History & Current Events   

Clash of Wings is a wide-ranging survey of the great air campaigns of World War II extending from the first bombs dropped in Poland to the atomic weapons exploded in Japan. It covers all theaters from the frozen steps of the Soviet Union to the nightmare heat of Pacific jungle fighting. In each theater, the principal focus is on the people doing the fighting, and it is important to note that the ordinary soldiers, sailors, and airmen fought with dignity and courage irrespective of their country or their cause. As each campaign is analyzed, we will take note of the technical developments of the time—new aircraft, new weapons, new tactics--and the leadership is evaluated.

 

Stay informed and have your say on the news of the day. Instructors will choose a few current event topics each week, give a brief presentation for each and then ask for thoughtful comments and questions from the class. These discussions are very much valued and are the core of the class. Class members are also encouraged to choose a topic of their own and present it for discussion.

Instructors: Leadership Alternates among five volunteer instructors. Barbara Mikalson, Doug Haigh, Mary Meyer, Bill Shaddle and Gary Murph.

The class will focus on Geopolitical hot spots, including updates on China’s internal challenges, China vs.US and our global allies, the Global impact of technology, Health Care and other new Geopolitical challenges.

 

During each class, a French film masterpiece, describing parts of the History of France, will be presented and followed by a brief discussion.

Movie / (English title)      Period of History

• La Passion de Jeanne d’Arc (Passion of Joan of Arc)  War of 100 years 
• Que la fete commence (Let Joy Reign Supreme)  Louis XV
• La Grande Illusion (The Grand Illusion)   WWI
• La Belle Equipe (They were Five)      1936
• Le Dernier Metro (The Last Metro)     WWII
• Mon Oncle (My Uncle)                     The 30 Glorious years
• Milou en Mai (May Fools )               May of 1968
• La Haine (Hate)                           Contemporary

 

The term “Silk Roads” usually conjures up romantic images of camel caravans crossing desert dunes and merchants trading silk and spice. It is usually thought of as one “highway” connecting China with the “West” (Eastern Mediterranean). However, the reality of the silk roads is more complex: they were, in fact, a web of interlocking roads linking Asia, Africa and Europe— from Japan to the British Isles, from the Arctic to Madagascar. We’ll take a closer look at this network during its defining period between 500-1000ad. We’ll examine personal letters, documents, maps, objects, music, food, textiles, landscapes, cities, peoples, religions, etc. to reveal the people, places, ideas and objects that flowed back and forth across this network of silk roads.