Eric Liu
Civic entrepreneur Eric Liu will speak on what patriotism really means in the next University Lectures presentation on Tuesday, Oct. 22.
Liu’s presentation, “The True Meaning of Patriotism,” will begin at 7:30 p.m. in Hendricks Chapel and is free and open to the public. American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation and Communication Access Real Time (CART) will be available. Reduced-rate parking will be available in the Irving Garage.
In his work, Liu takes both the left and the right to task for forgetting the moral principles that give real meaning to love of country, and reminds all that we can live out the American ideal in our everyday choices. He believes citizenship is about showing up for community and country—and that anyone can be, and should be, a great citizen. In his opinion, this is a pivotal moment for Americans from left, right and center to reclaim responsibility for solving problems together. In this University Lectures presentation, Liu will share thoughts on how to accomplish this, as well as address the question of what patriotism really means.
Liu has been hailed by The New York Times and The Washington Post as a leading voice of his generation, and is founder of the Guiding Lights Network (), which promotes and teaches the art of creative citizenship. The organization brings together leaders, catalysts and innovators in creative ways to generate new solutions to collective challenges. His book, “Guiding Lights: How to Mentor—and Find Life’s Purpose,” describes the ways of transformative mentors from all walks of life.
Other lecturers during the fall 2013 semester are poet Billy Collins, “Aimless Love: New and Selected Poetry with Billy Collins” (Wednesday, Oct. 30, at 7:30 p.m.); and American statesman Sen. George J. Mitchell, in conversation with Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs Dean James Steinberg, “Pan Am 103 and Our World 25 Years Later” (Tuesday, Nov. 12 at 5:30 p.m.—change from the previously announced time).
During the spring 2013 semester, guests will include MSNBC host Chris Hayes, “Twilight of the Elites” (Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2014 at 7:30 p.m.); New Yorker cartoonist and author Roz Chast, “Theories of Everything and Much, Much More” (Wednesday, March 5, 2014 at 7:30 p.m.—change from the previously announced date); actress and playwright Anna Deavere Smith, “Snapshots: Portraits of a World in Transition” (Tuesday, March 25, 2014 at 5 p.m.); and education advocate and author Diane Ravitch, “The Death and Life of the Great American School System” (Tuesday, April 1, 2014 at 7:30 p.m.).
The Office of University Lectures welcomes suggestions for future speakers. To recommend a speaker, or to receive additional information about the University Lectures series, contact Esther Gray in the Office of Academic Affairs at 315-443-2941 or eegray@syr.edu. More information can be found at or on Facebook at .
