Sunday, November 20, 1:30 p.m., Orcas Center
— from Michael Riordan —
Now that the most divisive and deeply disturbing US presidential election in memory is finally over, we face the difficult questions: What happened? What now?
On Sunday, November 20, Pulitzer Prize and Emmy Award-winning author and producer — and part-time Orcas Islander — Hedrick Smith will return here for an Orcas Currents lecture addressing these questions, titled “The Great Populist Earthquake of 2016.” This event will begin at 1:30 pm in Orcas Center.
In his view the 2016 presidential election process was not the typical polar clash of Left vs. Right. It was a political earthquake, a fundamental clash of Up vs. Down, between rank-and-file Americans and what C. Wright Mills called “the power elite.” In both major parties, primary campaigns unleashed mass mutinies against the political establishment, exposing profound rifts in American society. People rebelled at gaping economic inequalities, a broken political system, and gridlock in Washington.
The questions before us now are: Did the elections change anything? Will the federal government work any better? Is our political system headed in more promising directions? Or do We the People need to seek other solutions? Smith will present his thought-provoking analysis of the current condition of the American experiment.
Hedrick Smith served as New York Times Moscow Bureau Chief from 1971 to 1974 and as its Washington Bureau Chief and Chief Correspondent from 1976 to1982. He is author of five books, including bestsellers The Russians (for which he won the Pulitzer Prize), The Power Game: How Washington Works, and Who Stole the American Dream?
In 1989 Smith turned to producing television documentaries for the Public Broadcasting System. During the next two decades, he created 26 prime-time specials and mini-series for PBS and Frontline, including Emmy-Award winners “The Wall Street Fix” and “Can You Afford to Retire?”
In this troubling moment, we are fortunate to have such a renowned authority on US political power as a fellow Orcas Islander and neighbor. This will likely be a lecture of great significance, one of the first post-election presentations to address the pressing questions “Where are we now headed?” and “What can we do about it?”
Please join Orcas Currents supporters and friends for what will be a stimulating, rewarding afternoon trying to understand what is happening to our nation and its democratic government — and what the future may portend. Admission to this event, cosponsored by Greg and Pat Ayers, is free but donations are welcome at the door.
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Looking forward to this. I so object to ceding the term “populist” to Trump and Breitbart, Inc., however. I can think of a few other terms.
Be sure to get there early if you want a seat in the main auditorium. We are looking into getting the Madrona Room for the overflow crowd. Doors will open at 1 pm.
Sunday has been called as a National Day of Healing. It would be beneficial, as a community, to host this streaming event prior to Hedrick’s 1:30 presentation. Access to the Orcas Center media and seating would support our community’s participation. Might we be able to coordinate these offerings?
Gretchen — Hedrick Smith’s event is on Sunday, November 20, not tomorrow.
Thanks for the date correction, Donna.
And deep appreciation for Oddfellows Hall supporting our community streaming of tomorrow’s Day of Healing & Reconciliation from Noon til 2PM.
Having Hedrick sharing his continuing depth of research on the challenges we face is the United States next Sunday is an excellent offering.
Just want to confirm that tickets are not required or available. I’m assuming it’s first-come, first-seated. Correct? Happy to make a donation at the door.
Michael, I hope you will be audio-recording this. Many may not be able to attend, including me, and would love to hear Hedrick’s presentation.
The event is first-come, first-seated, and we will have additional seating with an audio-visual feed in the Madrona Room.
The event will also be recorded, and posted on the Orcas Currents website in a few weeks, so stay tuned.
The event starts at 1:30 pm. Arrive early!
So glad we attended this presentation. Interesting perspectives on the issues that have bought America to the outcome of the election.
excellent presentation, well attended, to be shown ones shadow is to admit that there is a light. Very nice to see a packed house on a football sunday . With the turn of events we as a nation face it is important to look national level and at the same time working at a grass roots level. Not a time to turn away but to roll up your sleeves and add your talents to the solution. Mommy or Daddy is not gong to rescue you, you call your own shots, we need to remind those “in power” that WE ARE THE PEOPLE .
Thank You,
Mr. Hedrick Smith,
thank you orcas center.
scott gianola
well done. nicely attended ,thank you Mr. hedrick Smith and orcas center
Incredibly well done presentation, providing a fact-based perspective on the current polarization of our country that is lacking from any media: the perceived plight of our declining middle class…especially those who feel cut off from higher paying non-manufacturing employment. I think it was recorded and I hope the recording will be made available to all islanders, and in fact a broader audience.
On behalf of the members of the Orcas Currents Steering Committee, which I chair, I’d like to express our deep appreciation for the community’s overwhelming response to this event. We estimate that 370 individuals turned out for it — and on an afternoon when the Seahawks were playing! Thanks especially to Greg and Pat Ayers, who Cosponsored this lecture and to Outlook Inn and Orcas Video, which provided the audio and video feeds to the Madrona Room so that we could accommodate the overflow crowd. It was an amazing community response to deeply troubling events happening in ‘Merica.
It would be REALLY useful if Orcas Currents would find a way to publicize the video of this presentation. I understand that it is available on-line as promised, but I have been unable to find it.
You guys are doing good work, but follow-up is important too.
Here’s the link…I think it was originally published here in another post.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-d1cdKBgQqk