April 3, 2008

Below is the first debate we recorded of our second time out on the train on April 3, 2008.

Compared to the first videos, the audio is much better on this one. We got more responses from the riders this time around too. Although we didn't get video of the most interesting response it was encouraging that people were interested enough to ask questions and interact with us.

In fact, one person was so angry by what Chris was saying that he got up from his seat, took the sign Chris was holding, crumpled it up and threw it at him. He wasn't particularly interested in hearing about the various reasons the "surge" isn't working; he really wanted us to just shut up. Of course, we kept the debate up and he eventually got off the train but it was certainly an interesting experience.

Hopefully as the project progresses, we will have more and more interactions with riders.

Debate 1:


The debaters were Chris Voss (arguing that the surge is not working) and Michelle Shafer (arguing that the surge is working). Alex Fayer shot the video.

March 19, 2008

Below are the first debates we performed on the train.  We decided to mark the fifth anniversary of the invasion and occupation of Iraq by debuting our debate on the Iraq troop surge - is it working or not?  

This being our first time on the train there were certain bugs to work out.  For example, the audio is quite poor on the videos.  We have hopefully solved that problem by and large for our next trip out. Overall, the experience was very rewarding and it seemed like people on the train were listening to the debates. One of the major goals of the project is to introduce ideas that people aren't hearing in the mainstream, corporate media to a captive audience.  Hopefully, some of those audience members will become participants in the debates and everyone involved will be a little better informed than before the debate took place.  Another important goal of the project is to show that reasoned discussion of the most important issues of our time is very vital to a democratic society.  We are trying to fight the old adage that you don't talk about politics in mixed company.

Debate 1:

Debate 2:

Debate 3:

The debaters were Chris Voss (arguing that the surge is not working) and Michelle Shafer (arguing that the surge is working).  Meg McLynn shot the video.