Jeffrey S. Nielsen (Orem)
801-226-9056 (hm)
democracyhouse@gmail.com

Everyday Ethics
Is it right to lie? No? What about to a violent scoundrel? Why? Should public policy create the greatest good for the greatest number of people, or protect minorities and the downtrodden regardless?

The great ethical theories of Western philosophy don’t just belong in a college classroom. They are directly relevant to your everyday life. And learning about these theories is fun! Join in this discussion of how to solve thorny issues you face using ethical principles you can learn easily. Presenter David Keller, of Salt Lake City, is Director of the Center for the Study of Ethics and Professor of Philosophy at Utah Valley University. 

David Keller (Salt Lake City)
801-863-6363 (hm)
david@keller.cc

From Dumb & Selfish to Smart & Caring:
How to Use, Rather Than Be Used, by the Media

According to the latest statistics, the average U.S. teenager uses 7 hours and 14 minutes of media a day. Society is inundated with media influences aimed to develop consumers with short attention spans, yet there are virtually no available antidotes. This short workshop/presentation provides the skills to use media experiences, from video to ipods, as a source of critical thinking, eventually reclaiming essential human values and authentic individual creativity. "Democracy is the best form on government only when truth is the number one value of a society."  (Plato, The Republic)

John Schaefer (Salt Lake City)
john@mediadivide.org
801-455-1456 (cell)

The Habit of Seeing: Using Writing to Cultivate the Active Mind
The mainstay of the humanities is the active mind. Since ancient times, writers and other creative people have cultivated the active mind by using small notebooks, traditionally called “commonplace books,” to write down passing thoughts. Note-making promotes a habit of paying attention and wakes up dormant ideas that can be tapped for a variety of uses: to compose stories, poems, family histories, and other writings; create political or business plans; enrich ordinary moments; or simply bring order to a hectic life. The goal of this presentation is to review the history and creative uses of commonplace books and to get you (the participant) started with keeping a small portable notebook of your own. As you do, you will join the company of Shakespeare, Beethoven, Mary Shelley, Lincoln, and many other humanists, famous and lesser known. Attend this presentation and acquire a tool that you can put to remarkable use for the rest of your life.

This presentation is offered in two different formats: 1. A 20–25 minute talk followed by a discussion prompted by a short reading that provokes questions concerning stimuli and challenges to the active mind in the Information Age. (Total time: 50 minutes) 2. A workshop format, featuring a 20-25 minute talk followed by a discussion of a short reading that enables participants to work through the note-making process and to experience diverse ways of developing their notes (e.g., into stories, plans, poems, etc.). (Total time: 90–120 minutes)

John Schwiebert
801-364-3463
jschwiebert@weber.edu

Islam as a Lifestyle
Muslims and non-Muslim speakers often concentrate on the jurisprudence and metaphysics of the faith or on generalities that are common to all religions, without adding to the non-Muslim’s knowledge of the important dynamics of Islam as a lifestyle. This presentation with Ghulam Hasnain will focus on a discussion of those daily practices that are fundamental to a practicing Muslim’s life and the concepts and principles behind them.

Islam From the Shia Perspective
Overtly, there are many similarities between Sunni and Shia Muslims, but there are also historical divisions no less significant than between Protestants and Catholics within Christianity. This talk will present Islam from the Shia perspective, including the history, politics, concepts and principles of the faith.

Ghulam Hasnain (Salt Lake City)
801-671-6709 (hm)
saltlakeamerican@yahoo.com

Keeping Our Eyes on the WHYs: Conflict, Clarification, and Consideration
Disagreement on any difficult political, social, or interpersonal issue is normal. However, to move past conflict to problem-solving we need to examine why we think and feel about the issue as we do. Ultimately, good solutions are best crafted when we can identify and critically examine the specific beliefs and values, the “whys” that underlie our and others opinions. That is what this session is about.

Philosopher, geologist and U.S. Forest Service Program Analyst Bob Dow begins the presentation with a brief but substantive overview of the nature of beliefs and values. He then describes how beliefs and values give rise to attitudes, emotions and behaviors that sometimes derail productive conversation. To put these ideas into practice the group will select a topic to consider, identify various attitudes about it within the group, and explore the underlying beliefs and values. The intended result is a better understanding of oneself, one another, and the issue. Keeping our eyes on the WHYs is a method that can be applied in virtually any situation involving conflict or problem-solving and, like this presentation, is intended primarily to stimulate fresh thinking.

