Carleton’s Regional Carls Program

Jane Pejsa ’51, author of a number of non-fiction books, has long been familiar with historically troubled corners of Europe, where in recent centuries wars have been won and lost, seemingly over and over.  Europe’s centuries-long cycle of war, peace and more war took an abrupt turn to the right.  Did it begin with the shipyard strike in Gdansk?  Or when Mickhail Gorbachev became de facto ruler of the Soviet Union?  Or was it when President Ronald Reagan stood at the Brandenburg gate in Berlin and said, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down that wall!”? 

Perhaps all of the above, for on November 9, 1989, the Berlin Wall was breached by young people from East and West.  In desperation, East German authorities opened the gates to the West, and governments of the East Bloc fell together, like a row of dominoes.  If there was a raison d’etre to write a book that crisscrosses time and space at will, it was the experience of a 21st century  journey that yet looked back upon a dark past only now fading away.

Treat yourself to a tasty and inexpensive breakfast. Reservations are not necessary. Suggestions for speakers are always welcome, and may be submitted to program coordinator Bob Carlson '68.