September 30, 2016 Melissa Lamar

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Tunxis invites you to a screening of “Bring It to the Table,” followed by table talk discussions on Wednesday, Oct. 12 at 3 p.m. in Room 6-374. Filmaker Julie Winokur travels to diverse communities across the country to ask citizens to sit down and speak candidly about their political beliefs in a non-confrontational setting. Organized by the Tunxis Community Outreach Club with the support of professors Marie Clucas, Ph.D., Fran Coan, Ph.D., and J.I. Abbot.

View the film trailer: https://vimeo.com/59757642

ABOUT BRING IT TO THE TABLE

In 2012, filmmaker Julie Winokur’s 17-year-old son called her “the most intolerant person” he knows when it comes to politics. He said that whenever someone’s politics didn’t agree with hers, she dismissed what they had to say. Winokur was shocked.  The accusation stopped her in her tracks. She realized that she had been called out on something that many Americans refuse to recognize: that we all contribute to divisive politics in America when we rely on assumptions rather than discourse. In fact, Winokur realized that she was as much to blame for the divisive tone of politics as the people whom she blamed. Rather than continuing to be part of the problem, she decided to become part of the solution.

Recognizing that it would be difficult to get people of different political persuasions around her own kitchen table, Winokur decided to bring her table to them. On a personal sojourn to unravel divisive politics in America, Winokur and her crew visited bookstores and barbershops, public parks and county fairs, Baptist churches and college campuses, inviting people to sit down and discuss the roots of their political beliefs. This project is as much about listening as it is about politics, perspectives and personal reflexes. Students shape shift during the event.