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Hell and Other Destinations
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ARCHIVE - HELL AND OTHER DESTINATIONS: A 21st-Century Memoir by Madeleine K. Albright - DISCUSSION THREAD - (June, July, August) (No Spoilers, please)
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Kathy, this administration "appears to place" a higher priority on economic stats versus the human commodity like keeping Americans safe during the Covid 19 crisis. It will be interesting to see how this translates in an election year.
Bentley - I forget who said this but it’s not that old a quote - you negotiate with your enemies not your friends. We are not going to solve the Afghanistan war through arms but through a political solution.
Bentley - it’s just my belief that the US will trade human rights safeguards for other things under Trump.
Bentley - But I’m not naive, it won’t be the first time we’ve traded human rights concerns for other priorities, so the Trump administration won’t be the first.
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Sounds reasonable.
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That is true. Not necessarily the moral thing to do.
Bentley - there will be nothing even close to peace in Afghanistan without the Taliban since the movement is endemic to the country.
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Not disagreeing.
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Link: https://youtu.be/MjZRbP_uV9I
Summary: The idea that investing in girls is the single most effective investment available to spur economic development and end global poverty has become a widely popular notion.
And yet, what does investing in girls actually look like on the ground? What have we learned as of late about which kinds of investments for which kinds of girls in which kinds of settings have the biggest ROI?
Source: The Aspen Institute
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The Albright Institute harnesses the power of the liberal arts to advance knowledge and foster global understanding.
Each year, 40 Fellows are selected to participate in the Institute’s programs. At the vanguard of curricular and pedagogical innovation, the Institute promotes global understanding, analysis, and action through:
* Advancing a multidisciplinary approach to liberal arts teaching and learning
* Incorporating lectures from across the disciplines by faculty who are stewards of their professions
* Integrating the contributions of the world’s leading decision- and policy-makers
* Encouraging collaborative group problem-solving
* Enlarging the world as a classroom through hands-on engagement, bold service, and courageous action
As a living laboratory for the value and real-world application of the liberal arts, the Albright Institute fosters an innovative approach to problem solving through:
* Disciplined, well-informed thinking
* A deep-seated, authentic sense of civic obligation
* An appreciation for the challenges of complexity, and the willingness to go beyond one’s comfort zone
* Instilling perspective and judgment that enhances effective collaborative decision-making
* A commitment to open dialogue—and an open mind
Informed and inspired by Secretary Albright’s life, the Albright Institute cultivates in Fellows the habits of principled strength, gratitude, bold service, and courageous action to shape a better world.
Now numbering in the hundreds, the Fellows constitute a transnational network of women leaders committed to working together, advocating each other’s advancement, and promoting international collaboration. Recognizing education as a primary gateway to a more stable, prosperous and interdependent world, Fellows go on to serve as leaders in every sector and sphere to address the world’s daunting problems and possibilities.
Discussion Topics and Questions:
1. In discussing The Albright Institute at Wellesley - what topics that Albright discussed left an impression on you when reading the chapter? How has the annual hoop rolling contest evolved?
2. How do we describe what constitutes a fulfilling life?
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Note: I do not think that I can envision Madeleine Albright doing the Awesome Annie but if you need some pointers - here is the video that will get you up to speed:
Link: https://youtu.be/HAzno98EiyA
Another one to help with any extra pounds: (Cen Xiaolin, a 15-year-old high-school student from Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyTwU...
And if you want to be in the Guinness Book of World Records or a World Champion in Jump Roping - yes there is one and here she is: And her name is Vivien Vajda from both Hungary and Brazil.
Link: https://youtu.be/nCBwEaB1eQU
Chapter Twenty-One
Puzzles
"IN ENGLAND DURING the war, when I was very young, I learned to skip rope.
"Beyond the basic jump, I did not advance far—no crisscross, double under, Awesome Annie, or donkey kick (which involves a handstand). I was, however, pretty fast.
Had my life not been disrupted so often and had I a mentor to guide me, I might have become an all-star, or so I like to believe.
Training rarely makes perfect, but it does help us do more with the gifts we have. In the world of business, I needed practice to find my way.
Though I had no formal instructor, I gained by observing and by asking questions of the executives I had come to know through my consulting company, the Albright Group (TAG).
