I have been struggling with this question all summer.
Well, not struggling with it, but rather I have been surprised at other people’ s perspectives on it. It’s no secret that there is a big gap between academia and the public and even policy makers for that matter. I think this is a problem and is central to a lot of the problems in society today. I know I must have blogged before about my disgust with the politics in academia and the hubris of some of the professors and phd students that I have met through time.
If/when I do become a phd, I don’t want to write 10 nooks on some random topic that no one cares about and not even make the effort to apply those ideas to raising awareness/solving some social/political ill. The thought of being a self-consumed tenured at one of the top — programs professor is depressing.
I think this summer has made me realize just how wide the gap between academics and the masses can really be.
but I’ve met some folk who don’t feel that way. I guess I will write about this later, when I reflect more, but I just wanted to put the question out there.
p.s. I still love Tariq Rammadan