Calderón urges Harvard grads to serve public

Calderón, who has been an outspoken critic of Arizona’s new immigration law and some federal policies, steered clear of border issues during his commencement address. He spoke one day after President Obama ordered 1,200 National Guard troops to help guard the southwestern border, near where drug-related violence has killed thousands in the past several years.

Instead, Calderón focused on the need for politicians to pursue reforms, even if they cost money and are politically unpopular.

“What is important is to have something to fight for and to live for, and then you must have the determination and courage to build your life and your work around those beliefs,’’ Calderón, a Kennedy school alumnus elected president in 2006, said in a 15-minute speech to more than 500 graduates and their guests.

“We live in times in which many people cannot see beyond their personal gain or their personal interest,’’ he said. “This is unfortunate because they have lost in many cases the sense of giving back, the satisfaction of serving others and the fulfillment of working for the common good.’’

Last week, Calderón made headlines in a speech to Congress in which he called Arizona’s immigration law “a terrible idea.’’ In April, the border state passed the strictest immigration law in the nation, requiring state and local police to question people’s legal status if they have a reasonable suspicion that they are here illegally, raising concerns about racial profiling.

Also Calderón had urged the US government to reinstate a ban on many assault weapons, a ban that expired during the administration of George W. Bush. Such a move, he said, would help stem the flow of guns into Mexico. Democrats gave him a standing ovation, but some Republicans later criticized him for assailing US state and federal laws.

At Harvard yesterday, Calderón focused on public service and human rights. He outlined his administration’s “hard choices’’ that aim to benefit the public good in Mexico, a nation of more than 100 million.

For instance, he said, his government openly warned people about the deadly swine flu outbreak to save lives, even though the fallout severely damaged Mexico’s tourism industry and other economic sectors.

Mexico also confronted organized crime, he said, despite the bloody drug war that ensued. More than 23,000 people have died since 2006 in Mexico’s war against traffickers, according to news reports. The nation also focused on financial stability that he said has allowed Mexico to avoid a crisis such as the one in Greece. Mexico’s economy grew 4.3 percent in the first quarter of this year, he said.

Calderón added that Mexico is building medical clinics with the goal of providing universal health coverage to “every Mexican who needs it’’ by 2012.

“There are no big changes that do not imply cost,’’ he said. “In public service, you have to be prepared to pay these costs.

“Believe me. This is far better than paying long-term costs to achieve short-term goals.’’

Material from the Associated Press was included in this report. Maria Sacchetti can be reached at msacchetti@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter at @mariasacchetti.