The relationships gave me a chance to study a cornucopia of corporations up close. I didn’t learn much in the way of fancy maneuvers, just enough to move along briskly without entangling my feet in rope. (p. 201)
Discussion Topics and Questions:
1. According to Albright, why were mentors and mentorship important for her and for others?
2. How many of you remember any "jump roping" days and what were your "signature moves"?
3. What is your take on the following quote the Albright uses:
“Greed is good,” said the fictional Gordon Gekko, but taken to excess, avarice is stupid.
a) How do you think our corporations are doing? Which corporations do you think are "good citizens" and community and employee driven and why? Which ones do you think need improvement and why?
4. Albright states: THE EARLY YEARS of the Albright Group coincided with 9/11, the bursting of the dot-com bubble, the entry of China into the World Trade Organization, mayhem in the Middle East, and increased anxieties about climate change. Each of these events had an impact on clients. (page 202) How did each of these events have an impact on clients? Did you experience any disruption in your corporation's activities and how did these events have any impact on you as an employee?
5. How successful has China’s entry into the WTO been for China? For the rest of the world? Has China lived up to its agreements for entry into the trade organization or not - from your perspective? Has the opposition to joining the WTO from within China disappeared over time?
6. Did anyone else enjoy the Mother Teresa story as much as I did?
7. Isn't it amazing that Albright's firm faced the same crazy hacking from foreign governments trying to steal secrets, proprietary firm information and to gain an unfair advantage by stealing private data and info. Albright stated: "Now it demands that we be smarter than the Russians, the Chinese, the North Koreans, and the whole predatory universe." ` What sort of precautions should firms take to protect themselves in this world from some very "bad actors"? Once again we have an election coming up. Do you think we are adequately prepared for the likes of Russia, China, North Korea and Iran? What advantages do these countries try to gain from these activities?
More:
What Was the Dotcom Bubble?
"The dotcom bubble, also known as the internet bubble, was a rapid rise in U.S. technology stock equity valuations fueled by investments in internet-based companies during the bull market in the late 1990s. During the dotcom bubble, the value of equity markets grew exponentially, with the technology-dominated Nasdaq index rising from under 1,000 to more than 5,000 between the years 1995 and 2000. In 2001 and through 2002 the bubble burst, with equities entering a bear market.
The crash that followed saw the Nasdaq index, which had risen five-fold between 1995 and 2000, tumble from a peak of 5,048.62 on March 10, 2000, to 1,139.90 on Oct 4, 2002, a 76.81% fall. By the end of 2001, most dotcom stocks had gone bust. Even the share prices of blue-chip technology stocks like Cisco, Intel and Oracle lost more than 80% of their value. It would take 15 years for the Nasdaq to regain its dotcom peak, which it did on April 23, 2015.
Link to article: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/d/...
1.6: Case Study: China’s Decision to Join the World Trade Organization
Link to introduction to course: https://www.coursera.org/lecture/chin...
Link to video on the conclusion of the two cases: https://www.coursera.org/lecture/chin...
2.1: International Structure: Realism and Constructivism
Link to video on International Structure: https://www.coursera.org/lecture/chin...
Synopsis: One of the most significant changes in the world in the past 30 years is the opening of China to the outside world and its engagement with that world. In the initial years of the opening, external forces influenced China’s economy, regional balances, bureaucracy, as well as the political authority of local leaders in the coastal areas. More recently, the world is feeling the effects of a rising China which seeks resources and talent from all around the globe and uses its financial wealth to strengthen its position in the world. This course tracks the opening of China up from 1978 until it joins the WTO, focusing on how the world affected China’s internal development. We then look at various aspects of China’s “going out strategy” — its search for energy, talent, as well as its relations with the United States and the states within the Asia-Pacific region. The instructor has been deeply engaged in research on all these topics, having lived in China during various stages of China’s opening to the outside world.
Sources: Youtube and Albright, Madeleine. Hell and Other Destinations (p. 202). Harper. Kindle Edition, Investopedia, Coursera on Youtube, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology via Youtube and Coursera, Albright, Madeleine. Hell and Other Destinations (p. 206). Harper. Kindle Edition
Mother Teresa - Time Magazine
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It was delightful to read about her favorite client being the famous artist, Christo, known for his dramatic and sweeping installations of environmental art throughout the world. Albright talks about when she accompanied him to the United Arab Emirates for his next dramatic installation in the arid Al Gharbia region of Abu Dhabi and their dramatic and beautiful trip into the desert. I was saddened to learn of Christo's death this past May as I have long been a fan as well.
