What are immediate and long-term effects of experiencing combat firsthand? In this conversation we probe this question as Chris Hedges, a veteran war correspondent, and Anthony Swofford, a former U.S. Marine Corps sniper, describe memories they would each rather forget. The truths they report are often hidden from public view, for they profoundly challenge the romantic mythology of war. The truth of war makes clear the sacrifice demanded of those sent to fight. Soldiers, their families, caregivers, and taxpaying citizens should not to be deceived about what awaits those caught in a military process that brings them face-to-face with incomprehensible violence. How might knowledge of the truth of war help to heal war’s wounds? Related Themes: Iraq, violence, war

The National Geographic Society’s All Roads Photography Program recognizes and supports talented indigenous and underrepresented storytellers from around the world who are documenting their changing cultures and communities through photography. The program provides a forum for photographers to showcase their work to a global audience with the opportunity to engage and experience, firsthand, the unique and essential voices of these artists through exhibitions, public discussions and workshops. Related Themes: photography, story

In Light at the Edge of the World: A Journey through the Realm of Vanishing Cultures, Wade Davis coined the term ethnosphere to remind people that cultural diversity is as important to human sustenance as the diverse life forms that make up the biosphere. Related Themes: anthropology, culture, ethnosphere, exploration

Join us as Newsweek managing editor Jon Meacham discusses religion, one of the most pervasive yet least understood forces in American life. With reference to his best-selling book, American Gospel, he will use the Founding Fathers’ insistence on religious liberty to illuminate conflicts at work in our country as we approach the first wide-open presidential election since 1952. Related Themes: media, politics, religion

In his recent book, Squandered Victory: The American Occupation and the Bungled Effort to Bring Democracy to Iraq, Professor Larry Diamond identifies four key elements of democracy: "choosing and replacing the government through free and fair elections; active citizen participation in politics and civic life; protection of the human rights of all citizens; and the rule of law, in which the regulations and procedures apply equally to all citizens." What are the prospects and problems for implementing these principles throughout the Middle East? Professor Diamond will discuss this and other questions with Dr. Abbas Milani, co-director of the Hoover Institution's Iran Democracy Project and director of Stanford's new Iranian Studies Program. Related Themes: democracy, Iraq