History and Political Science
Ralph Nurnberger, Ph.D., is a widely acclaimed speaker who brings humor, current political insights, and historical background to his presentations. In addition to giving talks nationally and at The Smithsonian Institute, Professor Nurnberger has appeared as an analyst on television and radio programs. He has also spoken internationally and on a number of cruises. He has given presentations on a wide range of historical and political topics at Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at FAU. Professor Nurnberger taught at Georgetown University for 38 years and was named Professor of the Year by the Graduate School of Liberal Studies in 2003.
Media Story
Some movie extras added something extra to films shot in Washington - by John Kelly, columnist (September 2, 2020)
Being an extra in a movie seems like the easiest job in the world: Just stand around and try not to look at the camera. But some extras need to have a little .?.?. extra.
In 1972, Ralph Nurnberger was a graduate student at Georgetown University competing in the finals of an intramural tennis championship. The casting director for “The Exorcist” happened to be walking by one day, scouting for people who looked as if they belonged on the campus.
Ralph was hired on the spot as a “skilled extra.” His task was to play tennis on the courts next to Lauinger Library while Lee Jay Cobb and Jason Miller walked by discussing the strange goings on in the Georgetown community, including the death of a priest. (The courts have since been replaced by dorms.)
“One of the players on the next court was Linda Tuero, who was an internationally ranked player,” wrote Ralph, of Arlington, Va. “Later, she married William Peter Blatty, who had written the novel that was the basis for the film.”
Ralph later taught at the university. “For many years, I invited my Georgetown students to have dinner at our home — so that we could have an off-campus discussion,” he wrote. “I usually also showed them my ‘30 seconds of fame.’?”
News Articles
Making Sense of the Senseless Middle East
The entire Middle East has become increasingly chaotic, confusing and dangerous. The West, including the United States, faces new and ever more serious threats. Nations that share goals in one conflict might be bitter
enemies in another. Radical groups are proliferating in the region: posing threats to Westerners, including the United States. Traditional nation states and borders that have existed for a century are collapsing. Millions of people have been forced from their homes and are now
refugees in other countries, raising a myriad of humanitarian concerns.
Events in the Middle East are in constant flux. This talk will address many of the conflicts that plague the region. For example, in Syria, the Obama administration called on Syrian President
Bashar al-Assad to be replaced, yet a year later the United States began airstrikes against Assad’s enemies in Syria. Syria hosted the political office of Hamas until Hamas announced support for the anti-Assad forces in
Syria. One of America’s main foes in the region is Iran, which sponsors and supports terror groups including Hamas and Hezbollah, yet the United States and Iran share a common enemy in Iraq, namely the Islamic
State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL—also called AQI; ISIS and IS). Although American cooperation with Iran in Iraq might make sense on one level, this also increases tensions between the United States and its more
traditional “ally” Saudi Arabia. While Turkey, a NATO ally, is concerned about the spread of ISIL, they are even more concerned about the ambitions of the Kurds, who are fighting against ISIL. The United States uses an
airbase in Qatar to attack Islamic jihadists based in Iraq and Syria, while the same jihadists have facilities near the US airbase in Qatar. The “peace process” talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority ended in
April 2013, yet there are ongoing discussions between Israel and the Palestinian Authority on many of the same issues.
This lecture will attempt to “make sense of the senseless Middle East” by providing an analysis of many of the current issues throughout the region.
Register Early! There is a $5 charge for registering on the day of a one-time lecture or event.
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| Course # S1R1 — One Time Event
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| Place: | Lifelong Learning Complex, Jupiter Campus |
| Dates: | Thursday, April 23 2015 |
| Time: | 12 - 1:30 PM |
| Fee: | $25 / member; $35 / non-member |
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Register Now
