Graduates, the world really is OK

Dear graduates of the class of 2017,

I know some of you are scared right now to enter the real world. I can’t blame you. You see the garbage and constant stench coming out of the White House every day, and you figure if this is the real world, you want no part of it.

Well, I have news for you. The White House of today is not the real world. And Darth Trump won’t be there forever, thank God.

It is easy to feel there is a dark cloud over everything these days, with breaking news and bombshells every night.

The truth is, the real America — away from the White House — is a much better place than many of you might imagine. As you set on your path, you really should take time to enjoy what you will find.

Enjoy the freedom to pursue your dreams. I won’t tell you all of your dreams will be realized, because things don’t work that way. But in America you can at least try. Have the confidence to stand out, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. In a lot of places in the world, you can’t even try. That’s why so many people risk their lives to get here.

Enjoy the beauty out there. Be sure to see a national park or two. And when you go, keep your cellphone in your pocket. Grand Teton or Yellowstone or Acadia or Everglades or any of the 59 national park sites deserve your full attention. You can read your texts later.

Have the confidence to stand out, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes.

Enjoy the fact that we have a vigorous free press. Yes, I know, that is a self-serving statement coming from a journalist. But the Washington Post and the New York Times and others have been able to tell people exactly what is going on in Washington, for better or worse. They are giving you information you would never get from Sean Spicer. And no, it’s not fake news. Sometimes I wish it was. Thank God for the free press. In many countries, you don’t have that (see: pursue your dreams).

Enjoy many of the simple things. Enjoy the arts. Listen to some legendary music. If you listen to Ray Charles singing “America” — his version is the only one that counts — that stuff you will see on your arms will indeed be goose bumps.

Enjoy Alec Baldwin on Saturday Night Live. In some countries, he would be in prison — or worse — for his impersonations. Here, he just makes us laugh.

Enjoy a baseball game. Yes, even the Marlins. There is all this talk about trying to speed up the game. Hogwash. If you are in a hurry, don’t go to the game. Otherwise, enjoy the strategy, enjoy the skill, enjoy the food you shouldn’t eat, and enjoy thinking about nothing else for a few hours.

Enjoy your parents. Sounds pretty basic, I know. But particularly if you are going to live somewhere else, you are going to miss the folks more than you can imagine. And they will miss you even more. So hug them a little tighter. And you are going to be shocked to find out that the older you get, the smarter your parents get.

Enjoy the people out there. Yes, we have more than our share of creeps. But most people are inherently good and know the difference between right and wrong. Give those people a chance.

And ignore the stink from the White House if you can.

Gary Stein