Bob Dow
801-467-5679
bobdow@hotmail.com

Is Lying Sometimes the Right Thing for an Honest Person to Do?
This discussion focuses on the practical application of the concepts of integrity, honesty, and ethics to actual day to day situations. In the process, it outlines 13 concepts or principles that must be reckoned with if someone wants to be regarded as an “honest person.” Many people are not even aware they are being dishonest. This discussion develops awareness and models serious thinking about integrity.

Quinn McKay (Kaysville)
801.546.4131
801.444.3105 (fax)

THE MAYA OF GUATEMALA: Losing Cultural Identity in a Rapidly Changing World
This slide-illustrated presentation by photographer and former archaeologist Michael Plyler examines the cultural erosion of the highland Maya of Guatemala, descendants of the pyramid-builders of such classic Maya sites as Tikal, Palenque, Caracol, and others. The Maya are extraordinary for many reasons. A continuously existing culture for 4,500 years, they were the first to develop the mathematical concept of zero. Their accurate astronomical measurements allowed them to calculate the path of Venus with an error of 14 seconds a year and to create a calendar projected 30,000 years into the future with an error of less than three minutes. Additionally, they invented the corbelled arch, had the most advanced writing system in the western hemisphere and some of the most admired weaving. Their empire lasted roughly six times as long as the Roman Empire.

This program will recap their exceptional accomplishments and cultural history before examining their collisions with European culture, their oppression at the hands of a series of right-wing dictators from the 1950's through the 1990's, and today's cultural erosion accelerated by their exposure to rampant consumerism and tourism. Audience discussion will focus on what is lost when ancient cultures are eroded, as is happening with the Maya.

Michael Plyler (Springdale)
435.772.3264
plyler.zcfi@yahoo.com

The Navajo Way: Customs and Traditions, Past and Present

Lucille Hunt, a Navajo who was raised in traditional Navajo culture and spoke only Navajo until the age of six, shares her culture with audiences.  Included in the presentation is a discussion of the ancestral Navajo clan system, language, rites of passage into adulthood, seasonal songs and dances, games, tools, toys, and traditional dress.  In her talk, Lucille uses visual aids such as a cradleboard, grinding stones, grass brushes and brooms as well as toys made from stones, scarves, and clay.  She also shares stories and metaphors associated with these items.  The goal of the presentation is a better understanding and awareness of the Navajo Way.

Lucille Hunt (Blanding)
435-678-2136 (hm)
lucillehunt@yahoo.com

Our Built Landscape: Treasures or Trash?
This presentation with Diana Major Spencer examines how our built environment—our houses, office buildings, churches, schools, museums, and historic sites–affects our “sense of place.”  As development and changing needs of our communities challenge the existence of some of these structures, how do we decide what to keep?  What issues should we consider as we confront tough choices about what to restore and what to tear down?  Examined in the presentation will be the historical roles of the LDS Temple, the Utah State Capitol, and the Governor’s Mansion in Salt Lake City, as well as stories behind less well-known buildings such as the Casino Star Theatre in Gunnison.  A slide show will include buildings inside and outside of Utah involved in current controversies.  The presenter, a retired professor of humanities from Snow College,  will invite audience members to discuss their feelings and opinions about buildings under threat in their own home towns.

Diana Major Spencer (Mayfield)
435-528-7966 (cell) 435-979-2798 (hm)
docdms@gmail.com

The Past, Present and Future of the Middle East

The importance of the Middle East is reinforced in our daily media as we read of escalating oil prices, incidents in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the war in Iraq and threats from Iran.  In addition, many are concerned about the role of Islam in todays world.  We are also reminded of the billions of dollars Arab countries are investing in U. S. companies.  Bonner Ritchie examines the developments that make it imperative that we have a better understanding of the history, current issues, and future possibilities of this interesting and critical area of the world.

J. Bonner Ritchie (Provo)
801-377-0688 (hm)
jblois@hotmail.com

Politics Without Partisanship--If It Were Possible, Would We Want It?
As obscenities and denunciations fly around today’s Congress, and internet bloggers vent their anger in cyberspace, many Americans decry the rancor of today’s partisan politics.  They worry about a polarization of the country and a degradation of political discourse.  But partisanship in America actually has a long history that reaches back to the nation’s founding.  From those ratifying  the Constitution to congressional leaders debating the Civil War, American partisans attacked each other with a fury beyond even our imagination. With this in mind, Matthew Mason, a professor of history at BYU, will discuss with the audience:  What are the circumstances that give rise to partisan feeling?  Is partisanship inherently wrong?  Can it have positive effects?  If it’s harmful, what might we do to minimize it?  

