2008 EVENTS

June 4, 2008

On Wednesday, June 4th John McWhorter, Manhattan Institute senior fellow, noted linguist, and author of the New York Times bestseller Losing the Race joined YLC to discuss his newest book, All About the Beat: Why Hip-Hop Can't Save Black America—in which McWhorter praises the musical artistry of hip-hop, but takes issue with its political content and activist message. McWhorter points beyond the empty gestures of the "hip-hop revolution" to a brave new politics for Black America, calling for a renewed sense of purpose and pride in black communities.

One of the most outspoken voices in America's cultural dialogues, John McWhorter can always be counted on to provide provocative viewpoints steeped in scholarly savvy. The Young Leaders forum was two weeks before the publication date—so we were treated to an advanced discussion. Some media that followed: 'Conscious' Hiphop Fallacy John McWhorter, New York Sun, 06-12-08; Economist interview.

May 7, 2008

American Enterprise Institute fellow John Bolton, Ambassador to the United Nations from August 2005 to December 2006 and a nominee for the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize, appeared as a guest of the Young Leaders Circe on May 7th. Ambassor Bolton presented a riveting discussion inspired by his memoir, Surrender Is Not an Option. In it, he recounts his illustrious career as a lawyer and diplomat who fought to preserve the sovereignty of the United States. Along the way, he provides critical insight into major international dilemmas, such as the nuclear issues surrounding Iran and North Korea and the crisis in Darfur.

The focus of Bolton's discussion, nuclear proliferation among rogue countries, was summarized the following day in his Wall Street Journal oped. Bolton discussed the Bush administrations lackadaisical approach in handling North Korea's nuclear policies and he put a great deal of attention on the reactor North Korea helped Syria build, as well as the high probability that Iran had a hand in the matter. Ambassador Bolton criticized the Bush administration for being naïve in underestimating the threat posed by North Korea. Not only were the Ambassador's comments highly relevant for this election year, but his lessons for maintaining global peace are timeless.

April 2, 2008

General Jack Keane, former Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army ('99-'04), gave a special talk marking the fifth anniversary of the War in Iraq. General Keane is one of the principle authors of "Choosing Victory: A Plan for Success in Iraq," an American Enterprise Institute report that is credited with convincing President Bush to commit additional troops to Iraq in order to employ the counterinsurgency strategy that has been so successful in securing Iraqi towns.

General Keane was introduced by Captain Pete Hegseth who currently serves in the 1-69 Infantry, New York Army National Guard. Captain Hegseth is executive director of Vets for Freedom, a nonpartisan organization established by combat veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan whose mission is to educate the American public about the importance of achieving success in these conflicts. To fulfill this mission, Vets for Freedom recently led a bus tour which brought American troops to 14 cities, culminating in a visit by 400 troops to Washington lawmakers.

YOUNG LEADERS IN THE PRESS:
An Evening with General Jack Keane National Review Online's The Tank blog, 4-7-08

March 5, 2008

Few are unaware of the celebrated clean-up of New York in the 1990s. But who led the transformation from declining city to vibrant metropolis? The NYPD. By targeting the aggressive panhandlers, public urinators, squeegee men and other "quality of life" criminals that plagued the streets, police restored public order and created a substantial drop in major crime rates.

Heather Mac Donald, John M. Olin fellow at the Manhattan Institute and contributing editor of City Journal, explained how the police, routinely criticized as racists and civil rights violators, provide the public order that allows communities to flourish and individuals to prosper. Mac Donald, a recipient of the 2005 Bradley Prize for Intellectual Achievement, is the author of numerous books, including Are Cops Racist?—an investigation of the workings of the police, the controversy over so-called racial profiling, and the anti-profiling lobby's harmful effects on black Americans. Her work on police "racism" is especially timely as three New York City officers are on trial for the shooting death of Sean Bell, a young African American. Heather's recent City Journal article "The Reclamation of Skid Row," described LAPD efforts to clean up a notoriously lawless 50 square block area.

February 6, 2008

John Fund, leading political analyst for the Wall Street Journal, joined us to discuss the results of "Super Tuesday." With over half of the delegates to the national conventions decided, the parties are closer to selecting a candidate.

John H. Fund is a featured writer for the The Wall Street Journal's online political column, "Political Diary," which offers unique commentary, reports from the trail and political gossip. He is a member of the The Wall Street Journal's editorial board, where he previously served as deputy editorial features editor. He is the author of several books including Stealing Elections: How Voter Fraud Threatens Our Democracy (Encounter, 2004). He also was Rush Limbaugh's collaborator on his best-selling book The Way Things Ought to Be. He regularly brings his trenchant political observations to television as a commentator.

January 9, 2008

On January 9th, the Young Leaders Circle was visited by award-winning author Shelby Steele. He came to discuss the complex role race plays in politics today. In his newest book, A Bound Man, Steele examines the challenges that Barack Obama must overcome in his bid to become President of the United States.

Shelby Steele is a Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, specializing in the study of race in democratic societies, multiculturalism, and American political culture. He is a recipient of the Bradley Prize, the National Book Critics Circle Award for The Content of Our Character: A New Vision of Race in America, and an Emmy Award for television writing. In 2004, President George W. Bush, citing Steele's "learned examinations of race relations and cultural issues," honored him with the National Humanities Medal.