FGD10251 – A Guided Discussion With Dr. Stephen Engle: The War That Won’t Go Away: Today’s Search for a Usable Past

That Americans continually return to the Civil War to interpret the present confirms the conflictÕs centrality to the ongoing public discourse about what unifies and divides us. Even today, a national debate questions how and why Confederate symbols square with the unfinished business of Reconstruction. Such emblems remind us that as we grapple with the politics of race in America, we continue to encounter the Civil War. Following an overview, the group will discussÊhow and why we still search for a usable past.ÊOpinions are bound to vary! The success of this new format hinges on the tolerance and mutual respect of each attendee. OLLI Boca is confident that participants will engage in the spirit of open-mindedness and civil debate.