National University NEH Dialogues of War Project: Veterans Speak

Thank you for your interest in this program. We look forward to receiving your application.

A Soldier’s Place: Veterans and Civilians Speaking about War is a public humanities program offered at National University. The program is open to all veterans and civilians who are interested in the study of war and what it means to be a warrior in both ancient and modern times. This program creates a space where those affected by war and its aftermath can explore important humanities sources on war and have meaningful conversations through facilitated discussions of those sources.

The program supports the idea that reading and discussing humanities texts about war in a supportive intellectual environment can help U.S. military veterans and civilians reflect more deeply about the issues raised by war and military service and compare their experiences and reactions to the experiences and reactions of people from other times and places.

Project readings include epic poetry, narrative non-fiction, military biography, and memoir. They highlight multiple branches of service and uncover men and women’s experiences on the battlefield and the homefront. Readings focus on three wars: the Trojan War, the Vietnam War, and the Iraq War (Operation Iraqi Freedom) to highlight the persistence of powerful themes of trauma, loyalty, heroism, and homecoming and the effects of their enactments on individuals and societies in the accounts of war over the last four thousand years. The battle arenas are completely different yet the impacts of the wars are significantly similar.

The Veterans and Civilians Speaking about War program welcomes participation from all veterans, active duty members, civilians, and others associated with the military regardless of service branch, service years, deployment history, disability status, age, race, or gender.

Participation in the program and all books are provided free. Program participants have the opportunity to join a small group of people, veterans and civilians, share stories, expand networks, support one another, and use the humanities to open up dialogues on the experience of war.

Discussion groups will meet twice monthly for five months (January to May 2021) and will meet either on a weekday evening or on a Saturday during the day (see table below). Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, we are preparing to run online discussion groups in the event that we cannot meet in person. Please indicate below if you are willing to participate in an online discussion group.

The NEH Discussion Groups Meetings

Please sign up for either Group A (Thursday evening group) or Group B (Saturday afternoon group). Please indicate your group preference on the application.

NEH Discussion Leaders serve as group facilitators. NEH Discussion Leaders are veterans who have an enduring commitment to help others understand war and the experience of war and are prepared to work with veterans and civilians to encourage them to think about the tough challenges that war presents in societies (past and present) and explore various avenues for thriving during adverse and favorable periods.

Class size is limited and registration is first-come, first-served. More information and an application can be found at A Soldier’s Place: Veterans and Civilians Speaking about War or by contacting Lorna Zukas at lzukas@nu.edu. Please contact our team at 619-538-9689 or by email to Dr. Lorna Zukas at lzukas@nu.edu with any questions. Applications are due November 1, 2020.

Continue to the application.