National University is offering a free Humanities no-credit class – as part of NEH’s public humanities program “Dialogues on the Experience of War.” The discussion  program is open to all interested in the study of war and what it means to be a warrior in both ancient and modern times.

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.

The 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. You do not need to be a student at National University.

The program encourages veterans and community members to reflect upon and learn about war through literature and history. Veterans have the opportunity to process their experiences while using the histories of the Trojan War, the Vietnam War, and the Iraqi War (Operation Freedom) as a starting point. All participants engage with literary works like Homer’s The Iliad, a poem set during the Trojan War. Narrative non-fiction from the Vietnam War such as Dispatches, Sisterhood of War: Minnesota Women in Vietnam, and selections from What It Is Like to Go to War as well as Faith of My Fathers helps us explore how individuals handled war and its aftermath at home. We discuss the Iraq war through veteran Heidi Squier Kraft’s Rule Number Two: Lessons I Learned in a Combat Hospital. Kraft was a Lieutenant Commander in the Navy when she deployed to Iraq. She left 15-month-old twins at home in the care of her military husband.

For those considering enrolling in college, it is a great way to take a test drive. Current students should check with their advisors about earning academic credit through Directed Reading.

Participation in the program and all books are free.

Discussion Groups meet twice monthly for five months (January to May, 2021). Weeknight and weekend groups are available, but space is limited.

For details, contact Dr. Lorna Zukas
Email: llueker@nu.edu