Touro Communication Club Notes #47

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THIS WEEK: Thursday, October 23^rd – Mock Presidential Debate- 2 pm – Room 610 -50 West 23^rd Street - Our debate team will be undaunted as they take on an enormous challenge of standing in for Senators Obama and McCain. To make it inter esting the debaters will change sides for each question. Come and be a judge!

This week’s political news seemed to explode with one story after the other:

• Thursday – The final debate between Senators Obama and McCain
• Friday – Senator McCain finally appears on the Dave Letterman show
• Saturday – Gov. Sarah Palin appears on “Saturday Night Live.”
• Sunday – General Colin Powell endorses Senator Obama

Oh, yes, the financial chaos still is buffeting Wall Street and Main Street. Warren Buffet, the financier writes in the October 17^th New York Times op-ed page the following memorable quote:

“A simple rule dictates my [financial] buying: Be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful.”

No wonder the Sage of Omaha has done so well!

Because of the Presidential election, not much news coverage has focused on the impact on the world of America’s financial crisis, said to be the worst since 1932. Buffet calls it “a mess, both in the United States and abroad.” The finance ministers of the G7 countries {(France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom, United States of America and Canada) have been extraordinarily responsive to the crisis. This may be some confusion because there’s also the G8 countries (the same ones plus Russia) who are heads of state.

Sometimes I wonder how ordinary mortals keep all this alphabet soup clear and still walk and chew gum.

Because of the Jewish holidays, here's an extended list of our upcoming Club events:

Thursday, October 23, 2008 - 2 pm - Room 610 – Debate – Mock Presidential Debate. Members of the club will undertake the challenging task of impersonating the positions of Senators McCain and Obama. The debaters are studying the issues that face the nation and, by a coin toss, be assigned either the Democratic or Republican positions. The format will follow generally that of the first Presidential debate. A list of foreign and domestic issues will be provided in advance to the debaters (listed below). A total of six questions will be selected the list of issues below. Each team will make an opening statement. Then each debater will have 90 seconds to respond to a question, followed by a cross-examination by the opposite side. Final statements from each team will close the debate. Judges from the audience will decide on which team won the debate.

Foreign issues Iraq war Afganistan war Credibility of the U.S. abroad The U.S. role in the Middle East The Bush “Doctrine” Covert foreign operations

Domestic issues Financial crisis Housing crisis Homeland Security Energy Global warming Education Social issues (abortion, same sex marriage, creationism, stem cell research)

Wednesday, October 29, 2008 – 2 pm – The film “The Great Debaters” (2008) with Denzel Washington. A dramatization of the true story of the unlikely 1935 journey of a debate team from the historically black college, Wiley College, which challenges powerhouse Harvard College.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2008 – ELECTION DAY – PLEASE VOTE! Lorinda Moore and Olushile Akintade have been conducting a voter registration drive at Midtown and Taino. Over 100 new voters have been registered from Touro. More to come!

Wednesday, November 5, 2008 – 1 pm – Room 610: Discussion of the Election

What happened on Thursday, October 16, 2008– The film “Recount” (2008) with Kevin Spacey

Olushile Atkintade generously set up a full screen so we could see a large picture of the film. Musa Bryant, Amina Bibi, Drani Gabu, Lorinda Moore, James Millner joined newcomer Akua Weekes of the Langugages & Literature Department, George Backinoff and Hal Wicke to watch the film. Math instructor Marcus Vyandoff joined the group after his class.

The group was riveted by the rapidly paced realistic Emmy-winning dramatization of the 2000 Presidential election between Al Gore and George W. Bush. Among the free-wheeling comments during the discussion were:

• The Democrats experienced what blacks have experienced [in having voter access denied].
• There has been a consistent history of voters being challenged or denied dating back to 1776, after the Civil War in 1865, in 1920’s, 1960 and 1968. George commented, “It’s very depressing.”
• Secretary James Baker’s comment on the “process worked.” Did it? Some said yes; others said no.
• Are we “a country of laws”? Perhaps but they are often bent out of shape.
• The film seemed like a thriller.
• The Constitution is a flexible document, able to be changed along the way.
• The 2000 Supreme court decision was “an abuse of power.”
• At least there were no tanks in the street.
• Gore didn’t really fight.
• Drani’s observation at an earlier Communication Club meeting that he had thought that Americans would behave as adults during the election process, but he has felt they have behaved like children.
• Drani grew up learning to respect authority and the law.
• Lorinda grew up learning to question authority.
• The government is moving toward socialism and away from free market capitalism as a result of the financial crisis.

And many other comments too quickly spoken to be written down.

These sessions are always open for everyone to attend. Bring a friend and join in the excitement. See you next time.

Hal Wicke