I'm not going to lie, I was feeling awfully tired and cranky this morning, and the last thing I wanted to do at 10 am was go listen to a lecture given by a person I had never heard of.
However, I was pleasantly surprised by the experience.
Although my eyes had trouble staying open (not at all because Sir Jeremy Hanley was boring, just because I was really THAT tired), he is the type of speaker that doesn't have to make an effort to get you to listen. You just do. I loved sitting there and just listening to his life's adventures and everything that he's accomplished. The topics he discussed were serious, but he managed to make the tone of the lecture fun and witty. What made it even greater was the fact that he had a British accent. I had to leave early to make it to work on time, but I did get to hear all about his colorful experiences in Northern Ireland, and all of the differences between our government and British government.
His talk was inspiring, and made me want to get up and accomplish something great with my life. I just wish more people had been there to hear him speak! They honestly missed out. MSU should promote events like this more.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
A Brit
Entering the Union at 10am not knowing what to expect from a required lecture I ended up leaving satisfied.
The Right Honorable Sir Jeremy Hanley visited Michigan State University the morning of Oct. 23, his lecture was sponsored by the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research. The lecture entitled, "USA-UK: Still a Special Relationship?" was not a topic I would usually be interested in. And with his credentials, government involvement and world travels I expected a bland lecture on history. However, I did enjoy the speech and Hanley's experiences.
I learned a lot about how the government runs in the UK with their House of Lords, House of Commons, prime minister and the Queen. Hanley's sense of humor lighten the semi-serious lecture telling stories about Winston Churchill, Margaret Thatcher and impersonating Northern Ireland's Reverend Doctor Ian Paisley.
It was reassuring when he explained that the UK and the USA do have a special relationship and the reasons why in a time when many nations do not support the USA and our actions.
Right Honorable Sir Jeremy Hanley
Going into the Right Honorable Sir Jeremy Hanley's presentation, I had no idea what to expect. I had never heard of him before and was not sure what exactly he would be talking about. I was pleasantly surprised when his speech was very funny and informative.
I was unaware of how the United Kingdom's government worked, and now I feel like I have a better grasp of parliament.
I had no idea how decorated this man was, and was thoroughly impressed at how many offices and titles he has held.
While I was a little confused when it came to discussing what exactly he did in each position, he was very engaging and I enjoyed listening to him. His accent didn't hurt either. I could probably listen to him recite the alphabet over and over again.
I was unaware of how the United Kingdom's government worked, and now I feel like I have a better grasp of parliament.
I had no idea how decorated this man was, and was thoroughly impressed at how many offices and titles he has held.
While I was a little confused when it came to discussing what exactly he did in each position, he was very engaging and I enjoyed listening to him. His accent didn't hurt either. I could probably listen to him recite the alphabet over and over again.
Sir Jeremy Hanley
I must admit, my favorite part of Sir Jeremy Hanley's lecture wasn't the speech itself. It was the speaker's rich British accent and imitated Irish brogue.
Within minutes of sitting down to listen to Hanley's lecture, I found myself completely unaware of what he had even been talking about. I was completely focused on that voice.
Luckily, Sir Jeremy managed to pull me out of my daze with a joke about Margaret Thatcher. The audience's laughter gave me the jolt I needed to refocus on the lecture. And once I actually started listening, I enjoyed myself.
I was amazed to find how much different British government is from U.S. government. While both countries have a bicameral legislature, British legislators never stop representing their local communities when they take a seat in the national house. They are essentially performing the job that requires both a state and national legislator in the U.S.
Although I was aware of the "figurehead" and "actual" governments in Great Britain, I wasn't aware that it was possible to be a member of both. And I certainly wasn't aware that the traditional policy of appointing Lords through hereditary lines was still in practice.
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to stay for the entire lecture to hear Sir Jeremy actually arrive on the topic of U.S.-Great Britain relations. But from the tidbit I heard, I'm sure his talk was engrossing.
The only drawback of Hanley's lecture was that there weren't more people there to hear him speak. It's a shame that MSU students aren't aware or don't take advantage of the unique opportunities our university provides.
Within minutes of sitting down to listen to Hanley's lecture, I found myself completely unaware of what he had even been talking about. I was completely focused on that voice.
Luckily, Sir Jeremy managed to pull me out of my daze with a joke about Margaret Thatcher. The audience's laughter gave me the jolt I needed to refocus on the lecture. And once I actually started listening, I enjoyed myself.
I was amazed to find how much different British government is from U.S. government. While both countries have a bicameral legislature, British legislators never stop representing their local communities when they take a seat in the national house. They are essentially performing the job that requires both a state and national legislator in the U.S.
Although I was aware of the "figurehead" and "actual" governments in Great Britain, I wasn't aware that it was possible to be a member of both. And I certainly wasn't aware that the traditional policy of appointing Lords through hereditary lines was still in practice.
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to stay for the entire lecture to hear Sir Jeremy actually arrive on the topic of U.S.-Great Britain relations. But from the tidbit I heard, I'm sure his talk was engrossing.
The only drawback of Hanley's lecture was that there weren't more people there to hear him speak. It's a shame that MSU students aren't aware or don't take advantage of the unique opportunities our university provides.
Sir Jeremy Hanley
Having to attend a lecture by a world diplomat on the relationship between the U.S. and UK didn't interest me, at least until Sir Jeremy Hanley walked to the podium. Like most politicians, I thought he would lack enthusiasm and get on with his speech quickly. I was pleasantly surprised as he relayed funny stories on Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher, to hear all the places he had been. I'm not the type of person to understand national news, especially the relationship and history between nations. Hanley used his laid-back personality and humor to explain this relationship in terms I could understand. I was actually disappointed to have to leave before his speech was over, especially since he started late and I didn't get to hear much of his lecture.
I was surprised at the formal dress attire many had and also how many students were there, especially internatinonal students. It would be interesting to know whether this lecture was extra credit for a class or if they came on their own. His explanation of the British government helped me understand things I didn't know before, and it's interesting to note he was an accountant and didn't seem to see himself in the role he has today. I don't know the exact reason he came to speak at MSU and why the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research brought him here, but I enjoyed all that I saw. I honestly wish I could've stayed until the end of the lecture.
I don't know if I would go to a lecture put on my any diplomat, but Hanley showed me politics have a different side. A funny side that was great on a cold Thursday morning.
I was surprised at the formal dress attire many had and also how many students were there, especially internatinonal students. It would be interesting to know whether this lecture was extra credit for a class or if they came on their own. His explanation of the British government helped me understand things I didn't know before, and it's interesting to note he was an accountant and didn't seem to see himself in the role he has today. I don't know the exact reason he came to speak at MSU and why the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research brought him here, but I enjoyed all that I saw. I honestly wish I could've stayed until the end of the lecture.
I don't know if I would go to a lecture put on my any diplomat, but Hanley showed me politics have a different side. A funny side that was great on a cold Thursday morning.
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