilience.  And what struck me on this last point was that the news stories I’m referencing came from sources across the political spectrum. 

This level of support is a remarkable thing, and it is one we should not take for granted.  Many here today might not remember a time when our American culture viewed the military and military service rather differently.  I was born in 1969 – when America was in midst of the Vietnam War.  Anti-war sentiment caused many in our country to doubt the wisdom of our government, which in turn led some to demonize the military and those who wore the uniform.  Fortunately, that dark patch of our history is a thing of the past.

This brings me back to our question – what lessons can we draw from the military about how people with different viewpoints can work together towards a common goal?  How can we honor veterans and the sacrifices they have made for our country as we go about our daily lives?

Memorial events are important, but my vision for honoring veterans requires us to strive to improve our civic discourse.  It requires an understanding that there’s more that unites us than divides us.  It requires us all to put country and civility first and, where possible, to work towards compromise for the common good.  It requires us to embrace several core values – those of honor, courage, and commitment – to do the right thing, even when our passions might pull us in a different direction.  It also requires us to ask ourselves some hard questions as we work together to seek solutions to our nation’s most vexing issues. 

For one, are we willing to enter into a real discussion about the problems that we face – especially the major national and international ones?  Or are we just satisfied to be “entertained” by shouting talk shows and other vilifications featured in much of the mainstream media?  Are we willing to really listen to views different from our own and try to give the holders of such views a real chance to speak?  Do we consult news sources that do not necessarily share our political views, or do we choose not to test our understanding or conception of an issue? 

Second, are we willing to share our views, even when others might disagree?  Or do we sit back, remain silent, and allow others to speak for us?  

Third, when we do speak, do we engage respectfully and with civility?  Or do we choose words and phrases that only serve to increase division? 

And, when we do go too far, are we willing to apologize, and to do so sincerely?

These are the lessons of decency and bravery, of honor, courage, and commitment that we can take and apply in our daily discourse on current events.  Think of it as a baseline of respect that should be part of everyone’s core values.

Coincidentally, we saw a version of respectful, civic discourse play out this past weekend on – of all places – Saturday Night Live.  Recently on SNL, Pete Davidson made the regrettable decision to belittle Dan Crenshaw, a Republican congressional candidate (now Congressman-elect) who lost his eye to a roadside bomb while serving in Afghanistan as a Navy SEAL.  According to Davidson, Crenshaw’s eyepatch made him look like “a hitman in a porno movie.”  Davidson was widely criticized for going too far, and in a rare move on SNL, Davidson issued what appeared to be an earnest apology.  It was a recognition that there are some lines that we should not cross and that we are all connected together as Americans who will never forget the sacrifices veterans have made for our freedom.  For those of you who didn’t see the segment, here it is:  [U.S. Attorney McSwain plays the clip.][2]

There are several teachable moments in this segment about civility in political discourse.  For one thing, there’s more that unites us than divides us.  We are united by a commitment to recognizing right from wrong, and Davidson had the good sense to realize that he had crossed a line.  Second, this demonstrates bravery – another core military value.  It took guts for Davidson to admit he had gone too far, it took guts for Crenshaw to accept SNL’s invitation, and it took guts for SNL to run the segment. 

These questions I posed earlier, namely: are we willing to listen; are we willing to engage; are we willing to be respectful?  These are the questions we must ask ourselves, not just today and not just this week, but every day.  This is how we honor the sacrifice of our veterans – by living their core values every day.

Like other Americans, when Veterans Day arrives, I’m filled with a full spectrum of emotions – pride, nostalgia, sadness, but most of all – inspiration.  I’m inspired to be a better person by every man and woman who served our country in uniform.  I’m inspired because veterans are ordinary people who were called to serve our country in extraordinary ways. 

Let us all learn from the over 20 million military veterans currently living in the United States.[3]  Let us honor their sacrifices not just today, not just this week, but every day.  Let us carry forward these lessons into our civic discourse.  Let us listen to one another, let us choose our words carefully and let us rise above the temptation to do otherwise.

It has been said that how a nation remembers its defenders reflects its true character and conscience.  Calvin Coolidge put it more directly when he said, “The nation which forgets its defenders will be itself forgotten.”

To echo the words of Dan Crenshaw, “We will never forget.”

Again, it is an honor to be with you today – during a week that has such profound meaning for all of us and our country.  God bless you, and God Bless the United States of America.