BRADLEY: FUTURE NEEDS THE PAST

The future peace and security of the United States depends on what each American makes of lessons from the nation's past, according to former New Jersey Senator Bill Bradley.

Delivering the Meliora Weekend keynote address, the 2000 Democratic presidential hopeful reminded the packed Palestra audience that the historic milestones of the 20th century-World War I, the Great Depression, World War II, the Cold War, the oil embargo, the Persian Gulf War, to name a few-were unpredicted in their time.

But he said that if Americans reaffirm their commitment to the ideals that have made the nation great-dedication to community, pluralism, and freedom-Americans will be better prepared for coming changes, including the fallout from last September's terrorist attacks.

"We won the Cold War not only because of what we did, but because of who we are," Bradley said.

The former New York Knick peppered his talk with jokes about his basketball days and his tenure in the Senate, but he was clearly focused on a future driven by globalization, technological advances, telecommunications, and the boom in information technology.

"How do we operate in a world that's changing so rapidly?" he asked. "It's important to try to understand the forces that are bringing change and to try to develop a few attitudes that will be helpful in dealing with that change."

He urged audience members to refocus their attention on their families and communities.

The importance of that lesson was displayed as Americans responded to the September 11 attacks by sending donations for families and victims and by reconnecting with loved ones and attending worship services, he said.

"The smallest things in life with meaning are more important than the largest things without meaning," Bradley said.

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