patrick graham, dcl ‘16ukings.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/grahamcitationdcl16.pdf · 2020. 3....

PatrickGraham,DCL‘16

DomineCancellari;praesentovobisPatriciumGraham,utadmittaturadgradumDoctorisinIureCivili(honoriscausa).

OnewonderswhethertheyoungPatrickGraham,toilingawayathisFoundationYearpapersinthemid-1980s,hadanynotionthathewouldcomposehisfuturedispatchesnotinacozyfug,likethatofbayroomatKings,butinthedenser,andcertainlymoredangerous,atmospheresofwarandrevolutionthroughouttheworld.Afreelancewriterwhohasreportedfromsomeoftheglobe’shottestspots,Mr.Grahammightbeforgivenforforgoingtheliterary-philosophicalconundrumsthatchallengedhimintheFYPorinhissubsequentdegreesfromColumbiaandDalhousie,wherehecompletedanMAinClassics.Yetthejournalismhehasproducedoverthreedecadesbetraystheearlyimprint.Themanwhofamouslysnuckintopost9/11Afghanistandisguisedinaburqa,andwholaterspentayearwiththeIraqiresistanceinFalluja,hasacourageousthirstandforinquirythattranscendspresentephemera.Indeed,theFYPpersofthishour,onthevergeofcompletingtheirownbrieftouroftheancientworld,willrecognizethestrongtracesofancientthinkinginMr.Graham’s2012memoir,TheManWhoWenttoWar.IncoveringtherevolutioninLibya,Mr.GrahamoftencastshisownexperienceandthatofothersinancientGreekterms.Hespeaksofekstasis,orstandingoutsideoneself,ofHomericthumos,theirrepressibledesireintheyoungforself-expressionandrecognition,andoftheinhumaneisolationoftheidios,theprivatecitizencutofffromcommunityandthushisownemotions.PatrickGraham’sjournalismexemplifiescomplexanalysisinagenretoooftenrequiredtoclarifytheinherentlyopaque.HereportedfromBaghdadduringtheUSinvasionofIraqasacorrespondentfortheLondonObserver.HehaswrittenfortheNationalPost,theWalrus,andtheGuardian,andisasought-aftercommentatoronradioandtelevision.AmonghisrecentachievementswasanexclusiveinterviewfortheGlobeandMailwithformerEgyptianPresidentMorsibeforethemilitarycoupthatdeposedhimin2013.AmonghisnumerousawardsisOverseasPressClubawardforhis2004coverstoryonFallujainHarper’s.Hehasalsoventuredintofilmasco-writerofAfghanLuke,whosestoryisdrawninpartfromhisexperiencesofreportinginAfghanistan.Likeaone-manversionofKing’sitself,PatrickGrahambringshumanitiesandjournalismtogethertoinformthepresentwiththepast.Andyetthisstudentofthehumancondition,whosewritingcareerbegansoauspiciouslyatKing’s,remainswithoutaKing’sdegree!Isitnotfitting,Mr.Chancellor,thatthisCanadianHerodotusofouragebehonouredbytheCollegewhosemissionhesoadmirablymodels?Ithereforeaskyou,inthenameofKing’sCollege,tobestowuponPatrickGrahamthedegreeofDoctorofCivilLaws(honoriscausa).