CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) 鈥 Tom Hanks told graduates of Harvard University on Thursday to be superheroes in their defense of truth and American ideals, and to resist those who twist the truth for their own gain.
鈥淔or the truth to some is no longer empirical. It's no longer based on data, nor common sense, nor even common decency," said the two-time Academy Award winner during his keynote address. He invoked the Latin word for truth, 鈥渧eritas,鈥 Harvard鈥檚 motto.
鈥淭elling the truth is no longer the benchmark for public service," he said. "It鈥檚 no longer the salve to our fears, or the guide to our actions. Truth is now considered malleable, by opinion and by zero sum endgames."
That left the more than 9,000 graduates at Harvard's 372nd commencement with a choice to make, said , who has played an astronaut, a soldier, a little boy in a man's body and even a Harvard professor in a decades-long movie career.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the same option for all grownups who have to decide to be one of three types of Americans: Those who embrace liberty and freedom for all; those who won鈥檛; or those who are indifferent," he said. 鈥淥nly the first do the work of creating a more perfect union, a nation indivisible. The others get in the way."
Near the end of the speech, he drove the point home to a group that included not just undergraduates but those who graduated from Harvard鈥檚 professional and extension schools.
鈥淭he responsibility is yours. Ours. The effort is optional. But the truth, the truth is sacred. Unalterable. Chiseled into the stone and the foundation of our republic,鈥 he said.
Hanks, who was awarded an honorary doctor of arts degree, poked fun at his own lack of academic credentials on a stage filled with some of the world's brightest minds and most accomplished scientists.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not fair, but please don鈥檛 be embittered by this fact,鈥 Hanks said. 鈥淣ow, without having done a lick of work, without having spent any time in class, without once walking into that library 鈥 in order to have anything to do with the graduating class of Harvard, its faculty, or its distinguished alumni 鈥 I make a damn good living playing someone who did," he said in reference to his depiction of fictional Harvard professor Robert Langdon in three movies based on Dan Brown鈥檚 novels 鈥 鈥淭he Da Vinci Code,鈥 鈥淎ngels & Demons鈥 and 鈥淚nferno.鈥
鈥淚t鈥檚 the way of the world, kids,鈥 he said to a chorus of laughter.
Before Hanks headed to the podium to give his speech, Harvard President Lawrence Bacow, presiding over his last commencement before , called Hanks, 鈥淲ilson's bestie, Buzz's buddy, Ryan's savior, America's dad," and presented him with a Harvard volleyball, in tribute to his role in 鈥淐ast Away,鈥 where to stay sane his character talks to an old volleyball.
Hanks proved to be the most popular person on stage, posing for selfies with faculty members before the ceremony and giving congratulatory fist bumps to dozens of Harvard students who graduated summa cum laude.
鈥淢ay goodness and mercy follow you all the days," he said, referencing a biblical verse. 鈥淎ll the days of your lives. Godspeed."
