According to Socrates, "Wisdom begins in wonder." In this course we'll "wonder" about the contributions of the classical age of Greece to Western Culture which are varied and far-reaching. We'll come to understand how the cultural influences of Classical Greece were carried beyond their borders and their time and are still influencing us today. The topics we'll explore will include (but not be limited to) philosophy, literature, theatre, art, and architecture. (Term 2 Class) 

You'll like this energetic group of post-Civil War First Ladies, all Northerners, who lived in times of great technological and social change. Lucy, Crete, Nell, Frank, Carrie, and Ida—talented, educated, and well-traveled women—these First Ladies came from working or middle class backgrounds, rather than great wealth. These self-made women were the first First Ladies to have (gasp!) earned college diplomas and worked outside the home to support themselves before marriage. Crete and Ida experienced the trauma of presidential assassinations. Nell died young. Frank married and bore children while in the White House. Lucy wrote, "Women's minds are as strong as men's—equal in all things and superior in some.” 
Term 1 - Lucy, Crete, and Nell; Term 2 - Frank, Carrie, and Ida  (Term 2 Class) 

This class meets every other week (4/9, 4/23, 5/7)

This class was inspired by a collection of essays gathered together in a book of the same name. The title "The Aspirin Age", reflects an America in the 20s and 30s seeking a cure for a variety of headaches ranging from crime, the stock market crash and the Depression. It also provides a series of character studies ranging from Aimee Semple McPherson and Charles Lindbergh to Sacco and Vanzetti and Huey Long. We'll also look back at some events which influenced our thinking in many different ways: Konklave in Kokomo and the night the Martians invaded America. (Term 2 Class)

Powerful empires don't fall apart overnight. This is a difficult process where new states are being formed. The same is happening on the territory of the former USSR. The Baltics are now part of the EU. This seems to be good, but along with the illusory freedom and security, refugees from the Middle East and Africa came there. At the same time, some of the former Soviet republics of Central Asia are choosing the path of fundamental Islam. What will happen in these 15 republics tomorrow? What will happen in 10 years? We will talk about this over the next two hours ... (Term 2 Class) 

Ukraine has every chance of becoming a "new Switzerland" or "new Singapore". There are several factors behind this: natural and human resources, geopolitical position, a long and difficult path to independence. But so far no economic miracle has happened. Attempts by Western partners are weak and make Ukraine a satellite country. And Russia still says, "come on, we are just one nation.", Ignoring the desire of Ukrainians for independence. Where is the solution? Will Ukraine be a strong and independent state or just a buffer zone between an unpredictable Russia and the West? Let's reflect on this in the next two hours. (Term 2 Class) 

"The War to End All Wars" was what historians at the time described World War I. But only 20 years after the signing of the Treaty of Versailles which ended World War I, the Second World War started. This class will explore how the end of World War I really set the stage for World War II. (Term 2 Class) 

A majority of Americans alive in 1963 still do not believe the Warren Report. A second Congressional inquiry suggested there likely was a conspiracy. Many key witnesses met strange deaths after JFK died. They could not all be coincidences. Roger Peterson has met and talked with several people who witnessed the assassination. He has published three articles on the case, two in AMERICAN HISTORY magazine. (Term 2 Class) 

Two term Governor, and later, five term U.S. Senator Hiram Johnson helped lead a transformative period in California. Johnson was the most important California political leader from 1910 until 1945. He ran for President, was offered the Vice Presidency and was an extremely popular politician. This class will understand the life of this famous Californian, his legislative actions and the progressive era in the Golden State. (Term 2 Class) 

People used to say, “Behind every great man is a great woman.” Today we know that many great men in our country’s history achieved their notable success because of an empowering partnership with their wives. That is certainly true for America’s First Couples. Don Fraser will bring his knowledge of our Presidents and Joan Griffin will bring her knowledge of our First Ladies to these discussions about Presidential Power Couples.

• The first class will focus on George & Martha Washington and James & Dolley Madison
• The second class will focus on Abraham & Mary Lincoln and Franklin & Eleanor Roosevelt

(Term 2 Class)

El Movimiento de Nueva Cancion, the New Song Movement, began in the late 1950's and early 1960's in Chile, South America. It was a time when the poor farmers started to realize that maybe they did not have to live under the thumb of the Oligarchs and the Dictators. Violeta Parra was the first to sing about human rights, how difficult the struggle was to survive, and the trimuph of good over bad. The movement blossomed in the early 1970's during the populist socialist government of Salvador Allende and flourished until his assasination in 1973 when the military staged a coup and intstalled a strongman who became a dictator. Augusto Pinochet arrested and imprisoned all human rights activists, singers, poets, uniton leaders and all free thinkers. Thousands were killed while imprisoned and thousand went to live in exile but the new song movement continued and found life in Argentina, Bolivia and Uruguay. This is the story of the singers and musicians of El Movimiento de Nueva Cancion. (Term 2 Class)