I haven’t done this for a while, so I decided to tell you about Osher classes that are happening today – as I am writing about them.
First, some deep thinking about human rights. This instructor’s bio says that he has a doctorate from the University of Colorado, Boulder. He served as a professor and academic department head at the US Air Force Academy and currently teaches online courses for Air University. He suggests that Osher members who enroll in this class read Utilitarianism by John S. Mill and Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals by Immanuel Kant. I have come to know this instructor pretty well, and let me tell you, he is one smart dude.
Other Osher members are enrolled in this class on Fascism. I took this class a few semesters ago and enjoyed it thoroughly. The instructor was braver than I would have been – he started the final hour of the class by asking the question, “Given all that we’ve talked about over the past several classes, is Donald Trump a Fascist?” The ensuing conversation was remarkably civil. There was less pushback than I expected – only a couple of people seemed put out by the question. One person walked out – or tried to walk out, but he tripped over a chair and had to kind of clamber out.
It helps that the instructor is a delightful person, and I have come to know him better since I took this class. His bio identifies him as having a Ph.D. in modern European history from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He taught at Denison University for 41 years. In previous semesters, the titles of his classes include “Confronting Evil: the Holocaust in History,” “The Rise and Fall of Nazi Germany,” and “The Origins and History of WWII.” He doesn’t identify assigned readings for the class, but he notes that he will send out relevant articles to class members before each session.
This class is in the afternoon. This instructor’s bio notes that he taught strategic geography at the National Defense University for 23 years. He focused on analysis of the broadest dimensions of physical and human geography on the inception, planning, and execution of strategic US endeavors in the international arena. I took a class from him a few semesters ago, and he is very knowledgeable and personable.
The instructor for this class is a two-time National Race Walk Champion who set two American records and was a finalist in three Olympic trace & field trials. He represented the United States in international competitions on four continents and coaches four USA Track & Field international teams. He is currently President of USA Track & Field Virginia Association.
This snapshot of Osher classes happening today makes it look like we are heavy into history and philosophy. Well, we are, but there are other classes happening in April. An introductory class on Walking for Fitness (taught by the same instructor I mentioned above) met last week. A class on “Lifetime Income Strategies” is offered on Wednesdays this month. On Wednesdays this month, members can also attend a class on Major League Baseball in the 1960s, a class called “Cyber Threat: Yes, There’s a Hack for That,” and a class called “Custer and the Sioux at the Little Bighorn: The Centennial Campaign of 1876.” On Thursdays, there’s a class on Neo-Noir films, and on Fridays they can join a class on “Bleeding Kansas and the Civil War.”
There is no reason for a retired person to be bored in Williamsburg. All they have to do is check out Osher and they’ll find themselves exercising their brains every day.
Thank you!!