MTSU Audio Clips

• The Paper Clip Connection
• The (Middle East) Missiles of October?

1. The Paper Clip Project is one middle school’s attempt to help children understand the depth and extensiveness of the Holocaust. Whitwell Middle School Principal Linda Hooper will explain the project at MTSU’s 2009 Holocaust Studies Conference October 22-24. Hooper says the school’s location in a small east Tennessee town with no Jewish community has presented no obstacles.

Hooper1.mp3 :16        OC: “that’s really important”

Hooper, an MTSU graduate, says the collection of paper clips by children has meaning because Norwegians, who invented paper clips, wore them on their lapels as a silent protest against the Holocaust during World War II.

2. How should teachers explain the horrors of the Holocaust to children in an age-appropriate way that does not water down the truth?  Whitwell Middle School Principal Linda Hooper allowed children to collect paper clips to help them comprehend the enormity of the tragedy. Hooper, an MTSU graduate, says there are other judgments to be made in educating kids about the Holocaust.

Hooper2.mp3 :18             OC: “pictures of the camps”

The Paper Clip Project at Whitwell is a collection of 11 million paper clips stored in an authentic German railroad car to honor all people murdered by the Nazis. Hooper will talk about the project at the 2009 Holocaust Studies Conference at MTSU October 22-24.

3. The murder of a security guard at the U.S. Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C., in June was a sad reminder that hate still festers in the American populace. Whitwell Middle School Principal and MTSU alumna Linda Hooper fostered the Paper Clip Project to help children understand how extensive the carnage of the Holocaust was by collecting paper clips to symbolize the people killed by the Nazis.  Hooper says she did not hesitate to use the Holocaust Museum shooting as a teachable moment by raising questions for the students to ponder.

Hooper3.mp3 :15            OC: “not toward hate?”

Hooper will explain the Paper Clip Project at the 2009 Holocaust Studies Conference at MTSU October 22-24.

4. The International Atomic Energy Agency is scheduled to inspect a uranium enrichment factory west of Tehran, Iran on October 25. Western nations have threatened sanctions against Iran because of its nuclear program. But Dr. Sean Foley, MTSU history professor and Middle East expert, says it might be difficult to get the entire international community to support sanctions.

Iran1.mp3 :18              OC: “and even Germany”

Foley says German Chancellor Angela (AHN-ghuh-lah) Merkel’s absence at last month’s announcement by President Barack Obama and the leaders of Britain and France at the G20 summit in Pittsburgh was revealing. Merkel was in the midst of a re-election campaign at the time, but Foley says that was just an excuse.

5. The United States and other nations are slated to take part in historic discussions with Iran October 19 in Vienna about the possible transfer of Iranian uranium for enrichment abroad. Dr. Sean Foley, an MTSU history professor and Middle East expert, says people in both major American political parties will continue to criticize President Obama for negotiating with the Iranians, but a military alternative is unthinkable.

Iran2.mp3 :18               OC: “hit tomorrow morning”

American officials revealed the existence of a uranium enrichment facility west of Tehran last month. The International Atomic Energy Agency is scheduled to inspect the facility on October 25. Foley says sanctions are an option, but China and Russia are likely to raise objections.

6. Republicans and some conservative Democrats criticize the Obama administration for its willingness to negotiate with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (MAHK-mood AHK-mah-DIH-nih-jahd). The U.S. and other nations are slated to talk with the Iranians about their nuclear weapons-making capability October 19 in Vienna. Dr. Sean Foley, MTSU history professor and Middle East expert, says these discussions will be highly important.

Iran3.mp3 :23                  OC: “with the Iranians” (2x)

Leaders of Western nations, including the United States, have threatened sanctions against Iran. But Foley says sanctions could be problematic because of resistance from Russia and China and Iran’s highly efficient black market.

7. The U.S. is threatening sanctions against Iran for its maintenance of a uranium enrichment facility, which was hidden from the world until only last month. President Obama tried to present an image of toughness on this issue at the G20 summit last month in Pittsburgh. However, Dr. Sean Foley, MTSU history professor and Middle East expert, says one world leader was conspicuous by her absence.

Iran4.mp3 :15                     OC: “seen in the shot”

Foley says Merkel may have sent her regrets because she was involved in a re-election campaign, but he says that was just an excuse.  China, Russia and Germany are all major trading partners with Iran, and Foley says they don’t seem as interested in sanctions as Britain, France and the United States.
 

MTSU Audio Clips Archive