THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, September 26, 1996 TAG: 9609260306
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SCOTT MCCASKEY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 59 lines
An upcoming series of public discussions will pose questions to citizens that are usually asked only of politicians and policy makers.
Questions such as these: Where is the balance between assuring national sovereignty and reducing global warming? Should policies of the United States reflect the decisions of the United Nations? How can the United States use its diplomatic and economic influence to avoid the use of force?
The search for everyday citizens' insights into complex foreign and domestic issues in the post-Cold War era is the thrust of ``Choices for the 21st Century,'' a free, four-part series to be held at libraries in South Hampton Roads between Sept. 30 and Oct. 29.
The discussions are a nationwide project established in 1993 by Brown University and sponsored by the National Endowment For the Humanities.
The talks will be conducted throughout the fall at libraries in nine states. Results from a survey of the discussions are scheduled to be be sent to congressional representatives and public policy makers in January.
The discussions will be run in four two-hour sessions. The dates are Sept. 30 and Oct. 7, 14 and 21 at the Chesapeake Central Library; Oct. 8, 15, 22 and 29 at Kirn Memorial Library in Norfolk; and Oct. 7, 14, 21 and 28 at the Virginia Beach Central Library.
Sessions are limited to 40 participants at each site.
The series will focus on five major topics: ``The Search for Peace in an Age of Conflict,'' ``Global Environmental Problems,'' ``U.S. Trade Policy in a Global Economy,'' ``China on the World Stage'' and ``Immigration Policy in an Unsettled World.''
Each session will build on previous discussions, and participants at the final session will be asked to establish a set of values and priorities toward formulating a view of the country's role and future on the world stage. A 153-page reader on the topics will be given to each participant.
Tidewater Community College history professor R. Lyn Rainard will be moderator of the Chesapeake discussions. Old Dominion University political science professor J. Francis Adams will conduct Norfolk's series. Former U.S. Congressman G. William Whitehurst will facilitate the talks in Virginia Beach.
Whitehurst said the discussions look to be quite different from what he expected.
``It's not going to be a series of lectures on my part with questions afterwards,'' he said. ``These folks are going to be carrying themselves. My job is see the discussion is focused and runs smoothly. It has the potential to be a very valuable tool for the individuals and policy makers. It doesn't get much grassier than this.''
Rainard said he thinks the talks will give the general public an idea of the complexity of formulating public policy.
``Part of this is to help people get a deeper appreciation of our leaders' difficulties in trying to satisfy the interests of all of the citizens,'' Rainard said. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
TO ATTEND
To enroll in the discussions, call the Chesapeake Central Library at
382-8300, the Kirn Memorial Library at 664-7323 or the Virginia
Beach Central Library at 431-3000. by CNB