It's a bold project idea, I admit. As we propel ourselves toward what will undoubtedly be the most significant election in recent--and potentially forever--history as a nation this coming November, I thought I would go around the horn, and invite your participation in a conversation about what we, as citizen should be considering in our lives today.
The questions I have used to compile this list (you might surely create your own list, and share it as a comment here) are designed to begin an engaged civil discourse. Engage the questions, and help us, together to create at least possible solutions--or even better questions that lead to positive steps.
I'm told any such discourse is simply unreasonable to expect in July, 2014 among my fellow citizens. Of course, that simply required me to inquire as to the validity of the statements made. I admit that I am, and for some very good reasons I think, a "hope addict".
I hope the title of this diary might well stoke your creative imagination, and so tickle your fancy that you would choose to participate fully in an American political experiment with me. Let's call it "Citizen's conversations". Leave the politics at the door, and let's talk together about the most important problems we face in America (Or the world) today.
Follow me just below the squiggledoodlethingey fold, and let's begin.
I alluded in my introduction to this diary to some questions I used to frame my response to the title of this series of "Citizen Conversations". They are, at first, only three:
1. Is it possible to clearly, and simply, define the problem in ways that I, as citizen can understand, appreciate, and have a civil discourse about with others?
("I'm asking you what time it is. Please do not tell me how to build a clock.)"
Give me or help me find sufficient real, non-biased and factual information that would help a reasonably intelligent person understand the nature of the problem we are discussing. Brevity counts. I can make up my own mind. I can defend (apologize for) my position, without the need to feel married to it.
2. Why should I care (about this problem)?
It may well be true that, for you and your world, this problem is THE most urgent problem today. Please understand that YOUR emergency does not necessarily require me to agree with either your statement of urgency or immediately place it at the top of MY list. I may, or may not. That is depending on your ability to convince me that your emergency, your worst problem should be mine, as well. The goal is not to "win". The goal is to create and participate in civil discourse, together.
3. What can I/WE do about this problem that could create the change we seek in the next ninety days that would begin to solve this problem?
What resources will be required? What resources do we have available right now, that lie within our collective grasp? What do we need that we do not have, and how do we get them? How will we know we have begun to succeed? (What will the change we seek look, feel, smell, taste like?)
I will post a weekly diary which identifies what I believe to be one problem we face today in America. The goal is to create, together, a rated list of ten (10) such problems as a result of the conversations we share. If you wish to create your list, and offer it into the conversation, please do so. But, the genesis of Citizen Conversations will initially come from this series of diaries. (I'm doing some social research for a graduate class here, and would really appreciate your help.)
To begin, and as an example, I offer the following video as a conversation "Ice Breaker" for the experiment. I will respond to it in the next installment, to give us all time to prepare for the conversation that should be generated by it. If you could agree to follow along with the three rules stated above in your comments, I believe we will be amazed at what we can do together--as citizen.