Hannity visits campus
Political commentator grapples with important national issues
Renowned television and radio host and New York Times best-selling author Sean Hannity, as well as “Duck Dynasty” TV personality John Luke Robertson, spoke at Liberty University in Convocation Wednesday, Feb. 18. Hannity is the host of “The Sean Hannity Show,” as well as the host of Fox News’ cable news
show, “Hannity.”
POLITICAL PASSION — Sean Hannity encouraged students during Convocation to be strong leaders. Photo credit: Joel Coleman
Before Hannity addressed the student body as the keynote speaker, soon-to-be Liberty student Robertson took the podium to share a short story with the audience. He told of his recent experience with an old, run-down building that he plans to use as a home for human trafficking victims in Louisiana.
Still under construction, Robertson’s building has a lot of work to be done, but he remains hopeful, as God has moved in every aspect of the process.
Robertson encouraged students to donate to the cause. Robertson and his team hopes to end human trafficking in northern Louisiana within six years of the building opening.
The students then welcomed political author and commentator Hannity with a warm round of applause, and he expressed his gratitude to be able to speak
at Liberty.
“It’s great to be in a place where I can mention God,” Hannity said.
Before beginning his portion of the Convocation, Hannity donated $50,000 to Robertson’s building for human trafficking.
Hannity began his speech expressing his remorse for the United States’ large amount of debt owed to other countries including China, irresponsible mentality among government leadership and, according to Hannity, President Obama’s lack of concern for America’s well being.
“We live in a political time where nobody wants to take responsibility for their own actions,” Hannity said.
Hannity described how his grandparents came to the U.S. to fulfill the “American Dream,” in order that their children and grandchildren would have better lives. According to Hannity, however, that may not necessarily be the case today.
“Because of bad policy and politics, … (my generation) may leave this country worse off for all of you than the country we inherited,” Hannity said.
He described America’s rapid descent into bankruptcy, especially within social security, healthcare and the 50 million Americans living on food stamps, which he noted was almost 20 million more people than when George W. Bush was president less than a decade ago.
Hannity then described the poor state of the world, including the threat of ISIS, whose actions have included the shooting and beheading of innocent Christians living in the Middle East and journalists covering the carnage. He highlighted Obama’s apparent lack of concern over those actions and Obama’s inability to describe it as, according to Hannity, “radical Islamic terrorism.”
“This is the world you are inheriting,” Hannity said. “That’s the evil that exists in the world.”
In order to end the message on a brighter note, Hannity encouraged students to step up and be the leaders that God has called them to be, whether during peace or seemingly endless evil.
“The country is craving whatever talent God has given you,” Hannity said. “God put you here for a reason. Your job is to find out what that reason is.”
He reassured the audience that there is no country or economy that cannot be saved. All it needs is better leaders.
“The world needs your leadership, and you’re in a position to get it,” Hannity said. “We need your wisdom. We need your power. We need your courage. I want you to be the leadership that’s going to save this country.”
Ritter is a news reporter.