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.                                                       

How big a deal is the Nvidia mess? Huang—a Steve Jobs figure in the super-chip and A.I. world—resigns. What does it mean for America’s business, our security, dealings with China, risk to Lutnick?

 

Is Trump gearing up to focus on combat more than working with Democrats to get things done? What do most Americans truly want from its President? Is America tired of a White House that treats political opponents as enemies? What’s the chance we’ll pick someone who recognizes that governing requires compromise, respect for institutions, and an ability to bring people together?

 

Trump says we don’t need to do more about Iran. No strikes? No negotiations? What next?

 

Trump asks Vance to put his focus on “corruption and crime” in Democrat-run states, no longer on Iran. What kinds of Executive Actions should we expect now?

 

Will the new House Impeach Hegseth? Will Trump defend him, or believe it’s time to move on?

 

Trump says Deportation has been too tough and needs to change. Will he change policies? Or will Chief of Staff Miller continue his focus on mass deportation?

 

Your thoughts about Rep. Jordan elected as House Minority Leader.

 

Should Chuck Shumer step aside and let a fresh face become Senate Majority Leader?

 

Is it OK for our Attorney General to be the defender of the President and his Cabinet?

 

What message did California send by rejected the Billionaire’s Tax?

 

Any chance Justices Thomas and Alito retire before Republicans lose control of the Senate?

 

What kind of 2028 Nominee will Republicans seek? From the MAGA lane? Or from the more Traditional Lane? What about Vance? Rubio? DeSantis? Haley? Cruz?  Who else comes to mind?

 

What kind of 2028 Nominee will Democrats seek? From the Progressive/“Socialist” Lane? Or Moderate Lane? Newsom? Ossoff? AOC? Shapiro? Buttigieg? Emanual? Who comes to mind?

 

Muslims are now in key offices. How big a risk to America are Muslim-Americans? Are they fundamentally at odds with the values shared by most of us? Or is Islamophobia as irrational and morally wrong as Antisemitism? Is attributing evil beliefs or actions of individuals and extremist movements with those of an entire group the same mistake that continues to fuel Antisemitism?

 

Trump may not endorse Vance. What are his chances for 2028? Is MAGA now “dead”

 

Are conspiracy theories about election fraud mostly a political weapon—used not to prove an election was stolen, but to convince voters that elections cannot be trusted?

 

Should Democrats now do what Trump urged Republicans to do: end the filibuster?

 

Is Israel losing U.S. support? Why do you believe Trump cancelled $4B in aid to Israel?

 

Is Israel making serious steps to move beyond Netanyahu?

 

Newsom commutes the sentences of all 548 death row inmates. Do you support this?

 

Where are we today with the Epstein files? Does this issue still resonate with voters? What might change now that Democrats run Congress?

 

Has Trump been treated unfairly by Mainstream Media? Are there valid reasons to replace the Press Pool with Roosevelt’s old swimming pool? The proximity of the media to the seat of U.S. executive power has long been an acknowledgment of the importance of a free press in a democracy. What’s the possible benefit  to our country by diminishing this institution?

 

Venezuela’s Machado returns home. What happens now? Her surprise arrival threatens to complicate Trump’s plans for Venezuela as she pushes for presidential elections.

 

Do vanity projects help a President’s legacy—what he constructs or renames? If Trump’s name came off every building he constructed or renamed, what would remain of his legacy?

 

Is political humor a no-no? Be it Trump’s “nuke L.A.”, or late-night comedians’ rants?

 

In order to avoid a Social Security shortfall, will Congress support raising taxes? 

 

Birth Rates continue to fall. Do we need more immigrants to fill jobs and pay taxes?

 

Do you feel our troubles with Canada will improve now post-Election?

 

Good idea? Older Adults are turning to ‘Golden Girls’ Housing. A growing network of home-sharing programs is helping Super Seniors find compatible housemates to save money.

 

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? On the other hand, are we spending millions without seeing plans work to bring emissions down?

 

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.

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.