Condoleezza Rice, former United States’ secretary of state and national security advisor, spoke as the last American Studies Institute guest of the semester on Thursday, April 19.

Rice, a current professor of political economy at Stanford University, spoke about events in history that have led America to where it is today and then ended with her predictions for the future.

Rice began with the three major shocks that have made international impacts in the last decade. The first of these was the events of 9/11.

“I am grateful, I say grateful, not proud, that there was not another attack while we were in office, but it was not because the terrorists didn’t try,” Rice said. “The United States is fortunate enough to have men and women who volunteer to defend us at the front lines of freedom and we owe them our eternal lives.”

The second major shock Rice discussed is the economic and global financial crisis of 2008.

“As much as 9/11 had challenged our concept of physical security, the global financial and economic crisis would challenge our concept of economic security and prosperity,” Rice said.

The third major shock that Rice spoke about was the Arab Spring Revolt. She said that it was inevitable for the people of the Middle East to begin rising up against authoritarian governments because of the oppression.

“It is very eye opening to see the issue from this perspective,” sophomore Alex Bishop said. “It seems as though it is all bad over there now but what we don’t see is that it might just have to get this bad to get better in the end.”

Rice also spoke of what she called the great paradox. According to her, Americans are the most individualistic people in the world. Americans are all about claiming, protecting and exercising their rights yet at the same time Americans can be the most communal, humanitarian and philanthropic people in the world.

“You name a cause, and there is somebody there to support it,” Rice said. “The strong sense of individualism and community is the great paradox of the United States of America.”

Although Rice spoke well of the giving aspect of the United States, she also said she disapproves of the “entitlement” many Americans believe they have for more health care, money and government assistance.

“I really enjoyed her view on entitlement,” senior Chase Gentry said. “Our generation especially feels very entitled. It even goes as far as little league sports. You don’t even have to win a game but you are still going to get a trophy.”

Mike Spurlock, who attended the speech, said he is a big Condoleezza Rice fan and said that he was very excited to see her speak.

“She is a very good and professional speaker,” Spurlock said.

Although Rice said she has no intentions of running for vice president in the upcoming election during the Q&A, Spurlock said that he wished she had run for president.

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