Book Group
xxxThe book discussed January 3 was “Justice on the Brink” by Linda Greenhouse, a month-by-month account and analysis of the Supreme Court’s 2020-2021 term. A focus throughout the book is the role and impact of the three new justices nominated by Former President Trump and confirmed by the Senate during his time in office.
xxx In her analysis, Greenhouse discusses the role of the Federalist Society in shaping the current makeup of the Court. Those observations, as well as the book’s title, stimulated discussion of other times in history when people, whether aware of it or not, were witnessing dramatic change in the world around them.
xxxThat, in turn, led to discussion of titles for the next meeting. Of particular interest was “No Justice in Germany: The Breslau Diaries, 1933-1941.” The diaries are those of Willy Cohn, an Orthodox Jewish historian and educator described as an ardent Zionist, a staunch German patriot, and an admirer of some of policies established by the Nazis in the lead-up to World War II. Unfortunately, the book, first published in 2012 by Stanford University Press, is not widely available.
xxxBut members have identified several other titles, suggesting that each person read one or more on the list below (or a different title of his/her choice), come to the discussion on February 28, tell the group about that book, and the group will have ample choices to pursue in future gatherings. Suggestions:
· “No Justice in Germany: The Breslau Diaries, 1933-1941” by Willy Cohn
· “The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich” by William L. Shirer
· “How the Word Is Passed: a Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America” by Clint Smith
· “Wildland: the Making of America’s Fury” by Evan Osnos
· “Unthinkable: Trauma, Truth and the Trials of American Democracy” by Jamie Raskin
· “The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World”—conversations between The Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu
· “If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look on My Face?: My Adventures in the Art and Science of Relating and Communicating” by Alan Alda
xxxThe next gathering of the LWVBCC book group will be at 10:00 a.m. Monday, Feb. 28 at the home of Marilyn Klawiter. If you plan to attend, please call/text Marilyn at 269-362-1871.
Energy and the Environment
xxxI've just been reading about a monstrous iceberg that had been roaming the south Atlantic for several years, slowly melting fresh water into the salty ocean. Implications will be studied for years to come.
Also following the launch of the JWST. The development of this massive space telescope has taken many years longer and cost many millions more than originally projected. The data acquired will provide years of study and analysis to scientists throughout the world and provide us with hours and hours of fascinating images and reports of discoveries.
xxxA few facts gleaned from a NYT quiz:
xxxYou would have to give up 278 quarter pound hamburgers to offset the emissions created by a one-way economy flight from New York to London. Cows emit so much methane! I'd like to see all CAFOs eliminated, but I do enjoy an occasional quarter pounder! I call myself a 5-day-a-week vegetarian but sometimes manage an entire week without meat.
xxxYou could leave an LED light on for 300 hours - 13 days! - to offset the greenhouse gases created from one dryer load. Hmmm - time to put up a clothesline !! And a headline today: Gas stoves worse for climate than thought!
xxxI drove to the beach today to check on Lake Michigan ice. Not sure why, but I was surprised to see ice to the horizon. Beautiful! Be safe, but do enjoy these wintry days.
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xxxAt the quarterly meeting of the LWV Lake Michigan Region Board held via Zoom this past Saturday, President Joy Guscott-Mueller reported on working with LWVUS in developing guidelines for utilizing a $2,500 grant awarded LMR as part of a $10,000.00 donation from a loyal League of Women Voters Illinois resident. LMR has had several wonderful donations in the past 3-5 years and the Board is always seeking the most effective ways to utilize these funds in keeping with the wishes and/or directions of the donor.
xxxThe LWVUS Climate Team and Water Subgroup – of which our LMR President is Chair - is working to create a library of resources online for all 50 states so information and experiences can be shared. A daunting and worthwhile task.
xxxNegotiations continue for the upcoming April event to be held in Chicago with guest speaker, renowned Illinois weatherman and meteorologist Tom Skilling of WGN Television Chicago. More information will be forthcoming as it becomes available.
xxxLine 5 – the heavy-oil carrying pipelines owned by Canadian company Enbridge under the Straits of Mackinac continue to be a thorn whose edge has not dulled. The company has proposed building a tunnel to carry these lines (makes me think of the Lincoln and Holland Tunnels of New York), and LWVLMR has joined the fight with other organizations for years now to prevent the building of said tunnel and, in fact, to eliminate these lines entirely.
xxxIf at any time you’d like additional information on LWVLMR, please go to the LMR website or Facebook page. -- Chris Zilke
In Memoriam....