Discussion of 10 topics, chosen from the Foreign Policy Association's booklet, "Great Decisions 2006". Topics to be discussed include:

• UN Reform
• The U.S. and Iran
• Energy
• Brazil
• China and India
• Human rights in the age of terrorism
• Turkey
• Pandemics and security

The course will primarily utilize materials which I will provide. Most of the material will be posted on an eboard, some will be handed out (hard copy). This is still a work in progress, and materials probably will include among others: 

 "The Problem of Paul Morphy: a Contribution to the Psychology of Chess," by Ernest Jones. This article appears in Volume One of Psycho-Myth, Psycho-History, (1974, Stonehill Publishing Co.);

The Psychology Of The Chess Player by Reuben Fine (1956, Dover Publications); 

Science is exciting because it is filled with unsolved mysteries, and religion is exciting for the same reason. These are the mysteries of the nature of man and the universe he inhabits.  Each makes an attempt to solve these mysteries in their own unique way. It comes as no surprise that in the solutions, conflict seems to be the common ground for both, as exemplified by the treatment of Galileo by the church.  In this course we will examine how science and religion relate to one another in their attempt to unravel these mysteries by analyzing select readings (no math) from scientists, philosophers and theologians that have left their mark in the world.  These will include Steven Weinberg, Freeman Dyson, Albert Einstein, Steven J. Gould, Richard Dawkins, Richard Feynman, Ian Barbour and others. 

We will start the course with John Polkinghorne's short text, Quarks, Chaos, and Christianity – Questions to Science and Religion. John Polkinghorne was an established theoretical physicist (quantum field theorist) who became an Anglican priest and recipient of the renowned Templeton Award for Progress in Religion.  He provides the reader with an enjoyable and understandable introduction of how the search for truth is pursued by science and religion and the difficulties they encounter with specific problems.  We will observe the four categories that describe the intersection of science and religion.  These are Conflict, Independence, Dialog and Integration, using Ian Barbour's paradigm. Polkinghorne's text and the other readings will provide the context in which to explore the paradigm in terms of significant historical events.  Some examples are the Big Bang (the nature of nuclear forces), and evolution and the Scopes trial, which have evolved into serious current issues with Intelligent Design.  The purpose of this course is to understand the importance of the intersection of science and religion and its impact on the future of mankind.

John Polkinghorne's text is the only text that is to be purchased.  The remainder will be copied and distributed on the first day of class.

(R) John Polkinghorne, Quarks, Chaos and Christianity – Questions to Science and Religion (ISBN 0-8245-1521-8). The Crossroad Publishing Co., 1995 (pbk).

Harriet – B.A. – English Literature, Minor – education (B.U), M. Ed – Child Study (Tufts)

Richard – B.A. – Philosophy (Dartmouth), M.D. – Medicine (Harvard), Psychiatric Training

We both have led classes of various age groups and disciplines.

Oxford Book of American Short Stories ed. by Joyce Carol Oates

The period 1877 to 1901 has been deemed, by many, the time in which African-Americans were least considered as viable political members of American life. A Nadir point, as it were. This course will examine political activities, government legislation and court decisions to arouse discussions on the Betrayal of African-Americans, to identify any progress made during the period under discussion and hypothesize about the political future of African-Americans.

Participants will consider legal or social facts advanced to support the thesis of betrayal. For example, participants will be presented with detailed information on the Separate but Equal doctrine as established by the Court in 1896 and asked to discuss this doctrine in terms of Rights guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment. From the discussions, the class will determine how much of an impediment this decision was to African-Americans in their political rights.

Amartya Sen, Development as Freedom. First Anchor Books Edition. 2000. ISBN 0-385-72027-0 Required reading. Paperback. Xeroxed materials.

The backbone of the course will be the history and culture of wine in the United States using American Vintage: The Rise of American Wine by Paul Lukacs as a narrative and discussion vehicle.

How to Taste: A Guide to Enjoying Wine by Jancis Robinson will be the primary study vehicle. It will provide a disciplined approach to what is involved in tasting wine and a detailed exposition of the major grape types, where they are best grown, and the various wine-making techniques that are used for them. We will study the history of wine in the U.S.; understand the cultural context of wine as it has evolved over the years; gain an appreciation for the processes and technologies that go into grape growing and wine making (Viniculture and Enology); gain an understanding of which grape types and geographical areas are involved in wine making; and learn what factors are involved in tasting and evaluating different wines.

