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Community Corner

Great Discussion Series Sparks Interest

Library hosts monthly segment to discuss important world issues.

Every month the Sachem Public Library hosts the Great Discussion Series with the topic varying each month depending on a current hot issue.  This month the discussion series focused on Kenya and R2P (responsibility to protect), specifically the post election rioting in 2007.  

Anne Marie Tongella who works in the public relations department at the library is in charge of the program.  She said the program has been running for two years and its facilitator is Peter Hanson.

"Peter previously attended the program as a participant and last year I asked him to become a facilitator," she said. "The program starts with a 15-20 minute video relating to the topic and then Peter moderates the discussion afterwards." 

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Hanson, a long time resident of Nesconset has been a part of Sachem for 32 years.  His sons attended Wenonah Elementary and graduated from Sachem High School North, currently his grandson attends school in the district, as well.  Hanson majored in political science at CUNY Brooklyn College and holds an MBA from Baruch College.

He worked in the telecommunication industry for years before retiring in 2004.  While working he commuted to and from the New York City for 30 years.  He also served in the United States Air Force for 4 years and is involved in the local Nesconset Sachem Block Association and somewhat active in AARP.  

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Hanson considers himself not to be an expert on the topics he covers, but well read.  He has always had a passion for current events and says that he has been fortunate enough to have done a lot of traveling.  

Hanson said the program was originally run by Tognella at the Smithtown Public Library where he attended just to take part in the segment. She brought the program with her to Sachem.

The program itself runs anywhere between 60 and 90 minutes and people are asked to check out a 10-15 page reading packet which relates to the following month's issue prior to their attendance. The material is from the Great Discussions Briefing Book 2010 edition produced by the Foreign Policy Association.

"Usually the material is fairly current," Hanson said. "The Kenya discussion this month is interesting because it is the first time since I've been involved in the program that we have ever covered something on Africa.  Typically we cover current events in the United States, China, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Israel. 

"The subjects sometimes get very heated and sometimes they drift from the original topic. Nearly every session last year ended up touching on the health care debate, it's a very current topic and it came up often even if we were discussing a foreign country." 

 The turnout varies every month. Hansen said he has seen turnouts from as small as 10 people to as large as 40.

After the video was presented to the group this past Monday, Hanson offered some current articles that were relative to the topic.  The main focus on this month's discussion dealt with the responsibility or the right to protect and when exactly was the right time for another force to step in and intermediate. 

It was pointed out that often the United States is the only country with the capability to step in and assist countries or tribes in need.  A member of the group also injected that often by the time anyone steps in and exercises their responsibility to protect it is often too late for anything to be done.  In response to this it was brought up that it is also necessary to have an educated middle class that is willing to negotiate in order for ensure the right to protect.  

The discussion touched on ethnic cleansing, genocide, the human condition and also dissected various events in history (such as the Holocaust) and the possibility of what could have been, had a larger force stepped in and exercised their responsibility to protect and how that could have altered history. Hanson also pointed out to the group that the right course of action is subjective and it is not always possible to know what is "right."

Next month's discussion, which takes place on May 17, 2010 at 7 p.m., focuses on the topic of global crime. Individuals who are interested in participating can sign up at the library, over the phone or on the Internet.

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