Category Archives: Academic Articles

Glossary: Terms Related to Diversity – by Marc Brenman

The following definitions are designed to accompany studies and materials on diversity, equity, equal opportunity, and nondiscrimination. The intent is to provide a common understanding to facilitate discussion and a common ground for discourse and action. The nature of the civil and human rights field, as well as human resources, is such that understandings change over time,  circumstances, and technological developments. Hence these definitions are subject to change, and in the spirit of the need for a common understanding, feedback is welcome, as well as suggestions for additional terms that need defining. 

Glossary of Terms Related to
Diversity, Equity, and Equal Opportunity

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Tennessee Plan for a Local-Global Future – By Bob Edwards

Introduction

What a privilege to have spent a hot three weeks in Memphis, Tennessee, with the 2024 Class of the Tennessee Governor’s School for International Studies. I was overjoyed to return to the city where some of the world’s greatest industries have been launched serving the noble cause of freedom joined with prosperity.  Which led us to consider the future your generation can bequeath to your descendants.  There are some mighty, simple lessons I’ve drawn that ought to inspire you to make a positive difference in the lives of everyone you encounter.  I’d like to take you on a tour of the future world you may wish to inhabit.

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Global Human Rights in Focus – by Dean Bordode

Current Challenges and Pathways
to Progress

Introduction

The global state of human rights in the 21st century continues to evolve, with notable advances in areas such as LGBTQ+ rights and gender equality, alongside persistent challenges like systemic discrimination, conflict-induced displacement, and the rise of authoritarian regimes. Despite progress, marginalized communities remain vulnerable, and civil liberties are under constant threat.

This report explores the current human rights landscape, drawing on contributions to various advocacy initiatives, including my work supporting Jewish groups and activists, amplifying the voices of LGBTQ+ communities, and addressing key global challenges. With decades of experience in human rights advocacy, I’ve supported efforts by Jewish rapporteurs in the U.S. and Canada, as well as contributed to reports on LGBTQ+ rights through submissions to bodies like the ILGA, the Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria, and the UN Human Rights Committee via SOGI (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity) submissions. These efforts emphasize the need for a collective, coordinated approach to addressing the pressing issues we face today.

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South Asheville Black Community – by Barbara Weitz

Abstract

The focus of this paper is the social, economic, and political development of the black community once  known as South Asheville in the city of  Asheville, North Carolina. It spans the period of slavery, the Civil War, emancipation, Reconstruction and Fusion politics.  From 1865 to 1900, Blacks in Asheville experienced much progress mostly because they felt far less  racial discrimination than what was experienced in  other parts of the South  The mixed racial attitudes of the Whites in Asheville allowed them access to more of the positive things happening in the city so the newly emancipated became a significant part of the boom Asheville experienced after the Civil War.  Since there were very few plantations , formerly enslaved people were not concentrated in small geographic areas of the city,  Some, like Mr. William McDowell, who did,  however, run a slave plantation, did much to help his former slaves and Blacks in general thrive by breaking up his former plantation into small pieces of land which he gave to them or allowed them to purchase at a small price. This created the suburb of Black South Asheville.

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Interfaith Bridgebuilding Across the Digital Divide – by Geneva Blackmer

What is the Digital Divide?

It is difficult to explain the realities of the digital divide to those who live comfortably on either side of the partition. Contemporary definitions include not only having access to technology, but also the right to digital literacy, digital participation, and social inclusion. While I was aware of the rapid and pervasive advancement of the digital world, correlating gaps in access did not fully become apparent until I began working within various public library systems. Over the years, I have assisted library patrons with everything from job applications to filing for social security, disability, and other medical benefits, to submitting college essays. The common denominator in all scenarios is that no option remained available for them to perform these tasks without technology, which was made accessible almost exclusively through public library services.

