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Friendly Fire Series Presents: Feminism and its Effect on the Family in America

Sponsored by the Columbia Political Union
Co-sponsored by the Columbia University College Republicans

"Phyllis Schlafly has been a national leader of the conservative movement since the publication of her best-selling 1964 book, A Choice Not An Echo. She has been a leader of the pro-family movement since 1972, when she started her national volunteer organization now called Eagle Forum. In a ten-year battle, Mrs. Schlafly led the pro-family movement to victory over the principal legislative goal of the radical feminists, called the Equal Rights Amendment. An articulate and successful opponent of the radical feminist movement, she appears in debate on college campuses more frequently than any other conservative. She was named one of the 100 most important women of the 20th century by the Ladies' Home Journal."

Past Events

Rise of the Christian Right in American Politics

The Christian Right occupies a significant and, for some, a suspicious position in American politics. In recent years, its influence in Washington has grown tremendously, with national organizations like Moral Majority, Christian Voice and Christian Coalition for America establishing its presence. George W. Bush won the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections in large part due to support from evangelical fundamentalists. These organizations' ideas have continued to shape the president's stances on issues of national importance and policy-making decisions throughout his two terms. The panel will address the origins of the Christian Right as well as its role in present-day politics more specifically.

Craig Unger, a Harvard graduate, is the author of three books, Blue Blood (1988), House of Bush; House of Saud (2004), and Fall of the House of Bush (2007). His latest book has been acclaimed as "chilling," "gripping," "compelling," and "explosive." He has contributed to The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Vanity Fair, The New Yorker, Boston Globe, Esquire Magazine and Salon.com. Mr. Unger's work is prominently featured in Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11 as well as the documentary American Zeitgeist. He was editor-in-chief of Boston Magazine from 1995 to 2000 and was Deputy Editor of the New York Observer. He has appeared on CNN, The Charlie Rose Show on PBS, National Public Radio and many other television and radio programs.

Esther Kaplan is a radio and print journalist as well as a community activist. Her book, With God on Their Side: How Christian Fundamentalists Trampled Science, Policy and Democracy in George W. Bush's White House, was published in 2005. Ms. Magazine calls it "a frightening and necessary read." She writes for and was acting senior editor of The Nation. She contributes to Talk to Action (talk2action.org), a blog "for reporting on, learning about, and analyzing and discussing the religious right - and what to do about it" and is an investigative editor for The Nation Institute. Ms. Kaplan also co-hosts Beyond the Pale, a radio show covering Jewish culture and politics on WBAI/ New York.

Past Events

In addition to the events listed below, the Columbia Political Union has hosted watch parties for Presidential debates, Election results, and, annually, the State of the Union Address. The CPU has also co-sponsored numerous events over the years, only a few of which are listed below.

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