[Missouri-l] Accessible World presents A World View of history, October 20, 2010

[Nancy Lynn]

News Wire

Come join us on Wednesday the 20th and listen to author and Cold War Guru 
John Lewis.  Gaddis discuss his book, "The Cold War: A New History." and 
share your thoughts about his opinions and your     Cold War experiences.



Yale Historian and author of six previous books on the Cold War has written 
a concise, critically acclaimed, account of the "Cold War", i.e. the period 
between The End of World War Two and the dissolution of the Soviet Empire in 
1991.



Dampened by the fear of total nuclear annihilation, the Cold War was marked 
mostly by what did not happen rather than what actually did happen. For 
example, the Cold War's beginning is not marked by a Tuchmanesque "Guns of 
August" explosion,   but three definitive speeches in 1946-1947 by the three 
former WWII allied leaders. In February 1946 Joseph Stalin gave a speech 
predicting, according to Marxian Laws of History, another war between greedy 
capitalists and the victory of Communism. Winston Churchill's gave his 
famous Iron Curtain speech on March 5 1946 warning of the suppression of 
free peoples living in central and Eastern Europe. In 1947, Harry Truman's 
announced the Truman Doctrine and Marshal Plan to oppose Soviet expansion. 
Fortunately, there never was a direct shooting war as opposed to a proxy 
conflict with the Soviet Union except for some secret dog fights over Korea.

This absence of direct warfare was probably due to what Gaddis criticizes 
Dwight D. Eisenhower for as "the most subtle and brutal strategist of the 
nuclear age" because Eisenhower insisted on limiting development of nuclear 
weapons to those designed  for total war only. His purpose was to make sure 
that no nuclear war would take place, " This grew into "Maximum Assured 
Response" (MAD) IN THE 70'S which ultimately gave the U.S. a second strike 
response capability of THREE thousands Hydrogen Bombs, probably enough to 
destroy life on earth.



The author criticizes President Nixon and Kissinger for "détente" which 
recognized the status quo permanently consigning persons in Soviet 
controlled countries to Communism. He commends Regan, Margaret Thatcher and 
Pope Paul for the ultimate demise of the Soviet Empire. Gorbachev receives 
less praise but Gaddis says he is one of the most deserving recipients of 
the Nobel Peace Prize.

For those of us who lived through all or part of the Cold war, it was a time 
of chronic anxiety escalating to downright fright during the Cuban Missile 
Crisis. It was a time of "duck and cover drills" home bomb shelters and duck 
tape jokes. Fortunately, it ended like it began, not with a bang but a 
whimper with the missile defenses of both sides still unused and intact.



The Cold War: A New History

Gaddis, John Lewis. Read by Alexander Strain. Reading time 10 hours 30 
minutes.

World History



Yale historian analyzes the power struggle that occurred between the United 
States and the Soviet Union from 1945 to 1991 and its effect on world 
events. Uses archives from Eastern Europe, Russia, and China to describe the 
tension of nuclear armament and the leaders behind the weapons. 2005.



Download The Cold War: A New History, DB62511

Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic, 2006. Book Number:   HN002



The group will meet at the same time the third Wednesday of every month and 
will be facilitated by Don Queen, Email: queens at pacbell.net



Date: Wednesday, October 20, 2010



Time: 6:00 PM PDT, 7:00 PM MDT, 8:00 PM CDT, 9:00 PM EDT

          and elsewhere in the world Thursday 01:00 GMT.



Approximately 20 minutes prior to the event start time; go to A World View 
of History at:



http://conference321.com/masteradmin/room.asp?id=rsf0c95f474b43



Or, alternatively,



Select A World View of History Room at: www.accessibleworld.org

Enter your first and last names on the sign-in screen.



If you are a first-time user of the Talking Communities online conferencing 
software, there is a small, safe software program that you need to download 
and then run. A link to the software is available on every entry screen to 
the Accessible World rooms.



All online interactive programs, are free of charge, and open to anyone 
worldwide having an Internet connection, a computer, speakers, and a sound 
card. Those with microphones can interact audibly with the presenters and 
others in the virtual audience. To speak to us, hold down the control key 
and let up to listen. If no microphone is available, you may text chat with 
the attendees.



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Talk Announce List by completing the form at: 
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Accessible World Contacts:



Robert Acosta, Chair

Accessible World

818-998-0044

Email: boacosta at pacbell.net

Web:   www.helpinghands4theblind.org



Marcia Moses, Events Coordinator

Accessible World

734-495-1496

Email: mgmoses at comcast.net



Steve Hoffman, President

Talking Communities

Email: steve at talkingcommunities.com



The Accessible World, a division of Helping Hands For The Blind, a 501(c)(3) 
not-for-profit organization, seeks to educate the general public, the 
disabled community and the professionals who serve them by providing highly 
relevant information about new products, services, and training 
opportunities designed specifically to eliminate geographic and access 
barriers that adversely affect them.









Robert Acosta, President
Helping Hands for the Blind
Email: boacosta at pacbell.net
Web Site: www.helpinghands4theblind.org

You can assist Helping Hands for the Blind by donating your used computers 
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the above address. 
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