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Campaign 2004 Discussion last Saturday; IOWA CAUCUS next Monday

Fifteen Civitas students gathered at Crossroads School last Saturday for a most enlightening discussion on Campaign 2004. We spent considerable time talking about the peculiarities of our political system and how the rules of the game often thwart the ultimate goal of democracy.

While the campaign started months ago, it is only this month that the first votes are cast. The IOWA CAUCUS is next Monday, January 19. The NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY is eight days later on Tuesday, January 27. Both will have widespread media coverage and reveal a great deal about how the candidates initially stack up.

We were very impressed at how skilled the students who were present know so much about the nine announced Democratic candidates as well as President Bush. When we asked students to express their preferences on candidates, the surprising winner was former Illinois Senator Carol Moseley-Braun. People appreciated her thoughtful approach to issues as well as the fact that she speaks in a mild rather than "yelling" tone. Furthermore, she has had to overcome the obstacles of being a woman, an African-American, and a candidate with very little financial resources. Thoughts were expressed that if she is not the presidential nominee of the Democrats, perhaps she could be the vice-presidential nominee.
Link to CNN election coverage

"Revenge and Reconciliation" Prep Begins This Saturday

The next few weeks will build up to the 2004 Conference on Revenge/Reconciliation: Breaking the Cycle of Conflict. We'll look at long-standing international conflicts, such as those in the Middle East, Northern Ireland, South Africa, and the Balkans; the death penalty; war-crimes tribunals; the mafia; and much more.

We are going to have an outstanding keynote speaker on Friday evening: Ms. Laura Blumenfeld; author of the 2002 best-seller Revenge, the story of her personal feelings on revenge following the shooting of her father in Jerusalem.

Saturday Discussions, starting this weekend, are an important part of the conference:
January 17th- Revenge/Reconciliation Conference session 1: Intro, Defining the Issues*
January 31st- Revenge/Reconciliation Conference session 2: World Conflicts*
February 14th- Revenge/Reconciliation Conference session 3: Guest Speaker on South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Committee, Dr. Cecil Abrahams [to be determined]*
February 20-21st- Conference on Revenge/Reconciliation

* Saturday Discussion Sessions are at Crossroads School from 9am-11am. If you are unable to attend one of the Discussion Sessions, e-mail now to let us know.

Conference on Revenge and Reconciliation
Friday, February 20 3:00 PM - Saturday, February 21 3:30 PM at the Doubletree Club Hotel.
Click here for a Conference Description, or to Sign Up Online!
Click here for the application form!

You can help Get U.S. Support for Global Solutions to Global Problems
College students, & high-school seniors and juniors--
We invite you to enter a contest to participate in a
national conference in Washington D.C.

"GETTING U.S. SUPPORT FOR GLOBAL SOLUTIONS TO GLOBAL PROBLEMS"
APRIL 22-25, 2004
at the Capitol Hill Club & the Capitol Hill Suites Hotel
______________________________________________________________________________________

ATTEND PRESENTATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS ON:

IMPLEMENTING THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT
HOW TO MAKE THE U.N. MORE EFFECTIVE
ENERGIZING GLOBAL ACTION ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
ADDRESSING ECONOMIC GLOBALIZATION & ITS EFFECTS __________________________________________________________________________

Citizens for Global Solutions of Greater St. Louis will provide transportation, registration, meals, & lodging at the Capitol Hill Suites Hotel for a college student or a high-school junior or senior to attend this national Global Solutions convention.
The conference begins at 6:00 p.m. Thursday, April 22, so you should be able to leave St. Louis that afternoon. It ends before noon Sunday, April 25, so you should be back by that night. Getting to & from the St. Louis airport is your responsibility.
If you want to be a contestant for this subsidized trip, write a 3-5 page typed essay (double-spaced) consisting of two parts. In the first part tell us about your background and why you would be a good person for us to send to this meeting. In the second part share with us your thinking about the problems our world community faces and how we might deal with them more effectively.
____________________________________________________________________

In exchange for this subsidy CfGS of St. Louis expects you to give us a brief written report about the conference & what you learned from it. (This helps us raise money for next time.)

Send your essay to:
Ronald J. Glossop, 8894 Berkay Avenue, Jennings, MO 63136-5004
or by e-mail to:
Be sure to include your home address and telephone number.

For more information, call (314) 869-2303.

Deadline: March 20, 2004. Winner will be notified by March 23, 2004.

Survey on Immigration

Immigration in America is as old as non- native-Americans entering North America. Were the first white men and women who entered America legal immigrants or illegal ones? This is a tough question, and the same quandries exist now. Despite strong efforts by recent U.S. administrations, millions of "non-documented" immigrants have been entering the country each year for decades. In a recent pronouncement, the Bush administration has said that it will loosen restrictions to allow non-document immigrants to stay in the United States and receive green cards, so long as they already have a job. They are not guaranteed U.S. citizenship. Part of his reasoning is that many of these "non-documented" workers will take jobs that most Americans will not take. He says that this is beneficial for the country and it also reduced the hassle of chasing down illegal immigrants who are actually benefiting both themselves and the country. Our questions today are relate to what you think of this policy.

Link to Survey on New Immigration Policy
Link to Poll on Civitas Intranet Site

Previous Survey Results (New)

Last week's question was:

Do you think that 2004 will be a more peaceful year than 2003?

Responses:

1. 2004 will be more peaceful. 31% (4)

2. Both about the same. 31% (4)

3. 2004 will be less peaceful. 15% (2)

4. Not Sure 23% (3)

Total: 13

Kevin Blanks; Jennings High School, 2006

Saddam Hussein has been captured, this is true, but his supporters have not. I think that until people realize this we are in constant danger. This is when the cornered animals attack.

Noah Metzler; Crossroads, 2006

I am almost positive that the violence in the Middle East will continue, as well as violence in areas such as India and Pakistan. I think that there is always potential for peace and that 2004 could be a year full of peaceful resolutions, but if George Bush is re-elected who knows what he will do or who he will bomb. Even the U.S. could be attacked again, with all the people we have angered.

Additional Links

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