Shadia Drury discusses America's worldly status for Burke Lecture

By Eric Reikowski, staff writer

Oakland University will host a stimulating exploration of American’s status and stature in the world when it welcomes Canada Research Chair in Social Justice Shadia B. Drury to the 2010 Richard J. Burke Lecture in Philosophy, Religion and Society.

Drury, director of the masters program in social and political thought and a professor in the departments of political science and philosophy at the University of Regina in Saskatchewan, will present “American Exceptionalism?” at 8 p.m. on Thursday, April 15, in the Oakland Center Gold Rooms.

She defines American Exceptionalism as the distinctive form that American nationalism has assumed, but is careful to distinguish between a moderate version of American nationalism that provides the country with ideals and aspirations and a more radical one that can lead to the pursuit of global dominance.

Now in its fifth year, the Burke Lecture provides a forum for discussion of compelling and controversial topics among scholars, students and members of the community.

Dr. Drury is the first woman to deliver the Burke Lecture, which has hosted internationally recognized philosophers and writers, including bioethicist Dr. Peter Singer and Dr. Richard Falk, a United Nations appointee.

“We haven’t avoided controversy in the past and I don’t think this year’s lecture will avoid it either,” said Dr. Richard J. Burke, charter faculty member and emeritus professor of philosophy at OU. “It shows that a university is a place where controversial issues can be talked about openly.”

The lecture is free and open to the public. To make reservations, call (248) 370-2650 or e-mail klcark@oakland.edu.