Dialogues on the Experience of War

As a part of its current initiative, Standing Together: The Humanities and the Experience of War, the National Endowment for the Humanities offers the Dialogues on the Experience of War program. The program supports the study and discussion of important humanities sources about war, in the belief that these sources can help U.S. military veterans and others to think more deeply about the issues raised by war and military service. The humanities sources can be drawn from history, philosophy, literature, and film—and they may and should be supplemented by testimonials from those who have served. The discussions are intended to promote serious exploration of important questions about the nature of duty, heroism, suffering, loyalty, and patriotism. The program awards grants of up to $100,000 that will support 1. the recruitment and training of discussion leaders; and 2. following the training program, the convening of at least two discussion programs. The discussion programs can take place on college and university campuses, in veterans’ centers, at public libraries and museums, and at other community venues. Most of the participants in the discussion programs should be military veterans; others, such as men and women in active service, military families, and interested members of the public, may participate as well.