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Governor urges Ave Maria graduates to defend the 'sacred fire of liberty'
Summary
At Ave Maria University's commencement, the governor tied faith to civic duty, urged graduates to uphold the nation's founding principles on the 250th anniversary, praised Florida's pandemic and education policies, and warned against allowing technology to supplant human judgment.
The governor, speaking at Ave Maria University, urged graduates to defend the nation—s founding principles and to keep faith and reason central to civic life. He framed the call as part of the nation—s 250th anniversary and said students have a duty to preserve what he called the "sacred fire of liberty." "The truth is not subject to a popular vote," he said.
The governor praised Ave Maria as a "genuine" Catholic university that centers faith in campus life and lauded its "rigorous classical liberal arts education" as resistant to what he described as passing ideological fads. He said the university—s culture values moral virtues and noted the town—s transformation from a tomato field to a close-knit community where "you are way more likely to run into a golf cart than you are a criminal."
Marking the nation—s 250th anniversary, the governor urged reflection on the founding generation—s sacrifices and the fragility of republics. Quoting Benjamin Franklin, he said, "A republic, if you can keep it," and argued each generation must defend institutions and the rule of law rather than expect them to run on autopilot.
The governor reviewed actions he credited to Florida, saying the state helped "preserve freedom during COVID," defended parents— rights in education, and "became the number one state in the United States for religious liberty." Those statements were presented as the governor—s characterization of the state—s record.
Turning to technology, the governor warned graduates about information overload and emerging tools such as artificial intelligence. "Technology must enhance the human experience, not supplant the human experience," he said, and cautioned against being governed by "the almighty algorithm."
He urged graduates to serve the republic in many roles—public office, the military, law enforcement, business, medicine, family life or community service—and closed by saying his faith that they could preserve the republic remained firm. He concluded, "Congratulations, God bless you and God bless the United States of America," and left the stage to applause.
