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The Social Forest

Polite Society is Undemocratic (or Get Ready for the Holidays!!!)

Published about 2 months ago • 1 min read

Community of Communities

November 9, 2025
12:30 to 3:30pm
​Red Emma's​

Nonviolent Communication

with Michael Mc Donnell

There is a common saying that religion and politics are not to be discussed in polite society.

That is a deeply undemocratic sentiment.

When the French started to colonize North America, a common impression they had of the (indigenous) Americans living around the Great Lakes was that the Americans were all amazing orators. Why might this be? It is because indigenous American societies in that area were very democratic. No one could give orders to anyone else. So since they couldn't force others to do what they wanted, they had to learn to convince people to work with them. This was a skill that people developed daily because there were no bosses. In fact, they made fun of the French for always following orders.

If we really want to be a democratic society, we must take a lesson from indigenous Americans and learn to have democratic discussions. That is one of the underlying themes of all of our Community of Community sessions: democratic practice.

This session is specifically focusing on Nonviolent Communication. Michael Mc Donnell will facilitate an introduction to the concept in the first half and I will facilitate a Forum Theatre in the second half for all of us to practice.

So if you are nervous about the upcoming holiday dinners with extended family and all the tense conversations that may raise, this is the session for you.

Or, if you want to learn to engage with people saying ignorant things, this is a chance to practice more constructive responses.

Regardless, I look forward to seeing you there.

-Matt

Sunday November 9, 2025
12:30 - 3:30 pm
​Red Emma's Free School Classroom​
3128 Greenmount Ave, Baltimore, MD

Help us break polite society.

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600 1st Ave, Ste 330 PMB 92768, Seattle, WA 98104-2246
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The Social Forest

By Matt Schultz (and friends)

My collaborators and I work with co-ops, nonprofits, benefit corporations, social enterprises, scholars, schools, community groups to create impactful collective experiences that build practical skills, enhance communication, create efficient participatory work processes, integrate the knowledge in the room, and shift perspectives of what is possible.

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