I don’t think either Lewandowski or Manning should have been invited by the School of Government. If student groups wanted to present them, that’s their right, but the invitations shouldn’t have had the imprimatur of the University. As for Manning, both Harvard and Manning are guilty of sexualizing the conversation. Harvard’s promotional language mentions Manning’s gender, which is, or should be, irrelevant… and then Manning did the same thing. If Manning were qualified to be honored, and I believe she is not, it should be because of accomplishment, not gender.
CIA Chief Mike Pompeo Thursday evening cancelled an appearance at Harvard, citing the school’s decision to name Manning a visiting fellow
I fail to see why Harvard students subjected to the stupidity of Pompeo, Sean Spicer, Joe Scarbourough, etc., couldn´t be counted on to hear and evaluate for themselves Chelsea Manning´s opinions.
If they’re going to invite Spicer to the School of Government, who’s next… Scaramucci? Melania? Mike Flynn’s son? Is the Kennedy School inviting serious scholars or is it going for a “ripped from the headlines” kind of approach… because I can’t imagine paying their level of tuition to be presented with lectures from Spicer, Manning, et al.
I’m not up to the dispiriting task of finding and scanning a list of people who have been named Visiting Fellows and enjoyed
what’s left of the “imprimatur”. I’ll bet there are some Lulus. Elmendorf doesn’t lose anything letting Pompeo think he’s a big man. But dollars to donuts the only “objections” that counted in this matter came from University donors.
Trump’s pardon of Arpaio should not, I believe, be extended to a reversal of Arpaio’s conviction for serious crimes. Arpaio was found guilty and no court has ruled otherwise. Similarly, Obama’s pardon of Manning did not exculpate Manning and should not be seen as reversing her conviction; she is still a convicted traitor… she’s just out of jail. For Harvard (or any institution) to allow Manning on campus to give a speech is within the bounds of the First Amendment, but to give her the honor of being a “Fellow” is unacceptable.
Former CIA Director Mike Morell resigned as a senior fellow at Harvard on Thursday
Manning managed to chase that torturer out of there, at least.
What were the criteria for naming Chelsea Manning a visiting fellow (whatever that means)? Does she have some particular insight into public affairs? No. She was a pitiful excuse for a soldier who betrayed an oath and endangered American troops and allies. Let her go off and live her life, but let’s not pretend she has some great wisdom to share.
Manning is no longer a fellow.
Just change the designation to visiting felon. It’ll probably fit most of them.
I am surprised that Morrell supports removing confederate statues.
This outraged me more about Harvard’s spineless Ness.
Cosigned in full. I don’t go to sleep every night wishing that some cosmic ill befalls Manning, but neither do I consider her worthy of praise in any sense. At best, she’s a person who did the wrong thing for what she mistakenly thought were the right reasons. This is (in my opinion) worthy of sympathy; it is not worthy of of celebration.
Your use of “it” as the pronoun referring to Manning is problematic. If you wish to argue the merits of her action, please feel free to, but moving forward, please at least treat her like the human being she is.
I’m fine with taking away the honorific but letting her speak, she certainly has a story to tell. Same goes for Sean Spicer, who’s lying and lowering of discourse levels is contrary to Harvard’s mission, but who also has a story to tell.
Henry Kissinger.
That is all.
Her crimes are a very important part of her past, as several commenters have noted. Please don’t forget, though, that she was then tortured by our government for an extended period afterward. The CIA officials having fits over her invitation to Harvard aren’t on record objecting to the torture of a US citizen by her own government.
The KSG is like a professional school. They learn theory and policy, certainly, but they see a lot of value to learning how things really work in the field. Nobody has to admire or even like Spicer to be interested in what it was like working for an administration like Trumpp’s.