Faust on ROTC
Posted on June 5th, 2008 in Uncategorized |
As promised, Drew Faust used the occasion of the ROTC commissioning ceremony yesterday to criticize the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.
The freedoms we enjoy depend vitally on the service you and your forebears have undertaken in our behalf. Indeed, I wish that there were more of you. I believe that every Harvard student should have the opportunity to serve in the military, as you do, and as those honored in the past have done.
The Globe writes a sort of weird piece about the event.
Faust did not mention the ban explicitly. But with scholarly understatement, she made clear that the policy was inconsistent with the ideals of universities like Harvard, which she called “places not just where minds can flourish but where hearts are nourished as well – by commitment to the pursuit of truth, to the availability of opportunity based on merit, to the full inclusion of all in our hopes and possibilities.‘
Scholarly understatement? Well, that’s one way to put it. Faust made a choice not to mention the words “gay,” “lesbian,” “homosexual,” etc., in her speech, which could be tactful in an un-Summers kind of way but is also perhaps just a little too clever. Even when Drew Faust makes a “statement,” she gives herself a lot of wiggle room.
Earlier, the Globe described the president as “Faust, a military historian…”, a categoriziation that the Crimson used in a more nuanced way earlier in the week, suggesting that Faust’s flacks are pushing that meme in order to suggest that Faust’s take on “don’t ask” has a historical underpinning rather than a political or emotional one.
As I noted at the time, calling Faust a military historian is not really quite accurate. Her latest book certainly deals with soldiers and the military in terms of attitudes and responses to death, but taken as a whole, Faust’s work is really not military history.
I’m not quite sure what it means that Faust chose this issue to voice her first opinion on any public policy issue not specifically related to education, but it means something. As Faust continues to develop her presidential voice and persona, this speech will stand as a significant notch on the timeline.
4 Responses
If Faust was “tactful in an un-Summers kind of way” do you mean there was a Summers kind of way of being tactful? Give an example, I never saw it.
I thought President Faust’s speech was wonderful, just perfect.
She paid high tribute to those receiving their commissions, brought in history on many different levels, and was able to make her point about inclusion in a subtle manner.
Kudos to The President. Very impressive.
Anon: I meant that Faust was tactful in the sense that she brought up a political issue with subtlety and tact. She was courteous toward her audience, but still made her point.
Sam, given your stated concerns, that is high praise.
I was concerned because of President Faust’s quotes in The Crimson.
However, when she made her criticism at the ceremony in such a nuanced and appropriate way, and was able to put it in the context of both history and the current situation, there is every reason to offer high praise for her handling of a very delicate situation.
Let me put it this way: I would like to have had President Faust’s words said to me at my commissioning ceremony, which took place 41 years ago (of course, I would also like to just go back 41 years).
As mentioned… what she said yesterday, was very impressive, at least to me.