25 May 2023 , 19:03
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Tom Hanks delivered an inspiring speech to Harvard graduates this week, with him touching on how he thinks that some people don't think that truth is "a public service benchmark".
The 66-year-old American acting legend, who was born in California, spoke to Harvard University graduates at the 372nd Harvard Commencement on Thursday.
Receiving an honorary degree from the iconic university, Tom spoke to masses of graduates as they collected their diplomas.
In his lengthy speech about being American and how graduates need to choose to become one of three types of Americans, he also touched on how "none of us are super".
Tom received an honorary degree from the iconic university (CJ GUNTHER/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)
The actor delivered an inspiring speech to masses of graduates (CJ GUNTHER/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)"The truth to some is no longer empirical, it’s no longer based on data nor common sense, nor even common decency," he said to the graduates who watched the Forrest Gump actor carry out his speech.
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He went on: "Telling the truth is no longer the benchmark for public service… Truth is now considered malleable, by opinion, by zero sum end games.
"Imagery is manufactured with audacity, with purpose to achieve the primal task of marring the truth with mock logic, to achieve with fake expertise, with false sincerity, with phrases like ‘I’m just saying’; ‘Oh, well, I’m just asking’ (and) ‘I’m just wondering’."
Tom then said: "Now literally, you cannot believe your eyes. And your ears will help others lie to you. Someone will report the world to you exactly as you wish it were, full of alternative facts."
The actor then spoke about how ignorance and intolerance "can be replaced by experience in the blink of an eye".
Adding: "But indifference will narrow the vision of America’s people and may dim the light of Lady Liberty’s symbolic torch."
"Indifference makes citizens into indentured servants held in labour by the despots and tyrants whose default setting is cynicism, who outlawed dissent and ban art and dialog and books, who grab the power anyway they can," the actor continued.
Speaking to the packed room of graduates, he then went on to say that they all have a choice to become "one of three types of Americans".
He delivered a commencement address during Harvard University commencement exercises on Thursday (AP)The three different types that Tom outlined were "those who embrace liberty and freedom for all, those who won’t, or those who are indifferent".
"The responsibility is yours, ours, the effort is optional, but… the truth is sacred, unalterable chiselled into the stone, (in) the foundation of our republic.
"All of us are able. None of us are super. We are the Americans. Liberty and justice is for us all."
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Concluding his inspiring speech, he finished with: "May goodness and mercy follow you… all the days of your lives. Godspeed."
This comes after Tom was spotted at Cannes Film Festival with wife Rita Wilson when the pair were pictured having a seemingly heated exchange with a member of staff.
The couple attended the premiere for their new film Asteroid City on Tuesday, but didn't look happy as they spoke to the festival worker.
It later transpired that the couple had been just trying to find out from staff where they were supposed to stand on the red carpet and were struggling to hear.