Sydney Life

An invitation to attend a lecture given by the American Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice was more problematic than you would first imagine. Does the fact that I take issue with her actions and those of the administration she represents mean that I should have politely declined?

Let's not beat arond the bush here (no pun intended), there was never any chance that I was going to refuse. Does that make me a sell out? Maybe. However, It's not as if the absence of the extremely un-eminent Tim was going to be any skin off her nose. I began to see it as an opportunity to see one of the most powerful women in the world and hear what she had to say for herself and her actions. What ensued was an insight into her truth, freedom and American way.

Arriving at the Conservatorium of music just after the clash between the protesters and the line of police, my first identity crisis occured as I crossed the formidable blue line. Should I be on this side or that? I felt the eyes on the back of my head as I showed my ID card to a mountain of a man with a gun at his side. I racked my brains for a sign of solidarity I could show my fellow students. Finding nothing, I slinked through pretending I could not hear their chants.

Once inside the Con, I was asked to check my mobile phone and walk through a metal detector. Police and American secret service men and women stalked around looking concerned and important. I then had the joy of convincing a guard that my digital camera was a device for capturing images with no optional functions for harming visiting American politicians.

The theatre was divided between students from many NSW Universities and representatives from the press. However, the focus was clearly on the students. Only the students were allowed to ask questions in the extensive
question time. What impressed me the most and satiated my student ego was being told by an AFP journalist that one of Rice's favourite games was to give lectures to students in whatever country she was in. Once a teacher
always a teacher I guess.

The forty five minute wait inside the theatre was tense. The selected audience of USyd students was a veritable who's who of Labour right on campus, with a few exceptions. As a result I felt severly underdresed in my smart casual attire. The conversation topic du jour was how each of us recieved an invitation and our reasons for being there. The time also gave me a chance to study the secret service members. Those people are amazing. They were clearly on high alert for the entire period of time. With their bodies tense and squared, their eyes constantly moved in their sockets, continually assessing the theatre for threats. I felt like I was on the set of a Harrison Ford movie. Only with less mid life crisis.

Condoleezza finally appeared, walked the walk and talked the talk. Everything about her was measured to perfection. The duration of her smile after every compliment given by the Chancellor, the skill with which she covered every political hotspot in the world and the intonation and inflection of her speech. She was certainly an impressive speaker. The flawless delivery suggested hours of practice and her ability to deal with the three student protesters who interupted her showed that she was used to the arguments and the process of being argued with.

Despite her emphasis on the question period, It felt as if every answer was prepared for. I guess it was unrealistic to hope for a moment where she would be caught out, where we would hear something we hadn't heard before or a departure from the official line. That would assume that there is a difference between her and the Presidential Administration. I realised that as a senior member of the cabinet she doesn't have that luxury. She is and always will be completely inseperable from the Bush administration and the policy it creates.

What was really disturbing about the experience was how with the mere presence of one of the key players of recent history my ideas about American foreign policy were shaken. As I thought about it later I realised that they were shaken because they were not as developed as I thought they were. My knowledge of recent past events is only based on cursory glances at the media. I have not been aware enough to make informed judgements. It was an experience that gave me the desire to find out more, to be able to defend my point of view and not only rely on my gut reaction. I am certain of my political persuasion, but I am determined to become more informed about why I feel this way.

Hearing Condoleezza Rice speak was a surreal experience and one that I will not forget in a hurry. I am glad that i attended, if only for the realisation that I have a long way to go before I can claim to be an informed member of the general public. For that reason alone I believe it will be one of the more important events of my academic career. If you are interested you can read the transcript here: http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2006/63166.htm
Oh, and by the way Lauren, her shoes were amazing. Little black shiny heels with a bow. You would have loved them.