Ken Taylor Speaks on Campus
Former Canadian Ambassador Speaks About Middle East
The Homecoming lecture series at Concordia welcomed Kenneth D. Taylor, a former Canadian ambassador to Iran, to discuss his outlook on Middle Eastern politics and history.
He shed light on conflicts that have plagued the region since the turn of the last century, including the Iranian Hostage Crisis, in which he played a key role in the rescue of several American diplomats hiding in the Canadian Embassy.
When asked about the recent revolts in North Africa and the Middle East, he cited social media as a driving force behind political change, saying, “[after media exposure, youths found] they, too, could capture some sort of freedom; they, too, could be in leadership positions. […] People are losing patience with the status quo.”
Not forgetting his audience, Taylor spoke candidly about his experiences in Montreal and took a few moments at the end of his lecture to address Concordia students with a piece of advice: “Graduate, get a passport, and leave town. […] The perception of your own country is probably better gained by looking at your own country from a different perspective.”
