Former Australian
prime minister the Hon. Julia Gillard Gillard delivered the Irene and Hyman
Kreitman Annual Memorial Lecture last Tuesday afternoon before receiving an
Honorary Doctorate.
In a
thoughtful and erudite lecture entitled “Reflections on a Life of Purpose,”
Gillard traced her roots from her birth in Wales, through her beginnings in
politics to the premiership, and her continued public activities.
On BGU
and David Ben-Gurion
She
began by discussing David Ben-Gurion, Israel’s visionary first prime minister: “I can think of no more fitting tribute to David Ben-Gurion
than to have this place of learning and research bear his name.
“Here, in this harsh landscape, he saw hope and
opportunity, not insurmountable challenges.
In 1954 he wrote: “Here, in the wastes of
the Israel desert, one can work together with daring young men full of vision
and pioneering spirit, who are truly the glory and hope of the nation. Only with pioneering forces like these … can
a young state fulfill its mission.”
“I am certain if he were writing today his words would
have acknowledged daring young women as well as men.
“And today, he would have been delighted that in his
honour, this university nurtures and grows a courageous new generation for a
new age. A generation equipped with world leading scientific skills. A
generation schooled in a diversity and acceptance, through studying alongside
students and faculty from so many countries and cultures, including Bedouin
women and Iranian medical educators. A generation of global citizens who
understand the Negev, Israel and our globalised world. A generation of which Ben
Gurion would have been proud,” she declared.
On the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
She also touched on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
reflecting on the 50th anniversary of the Six Day War next month.
“I want to see Israel continue to pursue its destiny
as it was conceived by Ben-Gurion and the other founders. I believe that to enable a meaningful peace
process, leaders in Gaza, in Tehran, indeed around the world, must forever end
the ugly and hateful speech that denounces Israel’s right to exist. It is key to peace that Israel is
acknowledged by all as a Jewish State and democracy.
“I also want to see the dawn of Palestine Independence
Day. I want the Palestinian people to
enjoy and pursue their destiny in full, and to have a prosperous and successful
country of their own – a nation they call home at long last.
“Everyone talks about a “two-State solution.” I did consistently as Prime Minister. That is my view today. There can be no other course. Nothing else will lead to lasting peace.
She also voiced a note of caution directed at Israeli
politicians.
“Like so many other supporters of Israel around the
world, I have watched with mounting concern some of the political discussion in
Israel which is inconsistent with achieving a two-state solution. I have become concerned that policies about
settlements today will create long lived problems for achieving that peace,”
she warned.
During the Q&A following the lecture, she
elaborated on that point, “What is the alternative? An unending security
situation that is not in Israel’s best interest.”
“I do not come with a plan or a blueprint but a state
of mind,” she said.
On a Life of Purpose
During the lecture, Gillard offered five suggestions
for how to live a life of purpose.
“When you think
about Ben Gurion, there is one overriding attribute, at least for me, that
defined the man: His overriding sense of purpose. Everything he did in his life from the moment
he encountered Zionism as a young man in Poland was to build and defend the
Jewish state. That sense of purpose was so direct and powerful.
“And today, I want to offer you some reflections of
the importance of having a sense of purpose inside yourself as you navigate
life – its opportunities and its challenges.
“It has certainly been a defining feature of my life… I
had discovered that having a sense of purpose is one thing but sticking with it
over time and in difficult circumstances is the real test. To live a life of
purpose, you need to look within and define it. What’s driving you, what are
your values, what’s your vision, what are you striving to achieve? Then write
it out and reread it on the toughest of days, to steady yourself, to keep
yourself on track.
“Staying true to your sense of purpose also requires a
strong sense of self. Everyone likes to be
liked. But living solely for the approval of others will be a life defined by
their agendas, not your own. Living a
life of purpose may well mean making hard decisions, the kind that divide those
around you. It is therefore important to cultivate an inner reserve,” she said.
Gillard also injected some humor.
“Not every occupation is quite as exposed to harsh
critiques as being Prime Minister. But
everyone today, both directly and on social media, can find themselves subject
to free and often not friendly character assessments. Staying on course requires a clear sense of self, that isn’t pushed off
course by these kinds of critiques. It
also requires the judgement to identify fair and constructive criticism from
ugly sniping. Here’s one tip on how to
do so that worked for me - if the jibe comes in after midnight on twitter, it’s
fueled by alcohol not acumen,” she quipped.
Gillard discussed the important versus the urgent.
“Living a life of purpose also means striving to find
time for the important, not just the urgent. While this dilemma has always been
with us, never has the urgent been more privileged in commanding our attention
over the important. Today’s technology
means the urgent beeps, pings and vibrates at us 24/7. In this crowded, contested world, having the
discipline to carve out time to do the important has never been harder and
never mattered more. I urge you to find
that discipline.”
She summarized, “A sense of purpose, a sense of self,
a focus on the important. Gratitude for
the aces live has given you. A
preparedness to fight for the rights of others to equality, education,
opportunity.”
