National Review editor speaks in Whig Hall on two lines

Ramesh Ponnuru '95, a senior editor at National Review magazine, spoke last night in the Senate Chamber of Whig Hall about "Politics in Wartime."

The talk was part of a speakers program organized by the University's American Whig-Cliosophic Society.

In his speech, Ponnuru focused on how American politics has been affected both domestically and internationally by the Sept. 11 attacks and their aftermath. "The war forces us to acknowledge the limits of our power," he said. "It also might bring back the old virtues of America.

"How will the [United States'] attitude towards big government change?" Ponnuru asked the audience. He answered by discussing results of recent public opinion polls.

"The trust in the government has increased, but just because we trust the government in bombing the Taliban doesn't necessarily mean we will trust them in medical care."

During the question-and-answer-session after his remarks, Ponnuru reflected on the perception in Afghanistan that the United States is evil.

"I don't blame the Afghans that dance in the streets after the attacks," he said. "They have been brought up to believe in things about the [United States] that are not true."

Whig-Clio member Carlos Ramos-Mrosovsky '04 said, "Mr. Ponnuru made some very insightful observations about how the war on terrorism has changed the political landscape to one, in which foreign affairs have become much more important to the American public.

"I was also pleased that a former member of [Whig-Clio] came back to Princeton to talk about his success in political journalism. I'd like to think that Mr. Ponnuru gained some of his political and rhetorical skills here at Whig Hall."