Rotarian Eric Collier works for Mercy Ship, which operates the floating charity hospital “Africa Mercy.” The ship provides a wide range of free surgery to poor unfortunate people around the world, mostly Africa. The ship docks for 10 months in each location and has visited 70 ports to date. Hundreds of people line up in each location for triage and to be considered for help. Eric explained that the most debilitating and urgent cases are given priority. More surgeries are performed on the ship each year than at any other hospital. About eight surgeons are offering their services at present. About 1,200 volunteers rotate, putting about 450 people on active duty at any one time. All personnel, including the ship’s captain, are unpaid volunteers. The average cost per month of running the hospital ship is $1,000,000. Eric showed before and after pictures of people whose often great deformities had been alleviated. “Africa Mercy” is often called “the love boat.”

Professor Claes Ryn discussed popular myths. #1. “US was a Fresh Start Country”. In fact, the US was a continuation of old British common law, classical education, Christian ethics, and British tradition. The break was over not being treated the same as homeland Brits. #2. ” US is a leading democracy”. The Founding Fathers wanted to avoid the tyranny of the democratic populist majority and preferred a republic  with aristocratic oversight. The Senators were appointed by the state legislatures up until 1913. The US Courts were not elected, and presidents were people of substance. #3. “American Exceptionalism”. President Wilson’s “War to make the world safe for democracies” is out of step with the founding fathers intent.