Third Saturday Seminar 2006-2007
“Humanity at a Crossroads”
First Meeting
16 September 2006
9:30am to 12:00 noon
Room A-102, Montgomery College (Our normal room will be B-102)
3200 College Park Drive – Conroe, TX – 77384 – 936.273.7000
“The Polarization of America and the World”
Curt Gibby
June 30, 2006 — – Members of Congress may not come to the floor armed with pistols as they did in the days leading up to the Civil War, but their words are as toxic as any time since then. And we are — in many ways — a more divided nation than any time since then.
In interviews with political leaders, media analysts, and people in communities around the country, ABC News found what appears to be a new phenomenon: the polarization is feeding on itself. It’s not just politicians, business or religious leaders, liberals or conservatives — or the media: It’s each of us. And it’s alarming.
From the introduction to ABC’s 20/20 episode on June 30 which instantly got (and has kept my attention)
George Stephanopoulos and ABC News Look at America’s Political Polarization
This 40 minute 20/20 episode will open our eyes to some phenomena I think most of us have seen or experienced. And, we will use it to keynote this session and kick-off the discussion.
We have a mid-term election coming up in November. We will be seeing and hearing the incumbents and their friends trying to convince us what a good job they are doing, and we will hear the opposition tell their version of the truth.
Our leaders have hijacked the initiative, (“spinning” bad decisions and reframing minor issues into mountains while ignoring critical issues, and camouflaging threats to the Bill of Rights and enhancements to security.) and we have allowed them to do it. Will we wake up and actually acknowledge what our eyes and ears tell us? And, if we do, can we make a rational judgment? What if there is no rational alternative?
Societies go through cultural swings. This includes American society. We broke away from England’s paternalism, benefiting from the ideas produced in the Enlightenment, which could not find root in the old world, but grew in the fertile soil of the new.
This country was built by the efforts of a free people who had their rights preserved in an amazing document called the Constitution.
The role of government was recognized as one of stewardship, not one of dictatorship. Government was a facilitator and an arbitrator but not an impediment to progress or a burden.
We, the new nation, became the laboratory in which the unrealized human potential, long recognized by philosophers and prophets began to flower. And soon we were exporting these ideals around the world, including to our former homelands.
Much of economic strength came from our divergence of opinion and talent and skills while maintaining respect for ourselves, our fellow citizens and our cousins around the world.
We have built the foundation for a cooperative society of free, independent people to grow on.
But something seems to have changed…
Perhaps we will get some insight from the video and the discussion that will follow.
Perhaps some of the most clearly written work foncerned citizens or is that of George Lakoff. If you have not read his books these links will give you perhaps the key insights.
Metaphor, Morality, and Politics
Or, Why Conservatives Have Left Liberals In the Dust. An early and abbreviated discussion of the themes in George Lakoff’s book, Moral Politics
http://www.rockridgeinstitute.org/research/lakoff/New_School.pdf
Framing the issues: UC Berkeley professor George Lakoff tells how conservatives use language to dominate politics
http://www.berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2003/10/27_lakoff.shtml
Current Events: (We always talk about current events to start out)
You know there are plenty –
This is the first meeting of the 2006-2007 Third Saturday Seminar. We will meet every month through June 2007. If you have ideas on subjects or speakers, or better yet would like to lead a session, please let me know.
About The Third Saturday Seminar:
Started in January 2000, We are about personal empowerment through demystification. Our subject matter is broad but it always tries to be about understanding ourselves and others better; and, having fun.
The Third Saturday Seminar is sponsored by the Academy of Lifelong Learning (ALL) Program at Montgomery College. There is no fee for ALL members. You can find the ALL Schedule combined with Continuing Education at: http://wwwstagemc.nhmccd.edu/Templates/Content.aspx?pid=11811
For information about Montgomery College: http://wwwmc.nhmccd.edu
N.B. Parking: Since we are meeting in Building A, our normal parking entrance, “West Parking Area”, may not be convenient for some. You may wish to use the main entrance – We are in Building A for this session only. Ignore the “Instructors Only” signs on the parking, That only applies on week days.
Maps:
http://www.montgomery-college.com/Templates/Content.aspx?pid=14972
http://www.montgomery-college.com/Templates/Content.aspx?pid=14970
http://map-it.woodstock.edu/map_pdf/B_floor_1.pdf
As usual, if anything in this notice doesn’t work or make sense (It is midnight somewhere), please let me know so I can warn the others.
Best regards,
Curt Gibby
Spring, TX
281-353-4350 (cell-)
Fax: 281-288-8230
gcgconsult (at) n-star.com
http://www.northstarinst.org/TSS/