To read part 7 click
here.
Today included a rather underwhelming tour of Voice of America in which we got to meet none of the journalists working there, were not allowed into any of the actual news rooms, and had to look at unoccupied ‘display’ studios which we were not allowed to take any photos of… About the only interesting thing about the visit was finding out that, if the sign is to be believed, the building still has a fallout shelter.
Earlier we listened to a very interesting presentation on the US’ First Amendment rights, and rather than complain again about the type and style of questions asked, I’ll instead share two observations that I thought were rather interesting from a psychological and philosophical point of view:
1. Many of my ‘colleagues’ on this trip, while complaining about the impositions placed on them by their governments, and how important it is to hold them to account (which it is!), seem to me far to quick to say that the solution to online hate speech and the various forms of mis-and disinformation is for the US government to step in an regulate them/sort the problem out!
2. Many of these same people, in the type of questions they ask, despite many of the things I’ve heard them say about colonial powers, the G7, etc., also seem to be looking for someone to come to their country to ‘fix’ the situation there – the number of times (in just this first week!) that I’ve heard the phrase “what is the US planning on doing about it” concerns me greatly.
Aaaaaaanway, enough of that.
The day also included a visit to the Capitol, where I think we may have spent more time queuing for the tour than it took to actually do it, but there are some pretty cool things to see – and a very over-priced canteen you can get your lunch at.
Some of us managed to finish up fast enough to get to take a quick walk to visit the US Supreme Court while the others finished their food, and then later in the day, while I was walking to get some food, I saw my first “Little Free Library”.
To read part 9 click here.
