Sunday Forum keeps up on all topics

By Jeff O'Brien

Thursday, Aug. 28, 2008 | midnight

Every Sunday at 11 a.m., Elinor Holcomb's living room in Sun City Summerlin transforms into a lively roundtable of discussion and debate.

The topics vary minute-by-minute, ranging from local politics to international affairs and the environment. Holcomb, a retired journalist who moved to Las Vegas from San Francisco in 1989, founded the group — known as the "Sunday Forum" — about 10 years ago.

"Soon after I moved here I became active in organizing local groups, and this group kind of spun out of a book club that I started," she said.

The group consists of 15 to 20 members each week, most of whom live in Summerlin and lean toward the left in their political ideals, Holcomb said.

They cover all three bases — local, national and international affairs — and sometimes the debates get rather lively.

"Not only do we have discussions and debates, but we try to influence politics, as well," Holcomb said. "We send out petitions and write letters to government officials."

During the "clippings" session, each person had the opportunity to bring up a topic related to current world affairs, politics and the environment.

Group member Jim Daniel expressed his frustration at the Aug. 3 meeting over what he feels is negative light being cast on Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign, as well as the United States military's role in Afghanistan.

"The Bush administration has said the central front on the war on terror is Al Qaeda in Iraq, but that group is now reconstituting in Afghanistan," Daniel said. "Afghanistan is where we should be concentrating our efforts."

Oil was also a hot topic during this particular session. Roberta Mesco was fuming over statements made by Sen. Joseph Lieberman on "Meet the Press" earlier that morning.

The Sunday Forum's topics of discussion vary widely each week, said group member Harold Barling.

"Last week we discussed the growing influence of China and the history of Spain," Barling said. "We've previously talked about the history of Hawaii, South America and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict."

The fact that this group shares common views and has a forum to express them is Holcomb's favorite aspect of the Sunday Forum.

"I like the solidarity of it," she said. "When I first moved to Sun City I thought, 'oh my God, people just go to the casinos.' But I was surprised to find a lot of people who are just like me."

Jeff O'Brien is a reporter for the Home News. He can be reached at 990-8957 or [email protected].