The Issues You Don't Talk About Cafe Monthly Meetup

This Meetup is about the sharing of ideas in a public and open forum where participants can come to learn and teach. In order for people to feel comfortable expressing their, what may be controversial, views we aim to create an environment that is not absent passion, but is cordial to people who may even have extreme views. It is incumbent upon all participants to contribute in fostering that environment.

The Meetup is divided into three consecutive sessions:
I. One Minutes - An icebreaker. We go around the room and ask each person to state their first name and then talk about anything that is on their mind for approximately one minute.

II. Topical discussion - The heart of the Meetup where we put a topic on the table and ask those who choose to share any opinion or idea around the topic. We informally toss around a stuffed animal which serves as a "talking stick." When you have it in your possession you have the floor. We loosely spend about 15 minutes on each topic depending on the number of people in attendance. This is not the time for debate, but there is room for anyone to ask some clarifying questions of the speaker in order to better understand their point of view. The goal is not to change minds in this section, but to give those minds food for thought.

III. Meetup after the Meetup - This is the end of the "formal" Meetup and where the healthy debate can take place. With smaller groups we passionately argue things that we may have talked about in topical discussion to everything else on the planet. Some say this is the best part and some people loathe the passion and the volume. Some leave before or during this part and others show up just for it. It can last for hours.

If there are rules to this Meetup, these are them:

BE RESPECTFUL TO EVERYONE regardless of their views on any subject.
Bring your voice and passion, but leave your anger and condescension at home.
If you get angry at differing opinions, please realize that this is not the place for you and kindly do not attend.
Eat, drink and be merry and tip well if you can.
We don t have to leave as friends, but we can t leave as enemies.

As usual there is a lot to talk about. Here are some of the topics we could explore:

Should Justice Stephen Breyer retire?

...more to come

I look forward to talking to you all.

Glenn