Jackie Hemond
So, things have shifted. There are lines of differences. The New Year will bring still more questions. At a time of intense political polarization, it is obvious that people have different opinions on how questions should be answered. But one thing we share in common is that there are lots of Big Questions regarding life in the United States. We think about them, we offer our opinions and hope for a rational answer and implementation. Some Big Questions involve foreign policy, trade and nuclear security. These three specific questions are in the Great Decisions program prepared by the Foreign Policy Association, a 97-year-old nonpartisan institution. Participants throughout the United States, including Suffield, at the Kent Memorial Library, will join in the Great Decisions conversations starting in February 2017.
The Foreign Policy Association was founded in 1918 as the League of Free Nations Association. It was formed by 141 distinguished Americans to support President Woodrow Wilson’s efforts to achieve a just peace. The Association was reconstituted in 1923 as the Foreign Policy Association with a commitment to the careful study of all sides of international questions affecting the United States. John Foster Dulles and Eleanor Roosevelt were among the incorporators. Since then it has expanded into school curricula, educator training programs, conferences and community discussions.
Each person who signs up for the Kent Memorial Library program will receive a free booklet, funded by The Friends of the Kent Memorial Library, which provides background information on selected topics. The booklet serves as a catalyst for informed discussions and an exchange of ideas. This will be the second year that the Kent Memorial Library has hosted a Great Decisions discussion group. Last year, we met biweekly for eight weeks, during which time we gained a deeper understanding of worldwide issues which affect United States policies and ultimately, our own daily lives. Detach yourself from social media to join our hour and a half sessions. Let’s talk about the nuances and complexities of current issues. We might not have common opinions, but we are a community.