Are The Polls Wrong?
40% of voters think that immigration is the biggest threat to the U.S
My apologies for sending this link out again, but it is important. We on the Left can think that we are the vanguard of a silent majority, but the fact is that there is a huge minority that disagrees; and finger-wagging and condescension is not going to change their minds.
Setting up neighborhood forums with clear rules of debate that allow all sides to be heard is a way to begin to move the needle. This usually requires four to five committed people who are willing to engage a disruptor (from either side) in actual conversation while moving them away from central focus. This allows the meeting to continue without being hijacked. And of course this only works if the meeting moderator is seen to be fair and even-handed.
I say a disruptor from either side, since a favorite tactic of the organized Right is to plant a person in the meeting who often and loudly promotes extreme “Left” tactics and ideas, as a way to discredit the Left.
Comments welcome.
Jack, you raise some excellent points. One issue is getting these overpaid ED and community agencies to host forums or work with clients, customers, or potential advocates to engage in such discussions. When was the last time we saw the Urban League, EnCap, Habitat for Humanity, Girl Scouts, Charles Drew Health Center, or any of these community-based agencies hosting any public events or opportunities for the people they serve to engage in community advocacy? We have an organization called 100 Black Men that provides mentorship. How can folks who are passive or illiterate mentor any young folks? They are only teaching young Black youth how to wear bow ties and look like Pee Wee Herman. North Omaha and the community look the way they do because we have too many great white saviors and not enough advocates challenging these southern important plantation pleasers. Look at the post-secondary institutions: do they offer any courses that address the struggles or gaps in our respective communities? It's painful to see these GED folks heading organizations, and they are more intent on putting their overweight faces on Facebook instead of challenging white supremacy.