Thursday, December 26, 2019

Current Events Discussion Topics

An on-line "Zoom" discussion is conducted every Monday morning at 9:30am Chicago time through the North Shore Senior Center hosted by Ron Mantegna. You can enroll in this discussion session at   https://www.nssc.org/

Ron conducts a Northbrook Library zoom discussion every 1st and 3rd and 5th Thursday, 10-11:30am. Open free to all who enroll.  Contact the Northbrook Library to connect with Ron Mantegna.                                                                        

What would it signal if Trump withheld the $11B arms package to Taiwan? Trump discussed Taiwan arms sales with Xi “and I’ve not made a determination”. Rubio: “Our Taiwan policy has not changed.” Xi: “Taiwan is the most important issue in our relations. Handled properly, the relationship will enjoy overall stability. Otherwise, the two countries will have clashes and even conflicts, putting the entire relationship in great jeopardy.” Trump, while returning to America: “We don’t want war.”

 

China clearly sees America as a super-power in decline. Trump says China’s view is a result of  how Biden weakened America—but he has brought us back stronger than ever. Your thoughts.

 

How much of a risk to America is Iran today vs. Iran’s risk to us before this War? Does China have sufficient reason or even the ability to help America resolve our conflict with Iran?

 

How does separating ourselves from our Traditional European Allies affect our security? How much is NATO being forced to change because of our actions?  Spain has called for the creation of a European Union army to replace the protections offered by NATO.

 

Trump brought America’s premier Business Leaders with him to China. Is focus on “swinging business deals” a “plus” for our Economy, or does it reduce the focus on Affordability?

 

Do you see Democrats as “feckless”? 59% of Americans view the Party unfavorably.

 

What should we do about America’s failing Education? Does it directly affect Democracy? High school seniors’ reading scores in 2024 were the lowest recorded since 1992. Math scores for 12th graders hit their lowest level since 2005. Concerns include the ability:

·       evaluate information critically

·       understand public policy

·       distinguish evidence from misinformation

·       participate in voting and civic institutions

·       and communicate across disagreement

 

How positive is this kind of Religious event? A major 250th-anniversary prayer gathering was conducted Sunday on the National Mall. It’s was a daylong Christian prayer/worship gathering with music, testimonies, speeches, and public prayer. Calling it “Rededicate 250”, planners say it reminded America that our Founding Fathers wanted America to be a Christian Nation. Did they?

 

Is it OK to allow bets on ANYTHING?  FANDUEL is now entering the Prediction Market. Folks who never worked on a trading floor are moving markets with informed wagers. Some are getting rich. What’s going on?

 

Is this as a true Freedom of Speech issue? ABC has accused the Federal Communications Commission of violating its free speech rights by investigating “The View” just because the program discusses political views the Administration doesn’t like. What about attacks on Late Night?

 

Where do you think the Chicago Bears will end up playing?

 

How much of America’s current Affordability Problems may be a carry-over from Biden’s Liberal Democrat policies that may still be affecting our Economy today?

 

Are UFO’s “real”? Do you believe there is Intelligent Life outside Earth? Could they be so different we’d never know they were here?

 

The color of money is now gray. What are the ramifications of Seniors holding more wealth? In 1989, Americans over age 55 held 56% of the wealth. Today it’s 74%. Wealth for under 40 has shrunk from 12 to 6.6%. 18% of Americans are Senior citizens, up from 13% in 1990.

 

US will be “taking over Cuba almost immediately”.  Why? What about indicting Castro?

 

How healthy are we with RFK Jr? Officials at the Food & Drug Administration blocked publication of several studies supporting the safety of widely used vaccines against Covid-19 and shingles.

 

Is the issue of Women’s Rights back on the ballot? The Supreme Court temporarily restored access to the teleprescribing and mailing of abortion drugs, which now account for more than 60% of all abortions in the health system. How might this issue affect the November Election?

 

Pope v. Trump? The Pope calls for peace through diplomacy and speaks out against nuclear armament. Trump attacks the Pope as “WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy. Are both correct? Should Hegseth’s Christian views disqualify him from office?

 

What is the measure of Competency for an Administration? How would you evaluate Trump’s?

 

A President shapes the political culture of national life. Is “divisiveness” today’s tone? How much does this attitude reflect our nature as a People vs. just the attitude of our President?

 

How is the California Senate Race playing out? Might we see two Republicans as Nominees?

 

What are the ramifications of the UAI pulling out of OPEC?

 

What is happening with Trump’s “Board of Peace”?

 

How does the President stamping his “brand” on everything affect his political standing?

 

Talarico, a Democrat, is leading in Texas Senate poll. Is this the year D’s DO win in Texas?

 

Is Musk’s idea plausible? “Universal HIGH INCOME via checks issued by the Federal government is the best way to deal with unemployment caused by AI. AI/robotics will produce goods & services far in excess of the increase in the money supply, so there will not be inflation.”  Concerns: It doesn’t address sense of purpose. People go to work every day feeling they matter.

 

Good idea? Sunlight at night via mirrors: a big Night Light in the Sky. A Start-Up Wants to Launch a Space Mirror. The company is seeking F.C.C. approval to test an idea to reflect sunlight to Earth at night, possibly powering solar panels. Is it worth the risk? What could go wrong?

 

Is eliminating all standards for greenhouse gas emissions in our best interests? How smart is it to totally disregard the concerns of scientists vs. moderating how standards apply?

Thursday, December 15, 2016

Israeli History/Israeli Current Events


Upcoming Discussion

Mark Gelfeld leads a Zoom discussion at the Northbrook Library 10am to 11:30am every 2nd and 4th Thursday. Signup is free at this link. A library card is not needed. 
https://visit.northbrook.info/event/4628524

Israeli Current Events will be discussed for the first portion of our session.
Then...we'll continue reviewing events related to the First Lebanon War
Links below allow you to review slides we show and discuss at each session.

