Yesterday, the President held a listening session on gun violence. He was photographed holding a notecard with some simple prompts for discussion. Many thought the prompts were overly simplistic, reminding the President to say things like "I hear you." But maybe simple and obvious is the best way to do things. Let's test it out together.
This is an article about the prompting note cards the President used during Wednesday's White House listening session on gun violence. Thank you for reading it; I presume, since you are, that you agree with me, whatever my positions are. So, I would like to begin by asking you if you have any resources or ideas for this article?
What do you think this paragraph would say? What would you like it to say? Something that makes you feel better, perhaps? Why don't you go ahead and imagine that now.
Great job. Now, how are you going to be a part of making that paragraph happen? Why don't you write it here:
Have you seen other articles about the listening session on gun violence that you enjoyed? What did they do? Should I do what they did? Should I copy and paste their words here? Would you mind doing that for me?
Thank you very much for reading this article on the White House gun violence listening session. Obviously, this article was a huge success and I had a lot of very good ideas in it. In conclusion, I want to remind you that I ::checks notes:: hear... ::squints:: you.
Oh! "I hear you." Yes. That.
You're welcome.
What was that? I couldn't quite make that out. Did you say I didn't actually say anything?
I'm sure that's not true. I'll check my notes. And I'll check the President's extensive notes.
Well, I'm just back from checking the President's notes and boy are my arms tired?
No?
It didn't take long to look over the President's note from yesterday's listening session with survivors of school shootings and family members of victims of shootings. There were only five points. While the New York Times described the meeting as an emotional give-and-take between the President and the public, it also made mention of the notecard he kept handy.
In order, I assume, to keep the discussion on track, fruitful, and deeply heartfelt, the President carried a card that read:
1) What would you most want me to know about your experience?
2) What can we do to help you feel safe?
3) Do you [illegible] some [illegible] something effective?
4) resources? ideas?
5) I hear you.
Some thought the notes were simply his way of remembering to say the most important things. Others pointed out that it's a little weird to be reminded to be empathetic or to try to crowd-source policy when solutions are being made available by qualified leaders (and by qualified leaders, I mean the Parkland students.)
The Americans gathered largely praised Trump's leadership, according to the Times, but still took him to task on the problem of gun control and his inaction in that area.
One presumes that the President took in the feedback and responded, "[illegible.]"
The President also took the opportunity to suggest that teachers should be armed. Not with pay commensurate to their abilities and educational levels; not with supplies like accurate textbooks; not with breaks in their days for lesson-planning; not with trauma-informed training for working with students experiencing poverty, mental health issues or home-life disruption; but with guns.
Trump clarified this morning that he didn't say "give teachers guns," he said "give teachers concealed guns."
He then went on to praise the NRA and its leadership, which seems to be a totally necessary and appropriate thing to do according to my notes which read: "This is normal."
Who can say what the right take on this is? What do you think? Type your opinion below:
Personally, when I speak to people my notes tend to say things like:
- A story about a dog
- Attentive face
- Intersectionality
- Plug website
- No collusion
So, I'm a bit torn on where to come down on this list.
Your uncle who you only communicate with on Facebook wants you to know that Obama used a TelePrompTer to speak with sixth graders, so we should cut Trump some slack. Me and Snopes want you to know that the photo that's going around is taken out of context, it didn't happen, and your uncle will definitely embarrass you if you ever get a hometown visit on The Bachelor.
::check notes::
Any other pop culture references you can think of?
Any help?
Anyone?
