In his last commencement address as president, at Furman University, US President George W. Bush called for a new “culture of responsibility” and he told students that they would never find fulfillment in “alcohol, drugs or promiscuity.” In the culturally and socially very conservative commencement Bush emphasized “the importance of a responsibility society” based on the “bedrock values of faith and family.”

“A culture of responsibility means serving others,” the American president said. “To all of you, my call is to make service to others a way of life. Wherever you live, whatever you do, find a way to give back to your communities.”

“In life,” he went on to say, “there will be many temptations to distract you from your responsibilities. Popular culture can give you the impression that alcohol, drugs or promiscuity can lead to fulfillment in life. That is an illusion, and I urge you to reject it.”

When it comes to this subject, Bush is speaking from experience. “There was a time in my life when alcohol competed for my affections, but I found salvation in my family and in my faith. There is no shame in recognizing your failings or getting help if you need it. The tragedy comes when we fail to take responsibility for our weaknesses and surrender to them.”

Personal responsibility was one of the main themes in the commencement address, but that’s not where it stops; corporate responsibility is also important. “Our country needs corporate responsibility as well as personal responsibility. So my call to those of you entering the business world is to be honest with your shareholders, be truthful with your customers and give back to the communities in which you live,” he said.

Of course some liberals, especially liberal professors, protested Bush’s presence, but – overall – his address was quite well received and, from my point of view, rightly so. Furham is seemingly quite a conservative university, and if there’s one thing that conservatives believe it’s that people are responsible for their own lives. For their own mistakes. For their own successes. Not taking responsibility for oneself is one of the main problems existing today.