Past Events

Laura Spinney, internationally acclaimed science journalist and author, will discuss her latest non-fiction title, "Pale Rider: The Spanish Flu of 1918 and How it Changed the World." In the book, Spinney examines the enduring effects of the pandemic flu, which killed over 50 million people worldwide, and society's response: how it altered global politics, race relations, family structures, and thinking across medicine, religion, and the arts. Spinney will discuss the parallels or lack thereof between the Spanish Flu and COVID-19, what we can learn from history, how pandemics begin and how they end, and our tendency to forget pandemics. The afternoon’s moderator is Udodiri R. Okwandu, Presidential Scholar, Harvard University.

What can Enlightenment philosophes -- especially Rousseau, arguably the most difficult of them all -- have to tell us about modern life that we don’t already know? A team of scholars from different academic areas—Barbara Abrams, PhD., Suffolk University; Mira Morgenstern, PhD, The City College of New York; and Karen Sullivan, PhD, Queens College/CUNY share unique vantage points in understanding Rousseau’s texts. This constellation of approaches -- grounded in an appreciation of the shared background of feminist critique -- provides the density that allows Rousseau’s nuanced writings to be read in their full complexity. The three focus on a relatively unfamiliar work of Rousseau’s, Le Lévite d’Ephraïm, a prose-poem in which Rousseau elaborates on a little-known Hebrew biblical text to interrogate many of the accepted, conventional views on issues ranging from the role of sacred texts; to Rousseau’s self-construction through the representation of guilt and remorse; to the role of hospitality in structuring both individual self-representation and social cohesion; to the place of violence in establishing national and communal self-identity. In each of these spheres, Rousseau reveals a particularly modern perspective in trying to honor both personal and social needs, and in privileging both the individual viewpoint and the political structure.

Manuel R. Pires, Chairman of African Lodge No. 459, Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, introduces Prince Hall as an historical figure, with an emphasis on his achievements and contributions. Hall was an abolitionist and leader in the free black community in Boston. He founded Prince Hall Freemasonry and lobbied for education rights for African American children. Pires makes the case that Prince Hall is an unsung Patriot and forgotten Founding Father who should receive his long overdue recognition.

When George Washington became president in 1789, the United States of America was a tentative political experiment. Washington undertook a tour of the ex-colonies to talk to citizens about his new government, and to imbue in them the idea of being Americans. In his book "Travels with George: In Search of Washington and His Legacy,"" bestselling author Nathaniel Philbrick illustrates George Washington’s unique contribution to the forging of America by retracing Washington’s journey as a new president through the unsure nation made up of thirteen former colonies. Philbrick follows Washington’s route to Mount Vernon; Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island, among many other stops. Ryan Woods, Executive Vice President and COO of American Ancestors and New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS), will moderate.

In her unexpected NYT best-seller, Kristin Du Mez traces how a militant ideal of white, Christian manhood has come to pervade evangelical popular culture in America. Hollywood’s strong men icon, portrayed by actors like John Wayne and Mel Gibson, have coopted core biblical teachings such as loving one’s neighbors and enemies, adding a militant battle cry. Mainstream evangelical leaders preach a “mutually reinforcing vision of Christian masculinity – of patriarchy and submission, sex and power.” DuMez argues this culminated in the hero worship of Donald Trump, who embodies the ideal of militant masculinity, protector and warrior. Du Mez examines the disconnect between purported Christian ethics and the rise of sexual abuse, corruption and scandal within the evangelical church. She argues that the current brand of Christian nationalism which has come to dominate national politics and family values in recent times, is “more John Wayne than Jesus”. This talk is part of the Cambridge Forum's THE SEARCH FOR MEANING, a 3 part series looking at the benefits and failures of organized religion in the U.S.

Industrial agriculture –“Big Ag”– destroys soil on a massive scale and is a major source of atmospheric CO2, environmental toxins, and ecosystem collapse. Contrary to corporate claims, it is not the best or only way to feed the world. David Montgomery discusses the numerous myths of industrial agriculture and explains how farmers around the world are restoring, through regenerative agriculture, soil and environments, and harvesting much healthier food. In addition, restorative methods are the best form of carbon capture, which is essential for dealing with global warming.

Dr. Livio discusses his newest book Galileo and the Science Deniers (2020), a timely account of Galileo's struggle for recognition that the planets orbit the Sun. His proof conflicted with Church’s Aristotelian doctrine, which maintained that the Earth was the center of the universe. Galileo was condemned and severely punished by the Inquisition. Dr. Livio considers the similarity between the resistance to scientific facts in Galileo’s era and anti-science today --a very timely discussion.

American Ancestors NEHGS and Boston Public Library present a conversation on feminist history with three remarkable writers. Following up on their award-winning 1979 book, “Madwoman in the Attic,” examining the works of 19th century feminist writers, the duo of Sandra M. Gilbert and Susan Gubar are back to introduce the women of the 20th century who penned their dreams, their demands, their beliefs and their frustrations as they witnessed social tumult and incremental changes that offered them a glimpse of hope for equality in a very different future. "Still Mad: American Women Writers and the Feminist Imagination” maps out key events and introduces the important writers in the second wave of the women’s movement from the 1950s with Plath, Didion, Friedan, and Sontag, and moving into the 21st Century, with Le Guin, Steinem, Morrison, Rankine, and Jemisin, each of whom brings new views, new expressions, creative new forms of protests and changing attitudes toward gender and sexuality.

Today, an understanding of how our planet works is necessary for everyone concerned about the plight of Earth. Professor Knoll has been a leader in demonstrating the interconnections between Earth’s geological, chemical, biological processes and history. He discusses these interrelationships in his new book, A Brief History of Earth. He also addresses the distinction between historical natural changes and current catastrophes that are due to human actions.

“After COVID” is hard to imagine, as is just how long it will take us—globally, nationally, regionally— to get there. The term “new normal” has already become old and overused, but what does it really mean? The truth is that we can’t provide any concrete answers to this complex question, but we can examine empirical patterns that are already observable. A panel including Dr. Michael Osterholm, White House advisor, epidemiologist and Director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota; Rachel Silverman, policy fellow Center for Global Development, and Dr. Amesh Adalja Johns Hopkins, Center for Global Health and Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security predict what might change fundamentally and what lessons about preparedness we will have learned. Politics in the Era of Global Pandemic— 2.0, is produced by Ford Hall Forum at Suffolk University, the Political Science & Legal Studies department at Suffolk University, and the GBH Forum Network. Guest speakers examine the issues at play in year two of the COVID-19 pandemic, from global infection rates to the havoc on the economy, our politics, and our trust in our governments. ### RESOURCES “[The Case for Investing in Public Health](https://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/278073/Case-Investing-Public-Health.pdf ) ”, by the European Health Organization, 2020. “[About Variants](https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/variants/variant.html) ” CDC, 08/06/202. “[‘Act now’ on global vaccines to stop more-dangerous variants, experts warn Biden](https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/08/10/health-experts-demand-global-vaccines-pandemic/) ” By Dan Diamond and Yasmeen Abutaleb, The Washington Post, 08/10/2021.