Demos + Kratia =
TEDX Jacksonville November 16 Democracy Talks
DEMOCRACY Talks
TEDx Jacksonville’s November 16th daylong event features a spotlight on democracy https://tedxjacksonville.com/tedx-democracy/.
Coming a mere 11 days after our presidential and congressional elections, this democracy conversation follows a local salon held this past May, and is one of only seven venues chosen internationally by TED to “anchor” its global TED Democracy Initiative. TED intends to create an “optimistic” story about global democracy’s future, rooted in civic participation, effective representation, and collaboration.
A Fireside Chat
It’s timely.
We’ve talked a great deal lately about the condition of democracy—at home and abroad—so much so that one wonders if we actually know of which we speak. Questions abound: is it healthy, is it in danger, can we lose it? Who owns it, where does it reside? What is it, exactly? Who cares?
The TEDx Jacksonville democracy conversation will explore one aspect of democratic cultures—the power of citizen participation—during what is billed as a "fireside chat" between Desmond Meade, Executive Director of Florida Rights Restoration Center, and host Hope McMath.
We The People
For Meade and TEDx, democracy in practice implies a governing structure in which all people are included, and actively participate in caring for and making decisions about their communities and countries. In a prior emotionally-moving presentation, Meade explores our federal Constitution’s introductory phrase, WE THE PEOPLE, which serves as a healthy reminder: those wealthy landed white men who framed our U. S. Constitution deliberately used the phrase WE THE PEOPLE, not “We the Ruling Class” https://www.youtube.com/live/97DjZqXpGKI.
Etymology dictionaries tell us that the word democracy is rooted in Ancient Greek, and derives from combining demos—which translates to mean the common folk—and kratos or kratia whose translation means rule. The people rule. And these people’s governments derive their authority from these same people, not from the Deity, not from the ruling class, not from family ownership of land or wealth or lineage.
From The People.
Our Declaration and Our Constitution
Our Declaration of Independence announces our core American belief that all people—despite its “all men” language—are created equal with basic fundamental rights that derive from our common Creator, not from government and not from some ruling class. These rights are codified in our federal Constitution, among which are a right to vote, assemble, and petition government; to a press free from government control and intrusion; to speak freely without fear of punishment by government; to worship or not worship as we choose; to trials by juries of our peers; to humane treatment if imprisoned; and to be free from enslavement.
As Americans, we know that common folk have since our founding given their lives to expand the practice of democracy, so that they too belong to the polity, that their rights too are protected, that they too will be treated equally under the law, that they too may participate.
This belonging, however, is not free. With the protections of our God-given rights come citizenship responsibilities. It’s our responsibility, our obligation, to give back. To participate. The condition of our communities, our country, our democracy, is absolutely dependent upon our active participation in our collective civic life.
An Invitation to Participate in The Overlap
TEDx Jacksonville is intellectually stimulating and loads of fun. In addition to the participatory democracy conversation, this year’s TEDx Jacksonville event, The Overlap, features multiple inspirational speakers and musicians in sessions focused on artificial intelligence, virtual healthcare, and placemaking.
Y’all Come: The Overlap will be held Saturday, November 16, at the University of North Florida's Lazzara Performance Hall from 11 a.m., to 5:30 p.m. (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tedxjacksonville-conference-2024-the-overlap-tickets-1010138008977).
Thanks, Sherry. With TEDxJax coming after the election, I wonder how the speakers will react to the election, as we will know on Nov 16th whether we still have a democracy and the prospect of a peaceful transfer of power or not.
Great article, Sherry!