Open Forum Discussion
Open Forum Discussion: Topic & Readings
What: |
Open Forum Discussion, a Covenanted, Current Issues Discussion Group |
When: |
Sunday Mornings, 9:15-10:15 AM |
Where: |
Countryside Church Unitarian Universalist (CCUU) Senior High Room (Classroom 5) |
| Who: | Vid Axel moderates. Andrew Cranberg co-facilitates. Some participate regularly. Some join us for specific topics. We welcome newcomers and "revolving door" participation! |
Below: |
Details for Sunday, 25 November 2007 |
| I. | Background and Preparation for this Sunday |
| II. | Our Covenant |
| III. | Possible Future Topics |
Table of Contents
I. Background and Preparation for this Sunday
| A. | Sunday's Topic |
| B. | Gently Recommended Material |
| C. | Topic Focus and Possible Questions |
| D. | Closing |
To skip to the Table of Contents in Brief, please click here.
To skip to the Table of Contents in Brief, please click here.
To skip to the Table of Contents in Brief, please click here.
I. Background and Preparation for this Sunday
This approaching Sunday (11/25/07) we will discuss the following. The Mortgage/Credit Situation: Is it a Crisis? What Do I want Done? (I'm grateful to Andy Cranberg for suggesting that we discuss this. 
- Vid)
To skip to the Table of Contents in Brief, please click here.
B. Gently Recommended Material
U.S. could face $2 trillion lending shock: Goldman
Reuters "The impact of the U.S. mortgage market crisis on the underlying economy could be 'dramatic' as leveraged investors may need to scale back lending by up to $2 trillion..." (I'm grateful to Andy Cranberg for suggesting this reading |
Ahead of the Bell: Mortgage Vote
by Alan Zibel, AP Business Writer House Expected to Approve Bill to Curtain Lending Abuses Over Industry Opposition(I'm grateful to Andy Cranberg for suggesting this reading |
To skip to the Table of Contents in Brief, please click here.
C. Topic Focus and Possible Questions
We may discuss any or all of the following.
1. Do you agree that currently the U.S. is experiencing a mortgage/credit crisis?
2. Do you think the mortgage/credit situation has been overblown; do you concur with the first article that the mortgage situation is risking major, macroeconomic harm; or do you think something else about it? Why?
3. If you agree that the current mortgage/credit situation qualifies as a crisis or at least as a problem, what do you regard as its root causes?
4. Would you prefer that the federal government stay out of the matter altogether?
5. Can you cite other developments (either in the private sector or in terms of action by the government, such as the Federal Reserve) that you believe could stabilize the current mortgage/credit situation?
6. In your opinion, is the federal government responding to the mortgage/credit situation reactively, proactively, or in some other way?
7. Referring now to the second article, are you feeling satisfaction that Washington is in the process of developing legislation that will effectively deal with lenders so that the current situation won't repeat?
8. Relative to this issue, what action do you favor, and by whom?
9. What other items relative to the mortgage/credit situation that these questions didn't mention do you still wish to discuss?
10. In your opinion, what can each of us do personally to embody and enact the change in the world that we'd like to see relative to this issue?
To skip to the Table of Contents in Brief, please click here.
We hope to see you on Sunday morning!
Gratefully,
Vid Axel - Moderating-Facilitating / Andrew Cranberg – Co-Facilitating
To skip to the Table of Contents in Brief, please click here.
Our Open Forum Discussion Covenant now states:
We gather to discuss the issues of the day. Such issues may be political, personal or both. As we gather, we strive to:
| 1. | remain mindful of the CCUU covenant; | |
| 2. | listen and express ourselves actively, respectfully and with open minds; | |
| and | ||
| 3. | welcome the diversity of views that may be expressed during any Open Forum Discussion. |
To skip to the Table of Contents in Brief, please click here.
We may discuss any or all of the following topics at some, future point. (Vid and Andy feel grateful to those of you who have suggested many of these during brainstorming sessions. We welcome additional suggestions: for topics; elaboration; related questions; gently recommended readings; and for the date[s] on which to discuss them.)
| • | Political Advertising: additional aspects |
| • | What in Republican and Democratic belief systems inclines them, according to party affiliation, to embrace similar views about a variety of issues? (For example, Republicans often favor pro-gun, anti-abortion and pro-death penalty positions; Democrats often favor gun control, abortion rights, and anti-death penalty positions.) |
| • | Communicating Compassionately about Current Events: How does Vid envision that application of principles of this process could meet our needs in the context of our discussions and in discussions of current events more broadly? What action can I take to encourage the changes that I would like to see in the world relative to this issue? (suggested by Vid Axel) |
| • | The Republican Party and LGBT Republicans: In my opinion, is their relationship beset by paradox? What does each of us feel and need in relation to this relationship? What action can I take to encourage the changes that I would like to see in the world relative to this issue? (suggested by Dan Flammang) |
| • | Utopia and the Real World: How do I believe current events discussions can remain focused on "real-world" realities and genuine possibilities instead of "pie in the sky" fantasies? What action can I take to encourage the changes that I would like to see in the world relative to this issue? (suggested by Dan Flammang) |
| • | The Myth of Redemptive Violence: Could many contemporary assumptions about conflict resolution - spanning world religions and cultures - ultimately derive from a 5000 year old myth? If so, what implications might this have? What action can I take to encourage the changes that I would like to see in the world relative to this issue? (suggested by Vid Axel) |
| • | Why Does each of us Enjoy Discussing Current Events? (suggested by Andy Cranberg) |
To skip to the Table of Contents in Brief, please click here.
To skip to the Table of Contents in Brief, please click here.
