COMMONWEALTH CLUB, CHAUTAUQUA, TOASTMASTERS, TED TALKS, NPR – WHY SUCH GROUPS ARE IMPORTANT

COMPILATION AND COMMENTARY

BY LUCY WARNER

JULY 4, 2020

THE NAME “COMMONWEALTH CLUB” SOUNDS LIKE MOST OF THOSE FAUX PATRIOTIC ORGANIZATIONS WHOSE GOAL IS TO CEMENT FURTHER THE UNGENEROUS AND UNCARING POWER BARRIER TO HUMAN ACHIEVEMENT BY PEOPLE WHO COME FROM DISADVANTAGED BACKGROUNDS. TOO OFTEN, THAT IS WHAT MODERN-DAY “CONSERVATISM” REPRESENTS. THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO CALL A NATION WHICH IS PLAGUED BY POVERTY A “S-HOLE COUNTRY.”  IN SAYING THAT, THEY DO NOT SEE OUR COUNTRY AS BEING PLAGUED BY POVERTY. 

THE COMMONWEALTH CLUB, A LECTURE SOCIETY, FROM WHAT I’VE SEEN IS DIFFERENT. IT IS MORE LIKE CHAUTAUQUA, MADE UP OF WELL-INFORMED PEOPLE, BUT NOT CONCEITED OR POMPOUS IN ITS' PRESENTATION. ANYONE, IF THEY HAVE A COMPUTER AND AN HOUR OR SO AVAILABLE, AND WHO ARE WILLING TO SIT DOWN AND LISTEN TO THESE PROGRAMS AND OTHERS LIKE THEM, CAN LEARN FROM WHAT SOME MAY CONSIDER TO BE "ELITIST” WEBSITES. LEARNING IS THINKING. THINKING IS LEARNING. THAT ISN'T ELITIST. IT IS BASIC.  A GOOD LECTURE OR DISCUSSION ON A SUBJECT THAT IS INVOLVED WITH LIFE STIMULATES NEW THOUGHT AND THEREFORE LEARNING. WHILE LISTENING TO A DISCUSSION LIKE THESE I WILL USUALLY FIND A WORD OR IDEA MENTIONED THAT IS UNFAMILIAR TO ME, WHICH I THEN QUICKLY SEARCH ON GOOGLE. IT ALSO IS A GUIDE TO PRONUNCIATION. FRENCH WORDS IN PARTICULAR ARE A MYSTERY TO ME IN REGARD TO THE WAY THEY ARE PRONOUNCED AND SPELLED. 

SO, USING OUR HANDY COMPUTER, AS A WAY OF LEARNING LECTURES OR DISCUSSIONS TAKES LESS TIME THAN A BOOK, AND THEY GIVE ME THAT FEELING OF HUMAN CONTACT, THOUGH I WILL VERY OFTEN WANT TO GO TO THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT THEY SAY. HEARING PEOPLE DISCUSS A SUBJECT OF IMPORTANCE OPENS UP MY INNER SELF FOR THE SHORT TIME OF THE LECTURE, AND TO ME, IT HELPS PREVENT LONELINESS. I OFTEN TURN  SOMETHING LIKE THIS ON AND LISTEN TO IT WHILE I COOK DINNER, EAT OR CLEAN UP THE KITCHEN. I DON'T HAVE TO LOOK AT IT TO UNDERSTAND IT. NOT EVERYONE WILL AGREE WITH THIS KIND OF PRACTICE AS A PRIORITY, BUT IT IS LIKE DOING EXERCISES WITH A GROUP. IT KEEPS ME MOVING ALONG.

THE CHAUTAUQUA MOVEMENT, ANOTHER LECTURE SERIES THAT IS BASED IN NEW YORK STATE, IS PARTICULARLY HELPFUL, AND THEY DO HAVE BIPOC (BLACK INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF COLOR)  AS SPEAKERS. SOME BIPOC SPEAKERS WHOM I HAVE SPOTTED ON THEIR WEBSITE  JUST NOW ARE: Wednesday, July 08, 2020 | 03:30pm EDT, African American Heritage House Lecture: Mustafa Santiago Ali; African American Heritage House Lecture: Fahamu Pecou; Janus Prize Celebration and Presentation: Joseph Earl Thomas, "Reality Marble"; and Stacey Abrams. A LIST OF SPEAKERS CAN BE FOUND AT THE WEBSITE: https://chq.org/season.

STACEY ABRAMS IS OF PARTICULAR INTEREST TO ME BECAUSE SHE IS CONSIDERED BY SOME TO BE A POTENTIAL VICE PRESIDENTIAL PICK FOR PRESUMED DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE JOE BIDEN IN 2020. I COULD HAPPILY VOTE FOR HER. TO WATCH ABRAMS' SPEECH, GO TO THIS FACEBOOK SITE. "CHAUTAUQUA INSTITUTION WAS LIVE ON JULY 17, 2019, AS SHE SHARED WITH THE PUBLIC,“THE ROAD TO A FAIR FIGHT: A CONVERSATION ABOUT VOTING RIGHTS.”   https://www.facebook.com/chq1874/videos/494955917908663.

