Taking the Summer Off

 We have decided to suspend Big Questions until September.  There is a lot going on this summer for all of us, so I hope you keep busy and stay thoughtfully philosophical.

We can find a topic

 I'm overwhelmed by national and world events, it seems.  There remain too many decisions and activities going on in our larger world to pick a single one.  Come to share in the chaos, and express your feelings in a safe environment.

June 24, 7:00

Too Many To Choose

 I have been thinking about what we might have as a topic tonight, but with all the things happening in our larger world, it has been hard to focus.  I watched the January 6 Commission presentation last night, for example, which raised many questions for me, but not Big Questions-sort of of questions.  

I have ben very busy lately with all the activity surrounding the EUUF Congregational Meeting that will be held on Sunday, at which time the congregation will be asked to vote to sell the building and grounds.  Lots of meetings and discussions the past 2 weeks about that.

And I have been hired to do some consulting work with respect to chips and chipping, my speciality.  This is still ramping up, but will take more time (like, hours working on data analysis and writing reports) in the next few weeks.  I am excited to be doing something in my "field" again.

So, we generally do pretty well when we develop our own topics, so let's fly by the seat of our pants again tonight and find the question that interests us the most.  I'm looking forward to seeing you all again.

Skipping tonight!

 May 27.

We are camping in Spokane this weekend.  Sorry, but there is no meeting this week.

Woke Culture

I remember when my kids started using the word "sick" to mean that they liked something, or that a thing was cool or good.  At least that was what I thought they meant.  So, when the word "woke" showed up I was prepared to ignore this as some kind of counter cultural phrase that served someone else's purpose, but not mine.  What did it mean to be "woke"?  I had no idea.

Something happened this week to change my understanding of what the current use of the word woke means, and how it applies to me.   I've learned what being woke is, and how supporters and detractors of the phenomenon of being woke use the term to rally around with folks that think like they do, or how others use the term to denigrate and criticize those that think differently.  As a cultural movement, being woke is associated with other movements like cancel culture, #metoo, and more.  It has become the norm that speaking frankly about ourselves leaves an opening that others can criticize from many angles and perspectives.  

I first went after the concept academically.  I found an article written about Wendy Brown, a professor at Princeton University, discussing the idea that free speech and the free exchange of ideas in a university environment are under attack by society in general, and the politically right in particular, who use the ideas of white privilege and woke cultural norms as a way to bring political perspectives into a classroom.  She argues that politics belongs outside on the quad grass, with university classrooms left for discovery of new ideas and arguments that will change your mind, not reinforce your preconceptions.  The movement to restrict what is taught in schools has traction in the K-12 arena as states like Kansas and Florida ban books and dictate what can and cannot be taught in grade school classes.  The politically right, Brown argues, is putting church into the early education classrooms, and are banning free thinking and new ideas.

I encourage you to look for other sources and writings that pertain to this topic.  There are many.  How has the term woke been weaponized by both sides of the debate?  What does being woke mean with respect to cancel culture?  What does being cancelled mean?  

April 22 - Come and Share a Topic

 Hello BQ participants!  Sorry, but I do not have a prepared topic tonight.  Please come to share one of your questions.

Current Events - A Critical Discussion

 One of the enduring questions of modern times is, why does anybody really fear the Russians?  By all accounts they are inefficient, inept, poor planners, and their conscripted military is as unenthusiastic for combat as it is inept.  Napoleon felt this way in the winter of 1812, and only lost because of the terrain, cold, and the length of time his push into Russia's harsh winter took.  Ditto Germany's foray into the Motherland.  Now we see the Russian military try to invade Ukraine, and falter in the attempt.  A determined Ukrainian resistance has foiled the grand plans of the Russian military.

The answer, of course, is that the Russians have Nukes.  Would a defeated, embarrassed, and struggling Russian military or political leadership succumb to using the Nuclear Option as a form of last resort?  If Russia used Nukes on Ukraine (or others), would NATO and the USA be obligated to respond in kind?  Would US targets be involved?  I read in the paper that our local nuclear submarine base might be a prime target, putting all of us in Western WA potentially in the fall-out zone.

Where is James Bond when we need him? 

With so much history happening right before our eyes, examining what is happening in Ukraine is an essential exercise in human affairs that we must do.  We need to look at the big picture here, and consider why this is happening, and how can NATO and the west best respond to it.  There are lots of angles to think about.

Any volunteers to lead the discussion?  Please leave a note below.