blogging it

speaker's circle

I was at a screening for a film about one of the many indian issues in our city. It was followed by a long dialog with the audience and a selected panel. One thing kept coming up, that people felt like they weren't being given a place to tell their stories. Really there's never enough places for it, and mostly we should be able to express ourselves to our families and be heard. Those who can turn to their families and be heard and supported usually felt heard, whereas those who can't don't feel heard even if they're broadcast to the nation! However, the more our institutions encourage and acknowledge the importance of speaking out, the more of us will feel empowered.
So I got to thinking. How to provide a speaker's box? Internet? Regular meetings? Both are exclusionary. Lots of people don't feel welcome to walk in the door and so many still cannot get online. If they could, they'd already be speaking their stories. After all, isn't that what this blog is? Isn't that the main theme of the internet for so many? So I continued to chew. Then I had an image. What if there was a sanctioned ranting station? A place where even offensive things were tolerated? A place where everyone could speak up?
We can't put censors on this space though. If someone spouts offensive crap, then someone else can call them on it, but nobody can assault them or drag them off or force them to shut up. Even if it is criminal, inciting hatred of others, racism, etc. Because nothing less that complete tolerance will empower those who feel the least worthwhile to be heard. Oh the speakers may have to face a lot of shouting and ridicule I suppose. How do they do it in hyde park? I think I need to do a bit of research. I want to present this to City Council, but I'd like to present them with a workable idea, not just the germ of one.
I spoke with the Police chief and some of the indian elders and they all agreed the idea was worthwhile. I do see that there's some bugs, but it's working in Regina I heard, and it works in London, so I guess the next stage is to figure out how they're making it work.