IN ORDER TO DO MUCH SELF-EDUCATION, THERE IS A NEED FOR A COMPUTER AND INTERNET SERVICE IN THE HOME, OR IF NOT, THEN AT SOME COMMUNITY CENTER THAT IS EASY TO ACCESS. SOME CHURCHES MIGHT OFFER THAT TO MEMBERS, AND PUBLIC LIBRARIES USUALLY DO. IF A SEARCH ENGINE IS NOT AVAILABLE, THERE SHOULD BE A GOOD QUALITY COLLEGIATE PAPER DICTIONARY SUCH AS MERRIAM WEBSTER, AND IDEALLY A SET OF ENCYCLOPEDIAS IF THERE ARE CHILDREN IN THE HOUSE. EVEN IF THERE IS A COMPUTER ALSO, BOOKS MADE OF PAPER WILL STILL WORK WHEN THE ELECTRICITY BILL HASN'T BEEN PAID OR ALL THE BATTERIES HAVE BEEN USED UP. SO BUY AT LEAST A DICTIONARY. THERE ARE USED BOOKSTORES IF THE PRICE IS A PROBLEM. BOTH CHILDREN  AND THEIR PARENTS NEED LEARNING TOOLS WHEN THE CHILD IS IN SCHOOL. SOMETIMES KIDS NEED HELP.

PROVIDING COMPUTERS IS SOMETHING THAT I WANT TO SEE THE FEDERAL OR STATE GOVERNMENT DO, AT LEAST A LAPTOP WITH A BASIC INTERNET SERVICE, ESPECIALLY IF THERE ARE CHILDREN. OF COURSE, THE PARENT WILL HAVE TO INTERVENE TO KEEP THEIR CHILDREN FROM PLAYING VIDEO GAMES ON IT ALL DAY OR GOING ONTO SOME HORRIBLY DANGEROUS CHAT SITES, SUCH AS “THE SLENDER MAN.”  THAT IDEA THAT "HAND-EYE COORDINATION" IS SO VERY HELPFUL MAKES ME SUSPICIOUS. IT SOUNDS LIKE AN EXCUSE FOR WHAT IS NOT BEING TAUGHT TO THE CHILD. WITHOUT A COMPUTER, THOUGH, NONE OF THE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES RECOMMENDED BY TEACHERS CAN BE USED AT HOME. THAT IS ONE OF THE WAYS THAT POOR OR WORKING CLASS CHILDREN ARE LIKELY TO BE DISADVANTAGED.

ANOTHER THING WHICH SOMETIMES WE FEEL IS INTRUSIVE OR OFFENSIVE, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE SAID ANYWAY, BECAUSE IT IS A PROBLEM. IT IS THE NEED FOR LEARNING TOWARD THE MIDDLE CLASS AND GRADUATE LEVEL STANDARDS IN THE PRONUNCIATION OF WORDS. THAT IS THE KIND OF THING THAT GOING TO A PREP SCHOOL GIVES KIDS. WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT? BECAUSE IT IS ONE OF THE BENCHMARKS FOR GETTING THAT “GOOD JOB” THAT WE ALL TALK ABOUT. AS LONG AS WE FEEL THAT OUR “GROUP IDENTITY” IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN MAKING INDIVIDUAL PERSONAL PROGRESS, WE WILL HAVE A CLASS STRUCTURE WHICH IS AN ALMOST UNBREAKABLE BARRIER TO UPWARD MOBILITY. AS “ENRY IGGINS” SAID IN THE TRULY GREAT OLD PLAY MY FAIR LADY, “IT’S EEOOU AND GARN THAT KEEP HER IN HER PLACE, NOT HER WRETCHED CLOTHES AND DIRTY FACE.” ALL I MEAN BY THAT IS THAT WE HUMANS HAVE TO OPEN OURSELVES TO GOING “BEYOND OUR COMFORT ZONE,” BEFORE WE CAN MAKE MUCH PROGRESS. MOST EDUCATED PEOPLE FROM UNDERPRIVILEGED FAMILIES HAVE TWO LANGUAGES THAT THEY SPEAK FLUENTLY, ONE FOR HOME AND ANOTHER FOR WORK, WITH FRIENDS OR AT SCHOOL.

SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO THINK BEYOND OUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCES AND BOUNDARIES, AND THAT MEANS WE MAY HAVE TO RESEARCH THE MEANING AND PRONUNCIATION OF A WORD RATHER THAN FAILING TO DO THAT LITTLE BIT OF WORK; BECAUSE LEARNING NEW WORDS IN THAT WAY IS A BASIC PART OF THE SELF-EDUCATION PROCESS. IF A HOME DOES NOT HAVE A COMPUTER, AND I’M FAIRLY SURE A GREAT MANY THESE DAYS STILL DON’T, THERE NEEDS TO BE A GOOD PICTURED DICTIONARY FOR THE KIDS TO USE, SOME BOOKS THAT ARE FUN AND MEANINGFUL TO READ, AND IF POSSIBLE, SOME ENCYCLOPEDIAS. A BOOK OF OLD CLASSICAL POEMS WOULD BE GOOD ALSO. THOSE THINGS COST SOME MONEY, BUT IT IS A PERSONAL  INVESTMENT THAT NEEDS TO BE MADE AS LONG AS OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WON’T HELP PEOPLE WITH EVEN MORE BASIC FINANCIAL ISSUES LIKE FOOD AND MEDICINE. BY THE WAY, ANY HOME THAT CAN BUY A KID AN EXPENSIVE PAIR OF SPORTS SHOES CAN BUY BOOKS. NOBODY REALLY NEEDS "AIR JORDANS." I JUST PRICED THEM AND THE LEAST EXPENSIVE I SAW WAS $90.00. THE HIGHEST WAS $309.00. THAT IS THE KIND OF MATERIALISTIC THINKING THAT IS DRAGGING US DOWN AS AN ETHICAL AND MENTALLY HEALTHY SOCIETY. 

JUST TO EMPHASIZE THIS POINT, IN MY VIEW, THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS “GETTING AN EDUCATION.” IT JUST ISN’T SOMETHING YOU CAN GO TO A STORE AND BUY, EVEN IF YOU HAVE PLENTY OF MONEY. IN THE VIEW OF SOME PEOPLE, OUR PRESIDENT, THOUGH HE PRESENTS HIMSELF AS HAVING LOTS AND LOTS OF MONEY, HAS NOT AVAILED HIMSELF OF THAT COMMODITY, OR SO IT SEEMS TO SOME. CONTINUING TO LEARN IS SOMETHING THAT WE MUST ACTIVELY DO, AND WHICH NOBODY CAN DO FOR US. PASSIVITY WILL GET US NOWHERE.

THE FOLLOWING TALK AND DISCUSSION FROM THE COMMONWEALTH CLUB IS BOTH INFORMATIVE AND ENTERTAINING ON SERIOUS SUBJECTS. THAT IS THE KIND OF LEARNING I LIKE BEST. FROM WATCHING SPEAKERS AT THE COMMONWEALTH CLUB WEBSITE, I SUSPECT THAT MOST OF THE ATTENDEES ARE WELL-TO-DO OR AT LEAST WELL-EDUCATED, BUT THE PRESENTATION IS  NOT POMPOUS OR OTHERWISE CONCEITED, AND I HAVE LISTENED TO THREE OF THEIR VIDEOS SO FAR NOW AND ENJOYED THEM VERY WELL. THEY DO HAVE “CONSERVATIVES” AS GUESTS, BUT THEY HAVE LIBERAL TO PROGRESSIVE PEOPLE ALSO. THIS ONE ON PRESIDENT TRUMP IS ONE OF THE BETTER INTERVIEWS I HAVE HEARD LATELY. I ESPECIALLY LIKE INTERVIEWS BECAUSE IN THE INTERPLAY BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE PEOPLE, I GET HINTS ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE REALLY LIKE AS PEOPLE. 

THE COMMONWEALTH CLUB FILM IS 1:08:48 HOURS LONG, BUT SITTING DOWN WITH A CUP OF COFFEE TO WATCH IT CREATES SOME GOOD HOME ENTERTAINMENT, WHILE WE ARE ALL MORE OR LESS IMPRISONED IN OUR OWN HOMES, TRYING TO AVOID BECOMING ILL WITH THE SHOCKING COVID-19 VIRUS, OR SPREADING IT TO SOMEONE ELSE. BY STAYING HOME, WE ARE DOING OUR PATRIOTIC DUTY, BUT THAT LEVEL OF INACTIVITY IS REALLY HARD FOR A CERTAIN PERSONALITY TYPE TO MAINTAIN. I HAVE SPENT THE TIME MOSTLY ON THE INTERNET. THIS IS TODAY'S ENTERTAINMENT.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQsY-bwuIWs 

1:08:14 MIN.

Jonathan Karl: Front Row At The Trump Show

91,132 views • Jun 21, 2020

UPS   1K    DOWNS   109

Commonwealth Club

68K subscribers

Veteran journalist Jonathan Karl has known and covered Donald Trump longer than any other White House reporter. And during this time he has been praised, has fought, and been branded an enemy of the people by President Trump himself.

Karl says we have never seen a president like this—norm-breaking, rule-busting, dangerously reckless to some and an overdue force for change to others. He goes on to argue that we are witnessing the reshaping of the presidency.

Get an extraordinary look at the president, the person and those closest to him. Karl will discuss the key moments defining the Trump presidency and offers his personal insights to what it is like being front row at the "Trump Show."

Speakers:

Jonathan Karl

Chief White House Correspondent and Chief Washington Correspondent, ABC News; Author, Front Row at the Trump Show; Twitter @jonkarl

In conversation with Nassir Ghaemi

Professor of Psychiatry, Tufts University School of Medicine; Author, A First-Rate Madness: Uncovering the Links Between Leadership and Mental Health

Photo by ABC News

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