Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
Former Maryland Gov. Bob Ehrlich Jr. delighted Towson University students with a visit last week that included a discussion about rhetoric and plugs for his new book that analyzes the unexpected election of Donald J. Trump as the 45th president.
“If you take away one thing from today, take away this: don’t let anyone identify you or corner you,” Ehrlich told students in the Persuasion Communications class in Burdick Hall on Thursday afternoon.
Ehrlich Jr., who served as Maryland governor from 2003 to 2007, was invited by Professor Richard Vatz. He said his advice was for students in any career or field that they want to pursue. He stressed that students should not allow a person or society make them feel that they are incapable of acquiring a skill or accomplishing a task for a particular career.
Ehrlich also touched on controversial issues on the political spectrum. On the left side of the spectrum, he talked about nationalism and hate speech. On the right side of the spectrum, he focused on fake news and big government.
Ehrlich recently published, “Bet You Didn’t See That One Coming: Obama, Trump, and the End of Washington’s Regular Order,” which looks at “the earth-shattering changing of the guard in Washington, how it’s turned establishment politics on its head, and what it all means for the future of the nation.” But on Thursday, he focused on rhetoric and how he used it to establish himself in his career.
“Hate speech is based off context,” Ehrlich said. “If I wore a ‘Make America Great Again’ hat that is my political speech. However, in the context of immigration, hate speech can come in.”
Ehrlich explained that just because people are Republican does not make them a racist. He also said that context is very important when it comes to sensitive issues in society. He examined nationalism, discussing how nationalism can be in the middle due to positive and negative nationalism.
Ehrlich drew a lively discussion with Towson junior Samira Barnes when he discussed negative and positive nationalism.
“Nationalism to me is that my country is perfect and great and yours is not,” Barnes said.
Ehrlich explained, “Nationalism can even be in the middle of the political spectrum. Nationalism can be positive because people can feel that their flawed country is a pretty darn good country and here is why. However, they know their country is still flawed.”
That discussion motivated other students to share their opinion.
Ehrlich said he continues to work within the Baltimore community and has many projects that impact Maryland residents.
“I have a criminal justice reform clinic at Catholic University and it takes up a lot of my attention, whereas [as] governor I was taking up a lot of with criminal justice, foreign issues, and pardons, commutations, collateral consequence, and activism before it was cool and to see what we start is now across the country is very satisfying,” said Ehrlich.
“I love it and have done it for 27 years with Richard,” said Ehrlich. “I love the interaction with the students.”
Chris Massoni, the former governor’s past assistant, vouched for Ehrlich’s successes.
“After he won, he kept his word and brought everyone with him and he was true to that,” Massoni said. “He is more of a public servant than a politician. He is exactly like what you saw and he is very honest, loyal and a good person. I don’t think that I could work for a politician.
I have been following him for 20 years and he was in Congress when I started.”
Massoni said he also enjoyed the rapport with the students.
“As students you should keep asking question,” said Massoni.
“I felt Bob Ehrlich gave great advice for students in my class,” said Barnes. “As a Mass Communication major, I do believe that a rhetorical approach as a journalist or in any profession will get you to where you want to go.”
Class ended with Ehrlich handing out signed copies of two of his books that were donated by Nancy Grasmick, the former Maryland State Superintendent of Schools.