Clean Air Pushback, A New History Of The 1960’s, Giving Tuesday

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• UW-Madison Professor Debunks Myths Of 1960s

  University of Wisconsin-Madison professor Craig Werner wants to bust the many myths that he says cloud the public’s understanding of the 1960s.

  Werner said that the decade produced many larger-than-life stories that continue to loom over contemporary society. For example, there’s idea of the “Camelot era” — that the President John F. Kennedy White House was filled with poets and intellectuals and was a gleaming vision of trajectory of the country. Werner said that such isn’t the case.

  “The reality of the Kennedy administration is that it was gritty. It was about real politics on every level. And the myth of Camelot was consciously created by Jackie Kennedy within a couple weeks after the president’s death,” said Werner.

  Another common myth Werner identified was the Great Man theory that created larger-than-life characters, including Martin Luther King Jr.

  “As an African-American studies professor, I love MLK. But the way he has gone down into our cultural memory is false,” said Werner.

  He said that the cultural narrative emphasizes King’s peaceful demonstrations as being representative of the larger Civil Rights Movement.

  “That’s simply not true. Violence was a part of the Civil Rights Movement on all sides from the very beginning, and by focusing on Dr. King and his leadership erases that reality,” Werner said.

  He said he thinks that these myths are important to understand, especially given that the 1960s were such a vital turning point in American history and culture.

  “Any time period that gave rise to the Beatles, Aretha Franklin, Motown and Bob Dylan is worth studying,” Werner said.

  Werner also said that it’s important to study an era we’re still fighting about.

  “Bill Clinton once said that if you look back at the ’60s and it’s mostly positive, you’re probably a Democrat,” Werner said. “If look back at the ’60s and it’s mostly negative, you’re probably a Republican. And I think that plays out in many ways in our contemporary life. It changed the world we’re living in.”

• Gov. Walker Pushes Back On Clean Air Standards

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  The Obama administration has asked Wisconsin to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 30% by 2030. Governor Walker says the state can’t afford the hefty price tag that would come along with the implementation of new clean air standards. Our guest outlines what options the state has in order to meet federal standards.

• Separating Myth From Reality In The 1960's

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  VW vans, peace rallies, and psychedelic rock have loomed large in the memory of the 1960’s era–but a Wisconsin expert says we need to rethink our understanding of the era, and clear up some myths and misconceptions along the way.

• After the shopping-themed “Black Friday” and “Cyber Monday,” a nationwide movement is attempting to boost charitable giving and volunteering on “Giving Tuesday.” A philanthropy expert explains the event–and how you can get involved in giving.