Group Discussing Creating Space for Civil Discourse on Divisive Topics at Library

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The following announcement came from the Watertown Free Public Library:

With hate crimes on the rise and inflammatory rhetoric dominating social media, the Watertown Free Public Library and Watertown Community Conversations are partnering to create a space for civil discourse on potentially divisive topics.

The partnership begins Thursday, December 6 as a part of the library’s Democracy Talks series. The topic is a thorny one: Inequality and Public Policy. Sara Chaganti, Senior Research Associate at the Institute on Assets and Social Policy at Brandeis University, will kick off the conversation by discussing the role of public policy – both current and past – in driving inequality. She will show that inequality is not simply an unfortunate by-product of the free market, but is also driven by a series of policy decisions.

After the talk, Watertown Community Conversations will facilitate small dialog groups, using proven conversation techniques, to bring Chaganti’s message home: Where do we see inequality in our community? How is this inequality related to national, state, and local policy? Democracy Talks is free and open to all. For more information visit watertownlib.org/democracytalks

Democracy Talks: Inequality and Public Policy

Thursday, 12/6 | 7 pm | Watertown Free Public Library

Democracy Talks is a series of events designed to illuminate the democratic process and create space for conversation. Our expert speakers grapple with the thorniest issues of our time, providing much-needed context and suggesting paths to engagement. watertownlib.org/democracytalks

Watertown Community Conversations is a group dedicated to the strengthening the social fabric of our community through use of proven public conversation techniques. watertownconversations.org

The Watertown Free Public Library provides access to a wide variety of popular materials, resources, services, and programs that fulfill the informational, cultural and recreational needs of Watertown and surrounding communities. The WFPL works to create an environment that attracts and welcomes users of all ages and abilities. Watertownlib.org

3 thoughts on “Group Discussing Creating Space for Civil Discourse on Divisive Topics at Library

  1. Go into the Watertown Library.
    Look at the featured books on the special tables.
    99% of them are Left-wing/liberal.
    It’s a nice library, but it does not represent the diverse views of Watertown citizens.
    It’s embarrassingly obvious.

    • Karl, could you perhaps suggest a book you feel would offer some balance to be read and discussed by the group? Perhaps there’s something divisive here to which you might provide balance and provoke an interesting conversation for the group.

  2. I agree with Karl. Also, the library posted that they now subscribe to the New York Times on line stating that this provides accurate, factual news. However, informed people know that this paper is a left leaning publication that often brings forth biased news and sometimes won’t even correct their news if it has been proven to have written the wrong information. It would be nice if the library could balance this publication with an on-line version of the Wall Street Journal if it hasn’t already. To have legitimate discussions in this day and age we need to have access to balanced information for all.

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