More from Aaron Sorkin

Decisions are made by those who show up.

AS

Aaron Sorkin

Syracuse University Commencement 2012, 2012

13:05

Video starts at 13:05 — the moment this quote was spoken

The Story Behind This Quote

Sorkin told the story of his college roommate Chris, a sweet guy with a sunny stage presence who used to tease Sorkin for reading Time and Newsweek. After graduation they lost touch, and about a year and a half later, Sorkin read about a virus called AIDS burning across the country. The CDC asked the White House for $35 million for research; the White House passed because it was 'only affecting homosexuals.' Chris died. Sorkin wasn't saying Newsweek could have saved his friend, but he used the story to argue that we've come to expect less and less of each other — and that has to change. Graduation means the rules change, and one of the new rules is this.

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