There will be comparisons of quality, grape types, wine making techniques, prices, and areas of wine making, e.g., Long Island, New York, Texas, Napa Valley, etc. Members will be assigned one or two wine types to try with an appropriate food and report back to the group for discussion. Members will be encouraged to attend wine tasting at stores and at the Study Group Leader’s home. A wine-tasting tour will take place.

(R) Jancis Robinson, How to Taste – A Guide to Enjoying Wine. ISBN 0-7432-1677-6. Simon & Schuster. Second Edition. 2000. $25.

We will read and discuss the following works of fiction with a close eye on the first-person narrators who tell us their stories:  Henry James’ novella, The Aspern Papers  (1888, rev. 1908); Vladimir Nabokov’s novel, Pale Fire (1962); Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel, The Remains of the Day (1989); William Trevor’s short story, “Beyond the Pale”(1981); and Russell Banks’ short story, “Sarah Cole: A Type of Love Story” (1986).

(R) Henry James, The Aspern Papers (Unabridged) Dover Thrift Edition, 2001,ISBN 0486419223       $1.50

(R) Vladimir Nabokov, Pale Fire, Vintage International, 1989, ISBN 0679723420, $10.40

Sugarcane was carried from Polynesia, westward through Asia, to the Muslim World and on to Europe. Christopher Columbus brought sugarcane to the New World. Once as expensive as gold, sugar entered into the daily diet of the Europeans after abundant supplies came in from the sugar islands of the Caribbean and from the new territories in Central and South America. From the 17^th to the end of the 19^th centuries, sugar was very important to the commercial interests of Spain, Portugal, France, Britain and Holland. The colonial powers fought many wars to preserve their sugar trade and their territories.

In pre-industrial times, sugarcane cultivation needed vast amounts of cheap labor. Over half of the African slaves (some 7 million out of 12 million) were sent to work on the sugar plantations. Sugar and slavery destroyed the indigenous peoples and effectively 'Africanized' the Caribbean. After slavery was abolished, Britain in particular, devised the scheme of indentured labor that brought Indian and Chinese contract workers to the sugar fields of Mauritius, Australia, South Africa, Trinidad, Jamaica and Guyana. This was slavery by another name.

This course will focus especially on sugar growing within the American sphere of influence. We will examine (a) New England's role (17^th-18^th centuries) in supplying cod, farm products and wood to the British sugar islands of Barbados and Jamaica in return for sugar and molasses. The molasses was refined in Boston and Newport into rum. Some of the rum was taken to West Africa to purchase slaves, as part of New England's mini-Triangular Trade; (b) sugar growing in Hawaii, Louisiana, Texas and Florida where slaves (before 1860) and, later indentured and prison labor were used; and (c) the special link with Cuba.

We will look at the health aspects of sugar-rich foods and diseases related to sugar metabolism (Diabetes mellitus). We will examine how machinery changed sugarcane cultivation and how sugar beet was introduced to compete with sugarcane. We will end with a look at sugar production in our times.

Hugh Thomas: The Slave Trade-The Story of the Atlantic Slave Trade: 1440-1870. Simon & Schuster, New York, 1997 (S)

Richard S. Dunn: Sugar and Slaves—The Rise of the Planter Class in the English West Indies, 1624-1713. W.W. Norton & Co. New York, 1973 (R)

Sidney W. Mintz: Sweetness and Power—The Place of Sugar in Modern History. Penguin Books, New York, 1985 ( R )

Over the course of my years I have longed for the forbidden fruit of adventure, which temperament, derring-do, and income have denied me from indulging. Yet I have always read of travel, adventure, and endurance and I would like to share a love of travel-adventure via first hand accounts of those whose experiences are awe- inspiring and in many instances funny.

The readings will range from the ninth century to the present from both well-known travel accounts and from some that are unusual for one reason or another. The pattern of the readings will be by themes (such as humor, discovery, and heroism).

The reactions of class members will be shared, together with any personal memories of the same places a hundred years later.  We will point out on a map the places mentioned and any useful historical background.

Xerox copies will be prepared from a variety of readings of travel literature over many climes and centuries with first hand accounts of treks and voyages including:

Governor Winthrop’s journal from his scouting party 1630 to Prospect Hill in Waltham

Readings will include short stories by writers including John Updike, Bernard Malamud, Tillie Olsen, Anthony Stockanes, and Ethan Canin, as well as Tolstoy's "The Death of Ivan Ilych," Saul Bellow's "Seize the Day," and Samuel Beckett's play, Endgame .