Harvard rallies round its man Ignatieff
Tamsin McMahon,
National Post,
May 12, 2011
This is via the National Post, which is not the most reliable of sources. But it points to a difference in attitudes in Canada and south of the border. Here, writes the Post, is the reaction at Harvard to Canada's recent election results: "I think they're unhappy that his time spent in the U.S. at Harvard ended up hurting him, not really helping him in the election," said Paul Cellucci, former U.S. ambassador to Canada and a former governor of Massachusetts. "They're not happy about that and I don't blame them. You would think that spending time in Harvard would have a positive impact on your future career path." You would think? Not necessarily. Sure, the pay is good, but a career at Harvard is essentially one where you help the children of rich parents get rich. That might get you good jobs with other rich people, but it doesn't demonstrate the sort of social conscience one would expect from a national leader in Canada. Even Stephen Harper, Canada's Conservative prime minister, spent time in public service prior to seeking the top job, both as president of the National Citizen's Coalition, and as a Reform Party volunteer and candidate. What makes the life as an academic laudable is the dedication to public service, but there are venues - like Harvard - where that no longer applies. This, I think, is what they don't get at Harvard (and probably never will).
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