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22 Inferno 335
23 R-E-S-P-E-C-T 352
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Chapter 22 - Inferno 335
In this chapter, Madeleine Albright discusses the skills she learned while being a commentator on the Great Decisions on PBS debating pertinent foreign policy issues that became invaluable to her upon entering government. She relied on these skills when was interviewed frequently regarding the continued unrest throughout the world, but particularly in the Middle East.
Chapter 23 - R-E-S-P-E-C-T 352
This chapter discusses the history of the Presidential Medal of Freedom since its establishment by President John Kennedy in 1963. During the presidency of Barack Obama, Madeleine Albright was one of the recipients. She later relates the study she was asked by David Patraeus to coordinate regarding the CIA and women in leadership.
didn't know this was a discussion till today! I just happened to have started reading it... gotta catch up!
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It shouldn't take you long to catch up, but please feel free to post about what you are reading on this thread. It is fine as long as you don't make any comments ahead of the assigned reading.
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Albright also discusses the remarkable events throughout the Middle East as the Arab Spring was erupting in 2011 from Egypt to Libya to the unrest in Syria. It was during this time that she was frequently asked to appear on news shows for her views on the increasing unrest in the Middle East. She clearly had a lot of expertise in these areas.
Lorna, yes. I saw her many times during the Arab Spring period on TV. No one can legitimately question her intelligence or expertise in foreign affairs. Kathy
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Kathy, yes, I too saw Albright on TV commenting a lot during the Arab Spring. And I certainly agree with you that one can't question her deep knowledge and expertise in foreign affairs.
I recently read a great book about the Egyptian Arab Spring by Peter Hessler. He moved with his family to Cairo during that time. His memoir beautifully weaves the tumultuous events with the lives of ordinary Cairenes. There is a lot of history that you may be particularly interested in since your field is in Archaeology.
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Peter Hessler
ah, caught up! and past, but I think that's ok, each chapter is basically separate from the others.I had just read a book not just about the Arab spring, but parts of it was around it, told from the perspective of a journalist on the ground there. A really good book!
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Richard Engel
Marc, she is so engaging it is hard to put the book down. I’ve finally made myself do it. I am also reading a number of books at the same time so it’s keeping me honest! Welcome to the feed. Kathy
and having read the earlier threads, I agree with Kathy, this book, while highly entertaining (I am racing through it), is a little bit light. I'd love for her to dig deeper on her thoughts on foreign policy, including work done by her successors. I have not read any of her earlier books, although I am planning on picking up and reading 2 or 3 of them now.
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24 You Are Just Like Your Grandmother 364
25 Leaving 383
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Chapter 24 - You Are Just Like Your Grandmother
In this chapter, Madeleine Albright discusses her book Prague Winter describing her family's life in the democratic Czechoslovakia of the 1930's followed by the 1939 German invasion and her family's escape to England where they lived for the duration of World War II. It was interesting how she explained to her publisher that it was those war-ravaged years that formed who she was. She honestly relates how while serving as Secretary of State, she learned that her heritage was Jewish and how she and her siblings began to trace their family's roots and the impact of the Holocaust.
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Madeleine K. AlbrightChapter 25 - Leaving
This chapter discusses her long-term relationship with Vaclav Havel, the former leader of Czechoslovakia from 1989 until its dissolution in 1992. The chapter begins with her delivering his eulogy in Prague's Metropolitan Cathedral of Saints Vitus, Wenceslas and Adalbert. She speaks of his time as leader of a political movement and his hope that he could make a difference. Havel was also an author and playwright. This is a very personal story for Ms. Albright.
Neil GaimanI did enjoy both chapters. And because of chapter 24, it's one of the books by her I am planning on buying and reading! I did find it interesting that she didn't know she was Jewish. It kind of brings to light, we really are a product of our parents, what they teach us (or have us taught) shapes the beliefs we have, and I guess how easy a family chain can be broken, like from a religious perspective, we all were of this faith, until... kinda like how a people might have been practicing norse religions (Odin/Woden) until... some ancestor converted to Catholicism (which at the time, was all there was in Western Europe), and now we are christian... I picked on the norse mythology purely because I had read earlier this year Gaiman's Norse Mythology
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Neil Gaiman
and her chapter on Havel was I thought, a nice tribute. makes me want to visit Prague (it is on my bucketlist), and dang you coronavirus!! I was seriously thinking of visiting this year, but... maybe next year? or the year after?
