Dr. Eugene W. Grabowski, MD, FACS. (Photo courtesy E. Grabowski)
Discussion at Jubilee Library on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday
The 26th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Lecture will be delivered here at Philipsburg Jubilee Library, on Tuesday, January 15, 2013, at 7:30 PM.
"St. Martin Culture from an American Perspective" is the title of this year’s address by Dr. Eugene Grabowski, MD, FACS, said Shujah Reiph, president of Conscious Lyrics (CLF), the organizing foundation.
US tourists have been coming to St. Martin in a steady way for over 55 years but what do Americans really think about St. Martin people and their culture? "Dr. Grabowski’s talk will be based on his graduate studies at the State University of New York in Albany. This will be a very different angle from what we’re accustomed to in our contacts with US visitors," said Reiph.
The lecture will be in English and Dr. Grabowski will take the opportunity to include some French references, especially because it his master’s degree in French that he is pursuing at SUNY Albany, said Reiph.
"The interest in the people and culture of the whole island developed when his French language study led Dr. Grabowski to the North of St. Martin as a territory where French was spoken as the official language, while English, Dutch, Papiamento and other languages were common to the population of the whole island," said Reiph.
"We try to bring unique perspectives to our annual programs that will relate to St. Martin and challenge our audiences. This is the case whether we’re observing a St. Martin hero or heroine as we often do, or an internationally-recognized personage like Dr. King," said Reiph.
Dr. Grabowski will also be challenging himself with the lecture topic, which will be followed with a question and answer (Q&A) session involving the audience.
The practicing general and trauma surgeon from Vermont appears well accustomed to challenges. In addition to his scientific papers published in medical journals such as American Surgeon, he has climbed at least four major mountains, including Kilimanjaro and McKinley. The former governor of the Vermont Chapter American College of Surgeons, current consultant to Boston’s Kiwanis Ped. Trauma Institute, and Lions Club member, is also a rookie NASCAR driver.
CLF’s annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Lecture is rotated between both capitals of St. Martin. Tuesday’s program, which will include poetry reading, is organized in collaboration with House of Nehesi Publishers (HNP).