The Limits of Dissent: Lincoln and the Constitution
From his days as an Illinois lawyer to his turbulent days in the White House, Abraham Lincoln staunchly defended the U.S. Constitution and the rule of law.   He insisted that American citizens must submit to laws and Supreme Court decisions they consider hateful or wrong, even as they worked to change those laws and decisions.  It’s ironic, then, that Lincoln’s enemies, then and since, have seen him as a usurper of the Constitution, particularly during wartime.  They have believed, for example,  that his abridgement of civil liberties for Northern antiwar dissenters and his policy of emancipating slaves meant that he was playing fast and loose with the rule of law in relentless pursuit of victory in the Civil War. Lincoln’s example raises some of the same questions twenty-first century citizens are facing, which Matthew Mason, a professor of history at BYU, will explore:  What are the limits of dissent in wartime?  Under what circumstances should compromises to civil liberties be accepted? And how should citizens deal with laws they consider unjust? 

Matthew Mason (Springville)
801-422-3408 (wk) 801-489-7010 (hm)
matthew_mason@byu.edu

Polygamy Then and Now
Most days there is a polygamy story in local newspapers. Woven into the history of the Utah pioneers, polygamy is more than a curiosity but raises intriguing questions about the nature of family, civil rights and religious practice. This presentation begins with a quick overview of Utah’s history of the practice of plural wives but focuses on the late twentieth century and most recent experience of the FLDS (Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints).

Martha Bradley (Salt Lake City)
801-581-7339 (wk)
m.bradley@honors.utah.edu

Religion and the Environment: Finding Common Ground in Utah
This conversation explores environmental stewardship and its relationship with a variety of religious beliefs, especially Mormonism.  George Handley, a professor of humanities at BYU, focuses specifically on how religious teachings can help Utahns find a shared cooperative model for solving our contemporary environmental problems.  The central question addressed will be:  How can we love the land with equanimity, being fair to all concerns, all stakeholders? Handley will bring into the conversation statements by the Dalai Lama, the Pope, evangelical Christians, and excerpts from Mormon scripture, as he explores the link between religion and the land.

George Handley (Provo)
801-422-7151 (wk) 801-356-3718 (hm)
George_Handley@byu.edu

The Rule of Law and Citizenship: What happens when the law of the land clashes with our moral beliefs?
From the Fugitive Slave Act to Roe v. Wade, citizens have wrestled with the duty to obey laws they perceive as unjust.  However, what constitutes a just law, and how does a law-abiding citizen respond to injustice? Where do our priorities reside when our personal beliefs clash with the rule of law? Drawing upon the writings of Plato, Thoreau, Martin Luther King and others, Louise Excell leads this exploration of competing loyalties. 

Louise Excell (Springdale)
435-772-3206  (hm) 435-652-7508 (Wk)
excelll@dixie.edu

The Sum of Our Past: Revisiting Pioneer Women
For many, “pioneer Utah women” brings to mind a stereotype–a courageous, hard-working, devout woman who willingly sacrificed for family and church.  While there is truth in this image, this presentation explores the more complex picture that emerges from the pages of Utah history.  Judy Shell Busk, an author, retired English teacher, and descendent of pioneer Utah women, will discuss one chapter from her book, The Sum of Our Past, depending upon the preferences of the audience.  She will involve the audience in relating historical experiences to present conditions.  Among the varied choices from the twenty-four chapters are “Prominent Mormon Women,” “Danish Immigration,” “Native Americans,” “Polygamy,” and “African-American Converts to Mormonism.”  Copies of the selected chapter will be made available in advance to interested audience members.

Judy Shell Busk (Richfield) 
435-896-6941 (hm)
judybusk@excite.com

Thoughts in a Dry Land: Wallace Stegner and the Waters of the West

This presentation will focus on what Wallace Stegner wrote about the issue of water in the West, particularly in Utah, and the insights he offered about this precious commodity that might help us today think about our decreasing supply of water and increasing demand for it.  During the discussion, the presenter will focus on excerpts from the following books by Stegner:  

          The Sound of Mountain Water
          Where the Bluebird Sings to the Lemonade Springs
          Beyond the Hundredth Meridian: John Wesley Powell and the Second Opening of the West
          Marking the Sparrow's Fall

Familiarity with Stegner’s work will not be necessary for participation in what will probably be a far-ranging discussion!

