Illinois Governor's Graduation Speech About How To 'Spot An Idiot' Resurfaces—And It Is On Point

A rather timely 2023 commencement speech by Illinois Democratic Governor J.B. Pritzker resurfaced after Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker made national headlines for a misogynistic and anti-LGBTQ+ commencement speech criticizing working women, reproductive rights, surrogacy, and LGBTQ+ rights at the ultra-conservative Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas.

In June 2023, Pritzker spoke at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, and based his words on several quotes from the Emmy-award winning sitcom The Office, particularly the following:

"Whenever I’m about to do something, I think ‘Would an idiot do that?’ and if they would, I do not do that thing.”

He went on to expand on this philosophy further, homing in on the concept of "how to spot an idiot":

"The best way to spot an idiot, look for the person who is cruel. Let me explain. When we see someone who doesn't look like us, or sound like us, or act like us, or love like us, or live like us, the first thought that crosses almost everyone's brain is rooted in either fear or judgement or both."

"That's evolution. We survived as a species by being suspicious of things that we aren't familiar with. In order to be kind, we have to shut down that animal instinct and force our brain to travel a different pathway."

"Empathy and compassion are evolved states of being. They require the mental capacity to step past our most primal urges. This may be a surprising assessment because somewhere along the way in the last few years, our society has come to believe that weaponized cruelty is part of some well-thought out Master plan."

You can hear what Pritzker said in the video below.

Gov. Pritzker Commencement Address: Kindness is intelligencewww.youtube.com

Pritzker then explained where those who choose to be cruel ultimately betray themselves and others:

"Cruelty is seen by some as an adroit cudgel to gain power. Empathy and kindness are considered weak. Many important people look at the vulnerable only as rungs on a ladder to the top. I'm here to tell you that when someone's path through this world is marked with acts of cruelty, they have failed the first test of an advanced society."

"They never forced their animal brain to evolve past its first instinct. They never forged new mental pathways to overcome their own instinctual fears. And so their thinking and problem solving will lack the imagination and creativity that the kindest people have in spades."

He concluded:

"Over my many years in politics and business, I have found one thing to be universally true. The kindest person in the room is often the smartest."

Pritzker's speech is the opposite of what Butker espoused.

Butker urged male graduates to "fight against the cultural emasculation of men," claimed that "abortion, IVF, surrogacy, euthanasia, as well as a growing support for degenerative cultural values in media all stem from the pervasiveness of disorder."

Addressing women graduates directly, he added:

"For the ladies present today, congratulations on an amazing accomplishment. I want to speak directly to you briefly because I think it is you, the women, who have had the most diabolical lies told to you."

"Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world, but I would venture to guess that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world."

Butker also claimed that he is "beyond blessed" because his wife Isabelle "would convert to the faith, become my wife, and embrace one of the most important titles of all: homemaker.” He said her "dream of having a career might not have come true, but if you ask her today if she has any regrets on her decision, she would laugh out loud without hesitation, and say, 'Hey, no.'"

The football player also denounced Pride—a celebration of LGBTQ+ solidarity and identity as resistance to discrimination and violence—as "dangerous gender ideologies," further describing it as a commemoration of "deadly sins ... that has an entire month dedicated to it." He called on graduates to adhere to "the true God-centered pride that is cooperating with the holy ghost to glorify him."

Given Butker's recent notoriety, many felt Pritzker's commencement speech offered the perfect counterbalance.

Pritzker went on to say:

“In order to be kind, we have to shut down that animal instinct and force our brain to travel a different pathway. Empathy and compassion are evolved states of being. They require the mental capacity to step past our most primal urges."

"I’m here to tell you that when someone’s path through this world is marked with acts of cruelty, they have failed the first test of an advanced society. They never forced their animal brain to evolve past its first instinct. They never forged new mental pathways to overcome their own instinctual fears."

"And so, their thinking and problem-solving will lack the imagination and creativity that the kindest people have in spades.”

Pritzker concluded his speech with lessons he learned from watching The Office:

“Be more substance than show. Set aside cruelty for kindness. Put one foot in front of the other even when you don’t know your way. And always try and appreciate the good old days when you are actually in them."

"And remember what Dwight Schrute said, ‘You only live once? False! You live every day! You only die once.’”

Pritzker's remarks about "kindness" ring true considering the harsh criticism Butker continues to face for his bigotry.

Butker's speech has received pushback from LGBTQ+ rights organizations like GLAAD and even The Benedictine Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica, nuns who live at the conservative school where he gave his speech.

In a statement, the group said that Butker's commencement address does not "represent the Catholic, Benedictine, liberal arts college that our founders envisioned and in which we have been so invested."

His employer, the National Football League (NFL), said Butker "gave a speech in his personal capacity" and that his views "are not those of the NFL as an organization."