Questions

In the eight years our program has been on the air we have never covered a topic from a regional standpoint. The Middle East, however, is such an important issue to each of our generations, but for different reasons and from different perspectives. Today's young generation is swamped with stories pro and con about he region. Our middle generation has seen the area change from one we could visit to one we have to avoid for safety reasons. And the older generation remembers a time when there was relative peace in the area and trade was widespread. Join us Tuesday, September 2nd at 6:05 and send a comment to yttkuar@gmail.com.

Older Generation:

1. The Middle East is in the news every day and has been since the first Arab Oil Crisis back in the 70's. When your generation was young, how often did the Middle East make the news and what was the reason then?

2. How has the political geography changed over the course of your generation?

3. We often hear about the cultural differences now, but in those earlier years of your generation how were those differences perceived by the rest of the world?

4. While our nation has been trying to equalize the gender issues for many decades, the Middle East still is very paternalistic. Have you noticed any changes in the gender situation?

5. Radical Islam seems to be at the core of our current social/political problems with the Middle East. Throughout the course of your generation, how has Islam controlled the course of history?

6. What advise would your generation give to the next generations, as they begin to take the reigns of power, in dealing with and understanding the Middle East?

Middle Generation:

1. Your generation reached early adulthood in the middle 60's and faced your first real challenge to the American way of life when the 'gas crisis' hit in the 70's. What do you remember about your knowledge of the Middle East then and how did that crisis affect your perceptions of the Middle East?

2. Was knowledge about the Middle East a part of your school education and to what extent?

3. During the 70's when your generation was consumed by Viet Nam, what as the situation with the Middle East as it pertained to the rest of the world, and when did it change?

4. While our culture has separated religion from politics (well we have tried to anyway), the Middle East has not. Has your generation been able to negotiate this difference in its affect on issues dealing with the Middle East?

5. Your generation, along with the older generation, is able to remember gas prices well under 25 cents per gallon. Is oil at the very center of your generation's relationship with the Middle East and how have these tremendous price increases changed that relationship?

6. As your generation now controls the course of political history, what does your generation need to do to preserve and protect the future relationships with the Middle East, both from a political and social perspective?

Younger Generation:

1. Like waking up from a bad dream, your generation is maturing into a very volatile era. How well is your generation educated about the Middle East; its history, its culture and politics?

2. During the Civil Rights era many young people saw the prejudices of their parent's generation begin to weaken and disappear. With all the emphasis on war and radical Islam, is your generation able to keep prejudices against Middle Easterners out of your perceptions?

3. Environmental concerns are moving us in a direction away from dependence on Middle East oil. What is your generation's view of the oil issues of the Middle East?

4. What is the greatest misconception about the Middle East held by your generation?

5. Your grandparent's and great grandparent's generations were able to travel through the Middle East with little or no problem and could enjoy the archeological treasures of the region...can your generation do the same...and do you want to?

6. Your generation will gain political power in future years. What do you see as the political terrain you will inherit from those who have power now?