September 13, 2006
Programming to the Choir
Seattle is a modern-day Athens, where free political debate rages like a burning blaze. At Town Hall, they've assembled some pretty diverse viewpoints to expand your outlook.
Wednesday, September 13 at 7:30 pm
Gary Hart--former Democratic presidential candidate and frequent Bush administration critic.Thursday, September 14 at 7 pm.
Jim Hightower--"Populist activist" and frequent Bush administration critic.Thursday, September 14 at 7:30 pm.
Irwin Redlener--Disaster preparedness expert and frequent Bush administration critic.Saturday, September 16 at 7 pm.
Amy Goodman--Liberal journalist and frequent Bush administration critic
Yes, there's about as much diversity of viewpoints among Town Hall speakers as you'd find at the average Al-Qaeda meeting. Coming up next month--Janeane Garofalo and Cindy Sheehan. You'll never guess which administration they frequently criticize...
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Note to CIA: Apparently Seth knows what goes on at the average Al-Qaeda meeting.
Given Town Hall's heart-of-Seattle location, and that we're talking about going to hear people stand up and talk, I don't find this an example of groupthink so much as a reflection of what it takes to get an audience in the door.
I mean, Seth, when was the last pro-Bush lecture you decided to give up a weeknight to attend?
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What it takes to get people in the door!? Might it not be possible to get MORE people in the door if there was more than one point of view presented? I was under the impression that the purpose of the lectures given at town hall was to foster dialogue. That’s hardly the case when the speakers offered only serve to affirm the world view of one segment of the population. It also contributes to the often encountered myopic ignorance encountered in Seattle. Where a sizable chunk of the population, totally oblivious to any point of view outside of their own, sees the world through a straw. One realizes very quickly that the “red state” stereo type often repeated in Seattle (narrow minded, myopic, xenophobic, and uninformed) is as much a case of projection as it may be true.
It’s no mystery why Camille Paglia calls this place a political ghetto.