We are certainly living in strange times. Last night's non-forum 'forum' on redevelopment hosted by Plainfield Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs being a case in point.
I thought at once of 'Newspeak', the language of George Orwell's novel 1984, where words are repurposed so that citizens cannot commit thoughtcrimes.
The thoughtcrime citizens were prevented from committing at the meeting -- which the Crescent Times characterizes as a 'presentation' -- was actually getting to engage Mayor Robinson-Briggs and her team in an exchange by asking questions from the floor.
Instead, participants were told to fill out the 'comments card' in the handouts and take it to a table where representatives of various departments sat to answer questions or receive comments.
Huh?
Was it because Mayor Robinson-Briggs was afraid to take questions from the floor in a free-for-all, as is the case with bona fide forums?
Whatever her thinking, last night's performance has left a bad taste in the mouths of those to whom she has paid the least attention and most needs to win over: the business owners who stormed the Council meeting in May that led to last night's 'forum'.
Can you say 'wasted opportunity'?
Some definitions of 'forum' from the Web:
- Merriam-Webster Dictionary: "A public meeting or lecture involving audience discussion"
- Pacto-Convex Meetings Glossary: "Meeting or part of meeting set aside for an open discussion by recognized participants on subjects of public interest."
- Princeton's Wordnet: "A public meeting or assembly for open discussion."
Some excellent online guides to planning forums:
- Content of our Character (a nonprofit): "Planning a Successful Community Forum"
- PBS - 'Not in our town': "Plan a Forum"
- Texas Library Association: "Local Forum Planning Guide"
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2 comments:
Puppets can't participate in open discussions unless the puppeteer is pulling the strings. How many times must our Mayor demonstrate her inabilities before blinders are removed from all of our eyes? Plainfield got the Mayor that others paid for. How much longer are we going to pretend that we are surprised?
No disrespect, The caption should've been "Whatdoes a Farce and Fraud entail" Just like our
so-called Incredible mayor's First
100 days in office, pure Charades.
All will soon recognize A "mess" and Charades is all it's ever been. No personal attack but a bona-fide critic.
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