Marc I also enjoyed both chapters. Maybe it was the time I read it but I found the chapter on her Jewish heritage a harder read. Both because she lost so many family members in the Holocaust and second because her parents didn’t tell her her history. It would have been better for her if she could have talked to them about her grandparents and their feelings about what happened. But maybe it was just too painful for them to discuss. The chapter about Havel was both informative to know more about him as a person and to learn about Prague. It does make me want to make a visit! Kathy
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Woven throughout this book is the story of Prague and Czechoslovakia after World War II. Eisen focused on five individuals whose lives were part of the history and preservation of the Petschek palace from Nazi officer Rudolf Toussaint to Ambassadors Laurence Steinhardt and Shirley Temple Black. Norman Eisen was appointed in 2011 by President Obama to serve as U.S. Ambassador to the Czeck Republic and in residence at the palace.
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Norman Eisen
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26 Cradle of Civilization 403
27 Breathless 421
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Chapter 26 - Cradle of Civilization
In this chapter Madeleine Albright discusses the many complexities inherent in conducting diplomacy in the Middle East because much of its thinking is deeply entrenched along religious and ethnic lines. She discusses the presidency of Barack Obama including the events in Syria and his relentless campaign to eliminate the remnants of Al-Qaeda, including Osama bin Laden. There is also discussion about the efforts that were made by Secretary of State John Kerry to bring about the first comprehensive global agreement to combat climate change and the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action to bring controls to Iran's program to enrich uranium.
Chapter 27 - Breathless
This is a wide-ranging chapter where Madeleine Albright relates many of her experiences making guest appearances on various television shows. She also related her experiences when she and David Gergen chaired a project on religious pluralism in the United States for the Aspen Institute.
thank you for that suggestion! I added it to my 'to read/to buy'!
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Marc, you are welcome. I will be interested in your thoughts.
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It was interesting that Albright was approached by Fred Kempe, director of the Atlantic Council, to co-chair a project with Stephen Hadley, looking at all of the major issues in the Middle East since following the turmoil and unrest that intensified with the Arab Spring and the Syrian Civil War. It was thought in foreign policy circles that a transformative approach may be needed in American policy in the region. She talks of the skepticism they faced in addressing Congress. It is commonly believed that the Middle East is still archaic in its thinking and entrenched along religious and ethnic lines. Ms. Albright's hope is among the young people she has met, and we certainly all share that hope as well.
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Lorna, well, we decided to go in the absolute opposite direction in 2016. And look how good it’s turned out for us: an uncontrolled pandemic, unremitting protests in the streets that are turning more violent and an economic meltdown. How smart of us!😣. Kathy
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2020 is a year for the record books! The pandemic has a lot to do with the events of this year in every way. As well as the political process which appears to incite both deep divisions. Let us hope things calm down soon.
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Interesting comment, Lorna.
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Welcome Marc to the discussion.
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Regarding women in Afghanistan - I agree.
Afghanistan never was like this 33 years before the wars started.
This is a photo in 1967: (notice the beautiful trees, parks, the dress of the young women and how lovely it was). This is the same exact location in 2007: (notice what has happened to this country by outside forces and war)
Clothing in the 60's in Afghanistan:
Girls and boys in western style universities and schools were encouraged to talk to each other freely
More:
https://www.businessinsider.com/aston...
Source: Business Insider
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Strange times, Kathy.
One thing is certain, Trump like every other leader (great or not so great) is human.
So nothing is forever - although I have to admit the last four years have felt that way. Character does matter, ethics matters, truth matters, being on the moral high ground matters - let us hope that those are the things that matter to the American people.
Whatever political spectrum anyone favors - we are still all in the same boat and should be rowing in the same direction. Many times one gets the impression that Trump is just trying to make waves to tip over the boat that we are all in.
The History Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11 (other topics)Prague Winter: A Personal Story of Remembrance and War, 1937-1948 (other topics)
Joys and Sorrows: Reflections by Pablo Casals (other topics)
Fascism: A Warning (other topics)
The Last Palace: Europe's Turbulent Century in Five Lives and One Legendary House (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Lawrence Wright (other topics)Madeleine K. Albright (other topics)
Pau Casals (other topics)
Madeleine K. Albright (other topics)
Neil Gaiman (other topics)
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Kathy, if that is the case and that is what they are sincerely saying and meaning then is your position that the USA should walk away from dealing with them and offer those who want to leave the country to leave and seek asylum. Why do you think we are still talking about negotiating with them when their ideals are so vastly different from democratic societies?