Over the course of the semester I have been volunteering with American Public Square. I have completed around eleven hours so far and have been helping at events hosted by the group. At events I have helped attendants find seats, passed out programs, collected questions from the audience, tracked demographics, and cleaned up once attendees have left. While my acts have seemed small to me, those putting on the programs have said these little things amount to a large burden off their shoulders. From American Public Squares website it is an "organization that is changing the tone and quality of public discourse by bringing non like-minded people together to create a forum for fact-based, civil conversation about national, regional and local issues."
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When American Public Square hosts events in Kansas City it is unlikely attendants come from outside of the metropolitan area therefore, guests are exposed to many of the same issues. While this may not matter when discussing local topics, when discussing regional and national issues it leaves out the views of those living outside of Kansas City and more specifically those from rural areas. In the recent election rural areas voted in contrast to urban areas, meaning the rural voices left out of the conversation at American Public Square express a different view from the urban guests. The attendants at American Public Square events might have differing ideas and view-points from their urban neighbors but they are still not the same views as those living in the rural areas outside Kansas City. Having a group of people from the same area come to discuss topics might create discourse but leaves out a large portion of the …show more content…
It is true that his group fosters a place for people to learn and discuss topics but the lack of diversity makes me wonder if the group has been successful. While counting demographics at one event there I counted less than ten minorities. Haidt wants people from differing groups and backgrounds to interact and come to understand each other 's beliefs. Prof. Katz has a great idea in holding public discussions on topics but unless he finds ways to diversify the groups it is not accomplishing the goals set by
When American Public Square hosts events in Kansas City it is unlikely attendants come from outside of the metropolitan area therefore, guests are exposed to many of the same issues. While this may not matter when discussing local topics, when discussing regional and national issues it leaves out the views of those living outside of Kansas City and more specifically those from rural areas. In the recent election rural areas voted in contrast to urban areas, meaning the rural voices left out of the conversation at American Public Square express a different view from the urban guests. The attendants at American Public Square events might have differing ideas and view-points from their urban neighbors but they are still not the same views as those living in the rural areas outside Kansas City. Having a group of people from the same area come to discuss topics might create discourse but leaves out a large portion of the …show more content…
It is true that his group fosters a place for people to learn and discuss topics but the lack of diversity makes me wonder if the group has been successful. While counting demographics at one event there I counted less than ten minorities. Haidt wants people from differing groups and backgrounds to interact and come to understand each other 's beliefs. Prof. Katz has a great idea in holding public discussions on topics but unless he finds ways to diversify the groups it is not accomplishing the goals set by