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Ford Hall Forum

The Ford Hall Forum is the nation's oldest continuously operating free public lecture series. Its mission is to foster an informed and effective citizenry and to promote freedom of speech through the public presentation of lectures, debates, and discussions. Forum events illuminate the key issues facing our society by bringing to its podium knowledgeable and thought-provoking speakers. These speakers are presented in person, for free, and in settings, which facilitate frank and open debate.

http://www.fordhallforum.org/

Los Trabajadores: The Workers

Tue, Mar 11, 2003

This public discussion, moderated by Joseph Tovares, of WGBH's La Plaza and Giovanna Negretti, of Oste?, Massachusetts' primary Latino political organization, wrestles with questions about immigrant workers in the US, after the screening of *Los Trabajadores/The Workers*. The new documentary film examines the misperceptions and contradictions inherent in America's paradoxical history of both dependence upon, and abuse of, immigrant labor. According to a recent report from Northeastern University's Center for Labor Market Studies, immigrant participation in the labor force was critical to our nation's growth during the '90's boom. And while some maintain that the American economy needs immigrants and is more dependent on their labor than ever before, skeptics continue to ask, "Do immigrants rob American workers of jobs?"

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Daddy & Papa: Gay Couples Raising Children

Tue, May 13, 2003

Johnny Symons discusses his film Daddy & Papa, a one-hour documentary that takes us inside the lives of four families led by gay men. America is in the midst of a "gayby boom," with thousands of gay men across the country making the decision to raise children. An exploration of the personal, cultural, and political impact of gay fatherhood, this new film traces day-to-day challenges as it examines the value of alternative households, the effects of gender and sexual orientation on children, and the changing face of the American family.

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Medical Malpractice in Massachusetts

Wed, Jun 4, 2003

Madge Kaplan, senior editor of American Public Media's Marketplace Health Desk moderates a discussion about malpractice law reform with several Massachusetts physicians. Threats of malpractice lawsuits hang over doctor's heads from the day they earn their degrees. Some higher risk specialists, like OB-GYNs, can expect to be sued nearly three times over their careers. Jury awards in all cases have soared, averaging nearly $3.5 million in 1999. In turn, professional liability insurance for physicians is astronomical. As a result, physicians curtail or stop services, move out of state, or retire early. Access is restricted, longer waits occur, and doctors practice costly 'defensive medicine'.

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Afghanistan and Freedom of the Press

Thu, Nov 7, 2002

Christopher Lydon, former host of The Connection, leads a discussion on the importance of American citizens having a sense of the full picture in order for them to participate in democracy. He is joined by Paul Fitzgerald and Elizabeth Gould, the first American journalists to enter Afghanistan behind Soviet lines in 1981, and Bob Zelnick, former ABC News Pentagon correspondent and chairman of the Department of Journalism at Boston University. Since September 11, 2001, the press has been criticized for not challenging our government's conduct rigorously enough. In light of security concerns and the Bush administration's alleged attempts at censorship, doubts have been raised about the ability and commitment of reporters to tell all the news.

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Momsrising.org: The Motherhood Manifesto

Thu, Oct 18, 2007

Joan Blades, well known for co-founding the e-advocacy group MoveOn.org, discusses her new organization, Momsrising.org, and internet advocacy in general. With this new site, she hopes to build an army of citizen activists who will push for strong maternity leave laws, improved health care coverage, and fair wages, among other issues. Do more "family friendly" policies make economic sense for our country? Does an active online community necessarily translate into political influence? Blades screens her documentary film, *The Motherhood Manifesto*, and explores the Internet's ever-changing role in our political process.

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Chain of Command: From 9/11 to Abu Ghraib

Fri, Oct 29, 2004

Seymour Hersh discusses his recent book *Chain of Command: The Road from 9/11 to Abu Ghraib* as well as the Bush Administration's "war on terror," its intelligence failures, and what he describes as the lies and obsession that led America into Iraq.

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Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson

Thu, Jan 13, 2005

Peter Roby, director of the Center for Sport and Society at Northeastern University, moderates a panel after the film screening of *Unforgiveable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson.* Panelists include: Robin Chandler, recently named chair of Women's Studies at Northeastern, professor Bob Hall of the African-American Studies Department, and *Boston Globe* sportswriter and boxing journalist, Ron Borges. Jack Johnson, born in Galveston, Texas on March 31, 1878, became the first black American boxer to win the heavyweight title. During his 30 years of boxing, he fought 113 bouts, winning 78 and losing 35 of them. He had 44 knockouts, 34 of which were won by decision. For more than 13 years, Jack Johnson was considered the most famous and most infamous African American on earth. He battled his way from obscurity to the top of the heavyweight ranks and won the greatest prize in American sports, a prize that had always been the private preserve of white combatants.

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Cult of Power: Sex Discrimination in America

Tue, Apr 12, 2005

Martha Burk talks about the international firestorm of debate she sparked by suggesting that the nation's premier golf club open its doors to women. The Augusta National Golf Club's membership roster reads like the New York Stock Exchange. It includes top executives, CEOs and board members from American Express, AT&T, Bank of America, Bechtel, CBS/Viacom, Citigroup, Coca-Cola, Coors, ExxonMobil, Ford, GE, Harvard University, Hormel, IBM, Morgan Stanley, Motorola, United Technologies, and US Steel, among others. What Augusta National's membership roster emphatically does not include is women. Presented in collaboration with the Old South Meeting House as part of the Partners in Public Dialogue Series

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Breaking Ranks

Mon, Apr 4, 2005

Two Iraq war veterans, Mike Hoffman and Paul Rieckhoff, discuss rising dissent to the war in Iraq within the American military, the backdoor draft, and what it really means to "support our troops." *Mother Jones* reported in a recent cover story that more and more US soldiers are speaking out on the war in Iraq, and some are refusing to fight. Presented in collaboration with the WAND Education Fund, *Mother Jones* Magazine, and Boston's Talk Station, AM 680 WRKO.

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Harvard Rules: Behind the Ivy Tower

Wed, Mar 9, 2005

Richard Bradley discusses *Harvard Rules: The Struggle for the Soul of the World's Most Powerful University*, in which he climbs high into the ivory tower and goes behind the revered walls, offering the first unauthorized look at the world's most powerful university and its controversial president. Harvard University is synonymous with power, wealth, influence, and excellence. The second wealthiest non-profit in the world, Harvard has long and fiercely maintained a wall of secrecy around its inner workings. Until now. Presented in collaboration with the Old South Meeting House as part of the Partners in Public Dialogue Series.

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