Powell speech 'powerful'

Retired Army Gen. Colin Powell was introduced as one of the nation's best speakers by IU President Myles Brand Friday at the IU Auditorium. \nHe lived up to expectations. \nWith stories, jokes and anecdotes, Powell discussed the challenges he sees facing America, stories about his life and career and his latest passion, America's Promise. After his visit, he hit the campaign trail with George W. Bush.\n"I have never seen an audience more captivated by a speaker than at Colin Powell's address," said senior Mike Gosman, president of Union Board, which sponsored the lecture. "The combination of his strong oratory skills and his powerful message seemed to deeply impact the crowd."\nA strong advocate for children, Powell is chairman of America's Promise -- The Alliance for Youth, a partnership of community organizations and corporate America to positively impact American children.\nHe explained the five principles of America's Promise: Caring adults, safe places, a healthy start, marketable skills and opportunities to serve.\n"My life pulls in the direction of all these youth programs," Powell said.\nHe urged students to get involved to advance the five principles and become active with children in their communities.\n"(His message) made me feel good about working with kids and bringing youth up to speed," said Bloomington resident Debbie Baker.\nPowell also addressed the importance of education for everyone.\n"Hard work and education -- there's no substitute for it, whether you're chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff or a student at Indiana University."\nPowell served in the military for 35 years and shared stories from his years of service. He discussed the sense of community and pride he found in the armed forces.\nPowell's role in the military was largely driven by the Cold War and the tensions felt worldwide between communism and capitalism, he said.\nDuring a summit meeting, Mikhail Gorbachev told a stunned Powell he was ending the Cold War, Powell said. Gorbachev noticed Powell's confused facial expression, looked him in the eyes and told him:\n"General, I'm very sorry, you'll have to find a new enemy."\n"I said to myself 'I don't want to,'" Powell said. "The world I knew, and the world you (students) were just becoming conscious of, changed."\nBut some rivalries don't change.\nGorbachev is also on the speaking circuit and "is my principal competitor still," Powell said. \nGorbachev was recently featured in a Pizza Hut commercial.\n"The former head of the evil empire is selling Pizza Hut. Is capitalism great or is capitalism great?" Powell said.\nAs chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Powell led Operation Desert Storm in the Gulf War. The operation resulted in American and other forces repulsing Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. \nAfter a call from Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf about the first wave of air attacks, Powell said he "flicked to CNN to see what was really going on."\nBrought on by modern technology, he said, people worldwide knew within seconds what was happening in the war.\nThree American reporters were in an enemy hotel, sharing with the world what Powell was doing.\n"I kept picking up the target list, the damn hotel has to be here somewhere," Powell joked.\nPowell also pointed out the difference in support between the Gulf War and Vietnam, during which he earned the Purple Heart. Following Desert Storm, the nation had a great sense of pride and support.\n"We had a different kind of homecoming (after Vietnam)," he said.\nPowell also discussed his book, "My American Journey," which became an international best-seller. He talked about how the name of the book had to be translated to have international appeal.\nWhen his publisher brought to him an offer from China's Red Army Publishers, he jokingly said "That's the bad guy."\nBecause Powell spoke for more than an hour, the planned question and answer session had to be canceled, Gosman said.\nStill, the audience was not disappointed.\n"(He's) a great role model for a lot of children and young adults like myself," said freshman Justin Butler, an ROTC cadet.\nPowell's humorous, down-to-earth delivery also impressed the audience.\n"When you think of someone being a soldier, you don't really think of the humor," Baker said.\nGosman said he was pleased with Powell's speech. \n"He spoke eloquently, touched on a large number of important issues and provided the IU campus with a very memorable event," Gosman said.