Betsy Hartmann: Optimism is Essential for Social Change
Channel: Ed Mays
Date: 2017-07-19

We’re told to “be the change we want to see”—but what if we can’t see it? Tracing our nation’s fixation with doomsday from the Puritans to the present, author and Hampshire College professor Betsy Hartmann argues that fatalism and apocalyptic thinking is a curse on the American mindset that restricts our capacity to imagine social change. Her latest work, The America Syndrome: Apocalypse, War and Our Call to Greatness, presents an optimistic perspective that feels custom made for many of us in the current cultural moment: we have more control over the future than we think. Instead of imagining our doom, Hartmann helps us envision a better tomorrow.

Thanks to Seattle Town Hall and University Book Store
Recorded, 6/26/17

***************************

Pirate TV is a 58 minute weekly TV show that provides the book talk and lecture content for Free Speech TV.  Pirate TV challenges the Media Blockade, bringing you independent voices, information and programming unavailable on the Corporate Sponsor-Ship. These posts are for YouTube and are usually longer than the broadcast versions.  You will notice that I don't monetize my videos.  I'm irritated by constant interruptions as I'm sure are you, and I would like to have a say over sponsorship.  If you would like to pitch in to support this work, consider a donation:  http://www.edmaysproductions.net/piratetvsubdirectories/support.html 
or PayPal: PirateTVSeattle@gmail.com