Robert C. Steensma (Salt Lake City)
801-466-5469 (hm)
rsteensma1@msn.com

Understanding Utah's Lands Through Books
Utah has some of the most spectacular land in the nation and some of the most heated debates about what to do with it.  Most Utahns have experience camping, hiking, fishing, or recreating outdoors; many are involved in careers that require them to engage with land-use issues.  Not all may be familiar with the depiction of land in contemporary writing. Hal Crimmel, Weber State University teacher and author, will explore the various ideas about land expressed in these works, and how they can help us better understand our relationship to it. 

Hal Crimmel (Salt Lake City)
801-626-8044 (wk)
hcrimmel@weber.edu

Utah Faces of Judaism
Utah’s Jewish experience in the West is one of adventure, challenge, adaptation, and resolve.  Through historical narratives, slides, photographs, and discussion, this presentation by Eileen Hallet Stone takes Utahns on a journey that includes stories from Utah’s Jewish pioneers and families, politicians and farmers, merchants and immigrants, soldiers and Holocaust survivors.  An interactive presentation, the stories will help promote understanding of the rich Jewish history in Utah, as well as the importance and value of diversity. 

Preserving Family History: I remember Mama
More than glimpses of past events, oral history captures individual, family, community and world history in a very personal way. Learn the ins and outs of conducting oral history interviews. What works, what doesn’t, and why. Become acquainted with interview and research processes. Learn how to integrate strategies to strengthen communication and elicit concrete messages. And explore the technical aspects of recording interviews. Most importantly, learn how to trust your instincts and become an effective listener to achieve the best results.

Eileen Hallet Stone (Salt Lake City)
801-485-7338 (wk) 801-487-6970 (hm)
ehswriter@aol.com  

Utah History Through Native Eyes:  Learning About the Noochew (Ute People)
This presentation by Larry Cesspooch invites the audience to learn about the Noochew (Ute People) and experience Utah history through native eyes.  The audience will be asked to respond to the three time periods below, as if they were Nooch (Ute).  The discussion leader will help bring out the most important effects each time period had on the Noochew: Life Before Non-Indian Contact; 1600s—The Spanish Influence; and 1850-1865—Contact with the Latter Day Saints.

Larry Cesspooch (Roosevelt)
435-353-4818 (hm)
thrunateyes@ubtanet.com

What’s In Your Attic? Decoding the Past Through Cultural Artifacts
Historical artifacts are the primary source material upon which we build our vision of who we are and where we’ve come from.  Fully 90% of Utah’s cultural artifacts remain in private hands, so preservation of this material is essential if it is to continue to connect us to our roots.  In this discussion with Randy Silverman, the Preservation Librarian at the University of Utah’s Marriott Library, audiences will talk about why their artifacts are significant and learn how best to preserve them.

Randy Silverman (Salt Lake City)
801-585-6782 (wk), 801-487-6970 (hm)
randy.silverman@utah.edu

What the Numbers Tell Us:  Utah is Diverse and Becoming More So
This session examines how Utah’s population has always been more diverse than commonly portrayed and is becoming ever more so. We investigate how the first great wave of immigration of the 20th century impacted the make-up of Utah’s population. Then, we contrast this with the second great immigration wave, beginning at the end of the 20th century and continuing today.   We consider what this latest wave means for the future population of our state. As it turns out, we are currently witnessing and participating in an unprecedented demographic transformation, and it has far from run its course.  This session will focus on Utah’s immigration history and the implications of the current transformation we are experiencing.

Pamela S. Perlich
801-581-3358 (voice), 801-581-3354 (fax)
Pam.Perlich@utah.edu

Whose Land is Your Land, Whose Land is My Land?
In the 19th century, the U.S. government parceled out its vast land holdings in hopes of guaranteeing an honorable subsistence living for all. Today, we are in the midst of heated debates about whether our remaining common lands should be preserved or developed to stimulate the economy. Join writer and historian Dorothee Kocks for a lively discussion on how this homestead tradition – arguably the first federal economic stimulus package – might give us courage today.

Dorothee Kocks (Salt Lake City)
801-487-3511 (hm)
dorotheekocks@comcast.net