All of this is not to say that Buchanan deserved a warm reception yesterday--Nazi apologists generally do not. Nevertheless, his appearance was a squandered opportunity for Harvard students to explore the platform of a man who may be more than an insignificant player in this year's race for the White House. A sophisticated discussion of Buchanan's policies might have given him, and the independents in the audience, something to think about. Yesterday, by confirming the country's worst suspicions about Harvard's self-righteous arrogance, we only alienated those independents and fueled Buchanan's devotion to his frightening cause.
Noah D. Oppenheim '00 is a social studies concentrator in Adams House. His column appears on alternate Fridays.