Zionism/Israeli History through 1967  

Below is a list of books mentioned during our sessions:

· "The Arab-Israeli Wars" by Chaim Herzog
· "Kissinger and the Yom Kippur War" by David Morse
· "The Making of Modern Israel 1948-1967" by Leslie Stein
· "Palestine and the Arab-Israeli Conflict" by Charles D. Smith
· “The Iron Wall: Israel & The Arab World” by Avi Shlaim
· “Transformative Justice: Israeli Identity on Trial” by Leora Bilsky
· "Six Days of War : June 1967 and the Making of the Modern Middle East" by Michael Oren
· “The Secret War Against The Jews: How Western Espionage Betrayed the Jewish People” by John Loftus and Mark Aarons
· “A Safe Haven: Harry S. Truman and the Founding of Israel” by Allis Radosh and Ronald Rados
· "Truman" by David McCullough
· “Louis D. Brandeis: A Life” by Melvin Urofsky
· “The Prime Ministers: An Intimate Narrative of Israeli Leadership” by Yehuda Avner
· “George C. Marshall” by Forest Pogue (a 4 volume work- the most definitive biography)
· “1948: A History of the First Arab-Israeli War” by Benny Morris
· “Woodrow Wilson: A Biography” by John Milton Cooper, Jr
· “A Peace to End All Peace: The Fall of the Ottoman Empire and the Creation of the Modern Middle East” by David Fromkin
· "Constantine’s Sword: The Church and the Jews": A History by James Carroll
· “In the Garden of the Beasts” by Erik Larson
· “My Promised Land - The Triumph & Tragedy of Israel” by Ari Shavit
· "A Problem from Hell: America and the Age of Genocide" by Samantha Power
· "The Physician" by Noah Gordon
· "Start-up Nation: the Story of Israel's Economic Miracle" by Dan Senor and Saul Singer
· "Eichmann in Jerusalem: a Report on the Banality of Evil" by Hannah Arendt
· "The Eichmann Trial" by Deborah Lipstadt
· "The House on Garibaldi Street" by Isser Harrel
· "Son of Hamas: A Gripping Account of Terror, Betrayal, Political Intrigue, and Unthinkable Choices" by Mosab Hassan Yousef
· “Eichmann Before Jerusalem: The Unexamined Life of A Mass Murder” by Bettina Stangneth
· "Jaffa Beach" by Fedora Horowitz
· "Operation Thunderbolt:  Flight 139 and the Raid on Entebbe Airport, the most Audacious Hostage Rescue in History", by Saul David
· "Abba Eban", A Biography by Asaf Siniver
· "Jerusalem: The Biography" by Simon Sebag Montefiore
· "The Way to the Spring: Life and Death in Palestine" by Ben Ehrenreich
· "Jabotinsky" by Hillel Halkin
· "Doomed to Succeed: The U.S. Israel Relationship from Truman to Obama" by Dennis Ross 
· "The Angel: The Egyptian Spy Who Saved Israel" by Uri-Bar Joseph
· "FDR and the Jews" by Richard Breitman
· "No Ordinary Time" by Doris Kearns Goodwin
· "Remember the Liberty!:Almost Sunk by Treason on the High Seas" by Phillip F Nelson, Ronald G. Kukal, Ernest A. Gallo 
· "Israel: A Concise History of a Nation Reborn" by Daniel Gordis
· "Every Spy a Prince" The Complete History of Israel's Intelligence Community by Dan Raviv and Yossi Melman
· "FDR and the Holocaust: A Breach of Faith" by Rafael Medoff
· "Rise and Kill First: The Secret History of Israel's Targeted Assassinations" by Ronen Bergman
· "Then They Came for Me - Martin Niemoller, the Pastor Who Defied the Nazis" - Matthew Hockenos
· "We Stand Divided - The Rift Between American Jews and Israel" - Daniel Gordis
· "BiBi" - Anshel Pfeffer
· "Black Wave: Saudi Arabia, Iran and the 40-year Rivalry That Unraveled Culture, Religion, and Collective Memory in the Middle East" - Kim Ghattas


















Thursday, March 6, 2014

WELCOME TO TODAY'S DISCUSSION



“Current Events” Code of Conduct

We respect each other and conduct our discussions with civility.

This includes:

      Never using loud, abusive, threatening or insulting language.
      Never offending, threatening, or insulting groups or individuals based on race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, or any disability.
      Never being under the influence of anything but our best behavior.
      Never harming anyone, including fighting or challenging anyone to fight.
      Understanding every aspect of Sexual Harassment - This includes: • making inappropriate personal comments or sexual advances • using obscene or lewd language or gestures • staring at, or following anyone in a manner that reasonably can be expected to disturb him or her • exposing others to sexual Internet content.

Ron's Rules:

1. Civility means treating each other with respect. Hate the comment. Love the commenter. When you make it personal, I will stop you. Talk to the issue. Respond like this: “I disagree. Strawberry is not better than butter pecan. Here’s why. ….”  Responses like this are out of line: “You’re an F-ing idiot if you think strawberry is better than butter pecan!”   Our goal is to shed light more than heat.

2. If someone else makes your point, you don’t need to make it again.

3. I try to seek different views. In doing so, I will call on some folks more than others so there’s a chance to hear different sides. But I may not get to everyone for some topics.

4. If you’re seeking a “support group” to vent heart-felt rants, go elsewhere. Attend with an open mind. You don’t need to agree with what you hear—just do try to understand the other side. I’m preaching to myself here as well.

5. Finally, It’s perfectly OK to push back against my questions you feel are too slanted or flat out incorrect. That’s going to happen.  Just don’t be picky in the interest of time.