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Freedom Essay – by Marc Brenman

Do we really need another essay on freedom? When’s the last time you read one? It’s good to be reminded occasionally of meaningful basics. We get accustomed to being unfree, so it’s a good idea to be reminded of what freedom is. It’s also useful to be reminded that freedom, in the form of unfree people, is at the root of the American birth defect. We fought a Civil War over that idea. It’s also useful to note that there are fake or faux freedoms, like the desire, effort, and ability to overthrow free and democratic elections, as Trump supporters and many Republicans attempted after the November 2020 elections. Jefferson Cowie in his book Freedom’s Dominion: A Sage of White Resistance to Federal Power, noted that the Right has turned “freedom” into a dog whistle. 

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Campus Jews on Trial – by R. A. Crevoshay

Opinion: American Jewish Education
Fails Israel

What I offer is an unapologetic defense of the Jewish People. Oh yes, we are indeed a People. Not an ethnicity, though we have many ethnicities within our general culture. Not a religion, though we do have numerous and competing variations of theology among our ranks. It ain’t about religion.

Jews are the indigenous nation of the Land of Israel.

We’ve been separated from our land for a couple thousand years.

Jews are indigenous under the definition provided by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Where we differ from virtually every other dispossessed indigenous culture is that we have honored the memory of our roots. Through a couple of millennia of suffering the brutality visited upon us by most of our foreign hosts, we not only remembered our homeland, but we’ve had the unwelcome chutzpah to recover and resettle it. 

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Comparisons of Anti-Vietnam War Protests and Pro-Palestinian Protests – by Marc Brenman

Recently I was asked to compare and contrast the Anti-Vietnam War Protests of the mid to late 1960’s and early 1970’s with the current Pro-Palestinian, Pro-Gaza, and Anti-Israel protests, largely on college campuses. I was very active in activities against the War in Vietnam while in college and graduate school. I have some regrets at some of the stupid things I said and did. Therefore I try to understand the current demonstrators. I had a ox being gored—fear of being drafted. Thus, I had a personal stake in the actions. Today’s students have no such stake. It is especially notable that most of the groups opposing Israel’s stance in the Gaza War have no stake whatsoever in that part of the world. 

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Catalyzing Inclusive Urban Economies- by Ainesh Dey

The Dynamics of Urban Economies in India 

 In the rapidly changing landscape of urban economies in India, nuanced civic engagement, enhanced transparency, accountability, and representation have come to the forefront as significant issues. This piece seeks to investigate the shift in the public administration’s discourse from a traditional solution to a more collaborative one  with the aim of creating  inclusive and sustainable policy frameworks.

The prospect of nuanced civic engagement in democratic processes plays an important role in spearheading transparency, accountability and representation. It also strengthens  the overall socio-political and economic character of contemporary administrative discourse. At a time when we are experiencing a paradigm shift from traditional redressal of grievances to instances of collaborative solution building, considerable emphasis has been laid on the effective streamlining of policy frameworks, thereby making them more inclusive and sustainable.

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 DIPLOMACY IN THE INDO PACIFIC – by Ainesh Dey

 THE RISE OF MINILATERALISM    


INTRODUCTION

 The present geopolitical landscape has witnessed a seemingly drastic transition, with the widespread emergence of multifarious groupings, popularly referred to as “Minilaterals”, premised upon the imperative understanding of peacebuilding and conflict resolution, and shared threat perceptions, with regards to numerous strategically viable areas. The growing realization of the virtual deficiencies of singular organizations in combating regional challenges through calibrated options and the pronounced infringements of broader strategic interests, have accentuated the need for the constitution of such multilateral organizations.    

 The Indo Pacific replete with a wider array of opportunities to broaden international partnerships, has emerged as the bastion of profound diplomatic engagements thereby taking shape as one of the most coveted realms of contemporary international relations . Kicking off proceedings with the actively revamped  Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD), a brainchild of the United States, integrating presently developing  proponents of India, Japan and Australia into the fold of strengthened commitment against Chinese belligerence, this rapidly evolving phenomenon of “Minilateralism”, has remained manifest in the recently constituted AUKUS (Australia, UK and the US ) and the renewed fervour of the  Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), skewed towards pursuing narrow and monolithic interests of international consolidation.     Continue reading  DIPLOMACY IN THE INDO PACIFIC – by Ainesh Dey