Slow down
I should have picked a point, preferably a simple one, and hammered it over and over like White did. Instead, I was self-censoring, getting bogged down in the complexities, uncertain what distortion to correct. Most people watching the show probably read me the way the producers wanted — as a pointy-bearded civil libertarian and a paid corporate apologist trying to talk down to a concerned mom.
It can be very difficult to explore complex issues in a Phil Donahue world. If I ever go on a talk show I want a lapel pin that reads “Slow down, think, and listen for a minute.” This story by MIT professor Henry Jenkins on what passes for debate in this nation follows a frustratingly familiar pattern but makes for interesting reading nonetheless.
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