Der US-Präsidentschaftswahlkampf geht in seine spannende Endphase, und zufällig ergab es sich so, dass ich in den kommenden 14 Tagen eine kleine Vortragtour durch die USA mache. Das wird sicher superspannend und von unterwegs wird’s das eine oder andere hier zu lesen geben.
Für’s erste mal hier die Daten meine Vorträge, vielleicht ist von den Leserinnen und Lesern ja zufällig jemand vor Ort:
On Tuesday, Oct. 30, 6:30 PM
I attend a Panel Discussion at the Austrian Cultural Forum in New York about
„Religious Fundamentalism & Elections“
„Sow the wind, reap the whirlwind“ – The influence of religious fundamentalism on presidential elections in the United States and international politicsWith the upcoming elections just one week away, Austrian journalist and author Robert Misik, David Gibson and Zeyba Rahman will discuss the ways that religion is playing a part in politics. The conversation will be moderated by Laurie Goodstein.There has been a lot of public discussion about the personal beliefs of the presidential candidates and it is well-known that religious affiliation or the absence thereof can affect voting behavior.Religion has always also been an important factor in international politics, and the latest protests in Muslim countries against a U.S.-made video that insults the Prophet Mohammed, and against obscene cartoons published by a French magazine, demonstrate the interrelation of religion and politics in the global scheme of things.What exactly should the role of religion in a political system, and in a secular state in particular, be?Would a complete separation of religion and politics even be feasible, taking into consideration that religious beliefs have shaped our societies and their social and moral codes for centuries?Do we need more or less religion in politics in order to represent the religious and secular population alike?These are some of the questions the panelists will be discussing during tonight’s event.ABOUT THE PANELISTSRobert Misik is an Austrian journalist and author of several books on politics, among them Gott behüte! – Warum wir die Religion aus der Politik raushalten müssen (God forbid! – Why we need to keep religion out of politics), published in German by Aufbau.Laurie Goodstein is National Religion Correspondent for the New York Times.Zeyba Rahman, is a curator, artistic director and producer who works globally at the intersection of culture and civil society to encourage peaceful, pluralistic communities.David Gibson is a national reporter for Religion News Service. He has written two books on Catholic topics, the latest a biography of Pope Benedict XVI.
November 1, 12:30 I talk at the
University of New Orleans / Center-Austria / Liberal Arts Lounge, LA 197:
„What Does It Mean to Be a Progressive in the 21st Century“
Four years after the meltdown in the Financial Markets and after four years of economic crisis many in our western capitalist societies think that our economies are on a wrong track . Progressive politics and progressive movements in the past shared some of this sentiments: That a winner-takes-it-all-capitalism gives to the privileged, that it is unstable and unjust at the same time, that it is an insufficient system which should be succeeded by something better. Progressism’s aim was not to overthrow the system, but to cure its ills. Given that: What does Progressism mean in our time? What does it mean to be a Progressive in the 21st Century?
On Saturday, November 3, 1 pm, I talk at the same Location to the „American Association of Teachers of German – Louisiana Chapter“ about:
„Pop-Kapitalismus: Kunst zwischen Gegenkultur und Kulturbusiness. Ein Blick auf die europäische Debatte“
Den Wahlabend werde ich dann in Chicago verleben, der Heimatstadt von Barack Obama. Und am Tag danach spreche ich an der University of Chicago:
Wednesday, November 7, 5:15 pm.
Hall of Arts and Letters, 2315 N. Kenmore Ave. Room 103. The Issue of that evening is again:
„What Does It Mean to be a Progressive in the 21st Century“.