Late  News

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Reviews of Past Programs

March 5, 2010

On Friday, March 5, 2010, our speaker Robert J. O’Neill talked about the role of the United States in Iraq and Afghanistan. He started his talk by reviewing the history of Australian and United States alliances during previous Asian wars and the world wars.

Former graduate students who had been under his supervision and are now consultants to the U.S. military in Afghanistan visited him over the Christmas holidays and provided him with current views on the Afghanistan military situation. Dr. O’Neill was optimistic about the Afghanistan war situation and believed that the Karzai government is trying to control insurrections but needs the help of the United States military. He was glad that General McCrystal has a good, common-sense plan to win the hearts of the Afghanistan people and conquer the adversaries. Dr. O’Neill discussed the Pashtoon ethnic influence in Afghanistan, and commented that the United States must understand this strong culture and its influence on the country.

Mr O'Nill joked that the movie “Charlie Wilson’s War,” about he United States Congressman, discussed the past United States involvement in Afghanistan and suggested, if you haven’t seen the film, that you get it and enjoy it.

As for Iraq, basically Dr. O’Neill said the war has been won. He had praise for General Petraeus and the way the surge worked in Iraq. He implied that now it is time to turn control of the country over to Iraq military forces.

Dr. O’Neill said there’s no immediate solution to our dispute with Iran. He did not offer a solution, but implied that situation would get worse before it improves. He did not advocate an Israeli involvement. He was also concerned that Al Qaeda may become entrenched in Yemen or Somalia.

February 26, 2010

At our annual dinner, Michael Armacost, former ambassador to both Japan and the Philippines, and now Chairman of The Asia Foundation, focused on U.S. relations with China, Korea, and Japan.

His good news is that China managed its stimulus program properly and has returned to its 10 per cent annual growth, the Taiwan Straits are tranquil with positive contacts between Taiwan and China, Japan is attempting to control its bureaucracy, and South Korea’s new leader is interested in cooperation with the U.S. in its approach to North Korea.

The bad news is that, as the balance of power changes in China’s direction, countries may switch their priorities from us to China, that China has increased its defense budget, Japan’s new government may change many U.S.-Japan agreements, and North Korea renounced the six-party talks and has sold arms to Iran and countries in Africa.

In his overview, Armacost reassured us by explaining that China’s growth will slow, because it is easier to grow fast from a modest base; China cannot manipulate U.S. finances with the percentage they hold of our debt; and China’s work force is aging and moving to the cities, with all the stresses those factors bring. North Korea is a failed state, and its people should be encouraged to maintain contact with the rest of the world. He urged patience with Japan as its new government decides which campaign promises to implement.

February 11,2010

Dr. Deborah Johnson (Eid) talked with WACSC about “ International Volunteerism:  A Challenging Career During Retirement.”  Prior to retirement, Dr. Johnson had a very challenging career as an oncologist and educator.  Since her retirement to Sonoma County in 1995, she has volunteered her skills both locally and internationally. 

 Most recently, Dr. Johnson was in Ghana with Global Volunteers, working in a local village medical clinic.   Ghana is in the lowest 25% economic sphere in the world.  It has a literacy rate of 57%.  There is no internal tribal fighting.  The most common cause of death in Ghana is malaria, followed by cardiovascular disease.  The volunteers Dr. Johnson traveled with worked on three types of service projects:  teaching English, especially conversational English; building and renovating community buildings; and providing health care in the small village clinics.  The term of service with Global Volunteers is usually one to three weeks, and the volunteers pay their own expenses. 

Locally, Dr. Johnson has worked with the Volunteer Center in Santa Rosa.  8124 volunteers were mobilized in 2009, providing 331,000 hours of service. 

 January 29, 2010

On January 29, journalist and humorist Edwin Okong’o shared some of his personal knowledge and beliefs about his native country, Kenya.  Okong’o was born in Kenya and came to the U.S. to attend college.  He now resides in Oakland, is an associate editor for New America Media and a reporter for FRONTLINE/World on PBS. 

 Okong’o showed his documentary made for FRONTLINE during the 2008 U.S Presidential elections, “Kenya: Sweet Home, Obama”.  He told us about how the various tribes in Kenya have interacted for centuries.  Although there are many tribes, historically they have respected each other and seldom were aggressive towards another tribe.  It is culturally important for members of a tribe to look out for each other and to show favoritism towards fellow members. Since colonialism ended in the 1950’s, elected politicians have used their power to bring their tribal members into powerful government positions.  Corruption is definitely a factor at this level which, among other things, has lead to violence among the people.

Most Kenyans (90%) never leave Kenya.  However, there is a very high rate of literacy (85%).

Okong’o emphasized that international agencies, philanthropists, and NGO’s need to reach below the upper levels of the government to work with ordinary Kenyans in order to determine what is most needed to help them solve their problems.  Kenya needs solutions and good PR, trust, and patience.  When journalists focus only on high-level governmental corruption and do not report on the everyday human side, they do not help the people or the country.

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New Books Published by WACSC Members

“Pitcairn Island, the Bounty Mutineers and Their Descendants” by Dr. Robert Kirk

This is a riveting and revealing record of the Bounty mutineers and their forging of a society with the native Polynesians (1789) on a tiny “fly-speck” of an island in the South Pacific, the smallest inhabited island in the world!

After Captain Bligh and other shipmates were set adrift in a launch, the remaining crew came upon Pitcairn Island. There they survived disease, evacuation, and even a dictatorship. Author Kirk artfully captures the centuries of change that occurred through world-wide attention and In-attention. This was a community of people who remained loyal, proud, and determined. The reader will even learn the origin of “three square meals a day” and “the cat’s out of the bag.”

This is the first “full” written history of Pitcairn Island up to the present time. It tells of the incredible people, the tragedies and ancestral triumphs of the mutineer’s descendents. The future of this now British Colony is in question.

You’ll learn of the religious influences, the crop sharing, the ravages of nature that all combined to bring this small island into the 21st century. (The book can be ordered on Amazon or from any bookstore). Review by Nancy Broomhead.

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The Landscape of Time by Lois Foyt and Jon Foyt
(Baltimore: Publish America, 2009)

At a recent book signing event at Barnes and Noble on Santa Rosa's Fourth Street, WACSC members Lois and Jon Foyt quickly sold out all copies of their eighth novel, The Landscape of Time. Lois and Jon moved to Oakmont from Santa Fe a couple of years ago. Both Stanford graduates, they are art dealers when not penning fiction; in fact,  their gorgeous home is filled with museum-quality European and Asian bronzes. The Foyts are a fascinating couple, and their novel is well worth reading. Most of their previous books were set in the Southwest, but Jon traveled to Syracuse, New York, to research for "Landscape." The setting is the Erie Canal in the early 1800s -- and today.
Columbia doctoral candidate Josh Foreman is searching for a dissertation topic. His grandfather dies, he travels to the ancestral mansion in Syracuse to settle the estate, meets a cast of characters including the woman of his dreams. Not only does his dissertation topic come into focus, but he learns deep and compelling family secrets. Josh's journey is one of self-discovery and discovery of his roots as he learns about his grandfather's deeds and the father from whom he has been alienated. 

"Landscape" is based on historical fact. Intriguingly, the Foyts refer the reader to eight footnotes, letters and diary entries from 1797 to 1825 which provide essential historic background to the story. One must read these notes carefully to see, for example, how Governor DeWitt Clinton was seduced into promoting the Erie Canal. This is a compelling book. Review by Dr. Robert Kirk