Boulder rocks
admin October 25th, 2007
(Frances) Okay, I apologize for my pun, but it is how I feel this morning at the break of Boulder dawn.
Last night at the Boulder Book Store I spoke to a standing-room-only, caring, attentive audience—an author’s dream come true. This community already had a special place in my heart for because I’d used its gorgeous library some years ago as a writing retreat when I was finishing You Have the Power. And Boulder brings back memories of rich time with close friends here over the years.
The discussion began with a young man asking me how the vast scattered progressive movements can feel more cohesive. What a great question. I jumped to the theme of Getting a Grip—that one key is digging so deeply that we develop in conversation a more commonly shared understanding of—and compelling language to describe—both the roots of the global crises and how our efforts are interrupting and reversing the forces of destruction. Without this exhilarating work it can feel like we’re engaging in what I call “random acts of sanity”! With it, we can feel ourselves part of historic change. Please send us your thoughts on this all-important question.
Earlier I’d spent 3 hours at the community radio station KGNU for interviews with both Joel Edelstein and Duncan Campbell that were really fascinating conversations. I learned that the station had grown from a reach of ½ million listeners to 2 ½ million since I’d been here last.
On plane rides I’ve been reading Supercapitalism by Robert Reich, who says that it’s the American consumer who has turned the media into a wasteland—that the wasteland is what we want. I argue that it’s a self-reinforcing downward cycle as those who watch the most TV drive the awful programming (with some fabulous exceptions) that then drives out better programming, and with it millions of other potential viewers. KGNU’s growth and its depth reflect widespread and growing desire for real news and community connections.
Frances
