Posted on 03/07/2008 3:34:36 PM PST by kiriath_jearim
BOSTON (Reuters) - Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair will teach at Yale University in the next academic year starting in September, leading a course on "faith and globalization," the Ivy League school said on Friday.
Yale, the alma mater of U.S. President George W. Bush, said Blair had been appointed Howland Distinguished Fellow, a post that dates to 1915 and which has been occupied by such notable individuals as former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and journalist Sir Alistair Cooke.
Blair, a part-time international envoy for Palestinian economic development since he stepped down last year, will also participate in other events at the New Haven, Connecticut, campus, where he will teach the half-year course, Yale said.
He also plans to set up the Blair Faith Foundation, based in London, before taking up his teaching post, the university said.
The foundation aims to examine the role of religion in the modern world and to promote understanding among Christianity, Judaism and Islam.
"As the world continues to become increasingly inter-dependent, it is essential that we explore how religious values can be channeled toward reconciliation rather than polarization," Yale President Richard Levin said.
"Mr. Blair has demonstrated outstanding leadership in these areas and is especially qualified to bring his perspective to bear," he added in a statement.
Blair, 54, became leader of Britain's Labour Party in 1994. Three years later he became prime minister and remained in that role before stepping down last year.
There’s a few of us that do - and a growing ‘silent’ majority.
“I find nothing barfy about this at all.
Although I don’t agree with his domestic politics, Tony Blair was a good friend to the U.S. in our time of need and I won’t forget it.”
***
Has anyone here listened to Blair’s Labor Party speech when he first accepted its nomination to become the PM back in 1996? It was broadcast on C-SPAN. The speech sounded almost like the platform for the US Democratic Party when POTUS Bill Clinton accepted the Dem’s nomination for a second run at the White House.
Blair was also very much in favor of Britain’s handgun ban, among other things.
He’s a socialist.
Well, of course he’s a socialist. Britain is a socialist country and Tony Blair was the leader of the socialist (Labour) party.
As I said, I don’t agree at all with his domestic politics. However, on the War on Terror, there was no greater ally at our side and no greater spokesman. All of which he did at great political peril to himself.
There are many things in the immediate post-9/11 era that would have been much more difficult for us, if not impossible, if Tony Blair had not been for the special relationship between the U.S. and Britain and stood with us through thick and thin.
The farewell thread on FR when Tony Blair left office was incredible.
Even though, yes, he is a socialist.
All the best to you, and I am glad to hear the news.
Regards,
AR
Every sycophants orgasmic dream!
Promote you to Major!
In tropical climes there are certain times of day
When all the citizens retire
To tear their clothes off and perspire.
It's one of those rules that the greatest fools obey,
Because the sun is much too sultry
And one must avoid its ultra-violet ray.
The natives grieve when the white men leave their huts,
Because they're obviously definitely nuts!
Mad dogs and Englishmen
Go out in the midday sun,
The Japanese don't care to.
The Chinese wouldn't dare to,
Hindoos and Argentines sleep firmly from twelve to one.
But Englishmen detest a siesta.
In the Philippines
There are lovely screens
To protect you from the glare.
In the Malay States
There are hats like plates
Which the Britishers won't wear.
At twelve noon
The natives swoon
And no further work is done,
But mad dogs and Englishmen
Go out in the midday sun.
It's such a surprise for the Eastern eyes to see
That though the English are effete,
They're quite impervious to heat,
When the white man rides every native hides in glee,
Because the simple creatures hope he
Will impale his solar topee on a tree.
It seems such a shame
When the English claim
The earth
That they give rise to such hilarity and mirth.
Mad dogs and Englishmen
Go out in the midday sun.
The toughest Burmese bandit
Can never understand it.
In Rangoon the heat of noon
Is just what the natives shun,
They put their Scotch or Rye down,
And lie down.
In a jungle town
Where the sun beats down
To the rage of man and beast
The English garb
Of the English sahib
Merely gets a bit more creased.
In Bangkok
At twelve o'clock
They foam at the mouth and run,
But mad dogs and Englishmen
Go out in the midday sun.
Mad dogs and Englishmen
Go out in the midday sun.
The smallest Malay rabbit
Deplores this foolish habit.
In Hong Kong
They strike a gong
And fire off a noonday gun,
To reprimand each inmate
Who's in late.
In the mangrove swamps
Where the python romps
There is peace from twelve till two.
Even caribous
Lie around and snooze,
For there's nothing else to do.
In Bengal
To move at all is seldom,
If ever done,
But mad dogs and Englishmen
Go out in the midday sun.
And did those feet in ancient time
Walk upon England’s mountains green:
And was the holy Lamb of God
On England’s pleasant pastures seen!
And did the countenance divine
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem builded here,
Among these dark satanic mills?
Bring me my Bow of burning gold:
Bring me my Arrows of desire:
Bring me my Spear:
O clouds unfold!
Bring me my Chariot of fire!
I will not cease from Mental Fight,
Nor shall my Sword sleep in my hand:
Till we have built Jerusalem,
In England’s green & pleasant Land.
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