Core 102
The Idea of Democracy
Roger Williams University
T, TH 12:30 - 1:50; M, Th 2:00 - 3:20
GHH 208
Fall Semester, 2013
Michael R. H. Swanson, Ph. D.
Office: GHH 215
Hours: T, TH 9:00 - 11:00
M, W, 9:00 - 10:00
Or By Appointment
Phone:  ext 3230

E-mail:  mswanson@rwu.edu
Click the picture for the Transcript for the course
Click for a short history of the Lebanese Crisis
The opening days at Roger Williams are not chaotic, but perhaps a little close. This is true when two sections of the same class run on different day schedules.  Monday is the Labor Day Holiday, so Section 24 will have the day off.  This means Doc Swanson puts on his juggler’s costume and tries to get the two sections back on the same schedule.
For Monday, September 2
Section 24, watch the short video on the class online syllabus.  Read the transcription as well–you can reach it by clicking on the picture of May El-Khalil.  Using the Clog Tool on Bridges.  Write your what thoughts come to your mind as you watch the film and read the transcript.  Is there insight into the idea of democracy here?  Is democracy about more than government–what else might be included based on this interesting story?
For Tuesday, September 3
Section 19, watch the short video on the class online syllabus.  Read the transcription as well–you can reach it by clicking on the picture of May El-Khalil.  Using the Clog Tool on Bridges.  Write your what thoughts come to your mind as you watch the film and read the transcript.  Is there insight into the idea of democracy here?  Is democracy about more than government–what else might be included based on this interesting story?
For Thursday, September 5
ATTENTION SECTION 24 
If you by any chance do not have class on Tuesday at 12:30, you are welcome to come and join with my other section for the class discussion.  The room is large enough for all of us, I think.
Conflict and Civil war is not the only threat to Democracy.  A significant proportion of the population may come to thing that  Government  may become non-responsive to the public will. A little later we’ll learn some terms for situations in which this might be true–terms like oligarchy and timocracy.  Today we’ll watch a short online essay by Bill Moyers, a much respected reporter and commentator on the Public Broadcasting System.  The title of the section is The End Game for Democracy. There is also a transcript of this available. 
Click on the picture of Bill Moyers to watch the documentary essay
For the Transcript:  CLICK HERE
After we’ve seen the video and had our discussion, I’d like to have you all post your thoughts to the Clog on Bridges.  The ambitious ones can also respond to the ideas of the other classmates.
Click on the picture above to read the transcript of the talk.