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While the term "cancelling" has roots in a misogynistic joke, it has come to be one of the most prominent tools of progressive activists. Many see "cancelling" as a modern-day means of holding people to account, calling out injustice, and breaking down ingrained systems of prejudice and exploitation, particularly for the historically marginalized. But others see it differently, and are sounding alarms about the emergence of a new culture where digital mobs police our speech, invade our rights, and even put our physical safety at risk. On November 9, nonpartisan debate series Intelligence Squared U.S. will address these questions in a new debate on the motion "Cancel Culture Is Toxic."
Arguing in favor of the motion are Russian Chess Grandmaster Garry Kasparov, currently chairman of the Human Rights Foundation, and political commentator and Harper's Letter signatory Kmele Foster. Arguing against the motion are Washington Post columnist Karen Attiah, who writes on issues related to race, international politics, gender, and human rights, and Wellesley professor Erich Hatala Matthes, who researches cultural appropriation, art repatriation, and the ethics of cultural heritage.
The debate will be released publicly on Friday, November 12 via public radio, video and the Intelligence Squared U.S. podcast. However, there is a private virtual preview screening on November 9 at 4:00 PM ET that will include a live roundtable Q&A with all four debaters following the debate. Media can email raypadgett@shorefire.com for press access.
FOR THE MOTION - BIOS
* Kmele Foster, Political Commentator & Co-Founder, Freethink
Kmele Foster is a media entrepreneur and political commentator. He is the co-host of The Fifth Column podcast and the co-founder and executive producer of the media company Freethink. Foster was one of the signatories of the Harper's Letter on justice and open debate, alongside more than 150 people, including Salman Rushdie, J.K. Rowling, and Noam Chomsky. He is an outspoken libertarian critic of cancel culture, the Black Lives Matter movement, and political orthodoxy.
* Garry Kasparov: Russian Chess Grandmaster & Pro-Democracy Activist
Garry Kasparov came to international fame in 1985 as the youngest world chess champion in history. He was 22 at the time and is widely considered among history's greatest chess players. In 2005, Kasparov retired from the sport to devote his time to writing and human rights activism. He is currently chairman of the Human Rights Foundation, a nonprofit that promotes human rights globally and organizes the Oslo Freedom Forum, and chairman of the Renew Democracy Initiative dedicated to global democracy. He is a frequent contributor to major international publications including The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times.
AGAINST THE MOTION - BIOS
* Erich Hatala Matthes: Author and Moral Philosophy Professor
Erich Hatala Matthes is a scholar and philosophy professor who researches the ethics, politics, and aesthetics of cultural heritage and art. Erich has published on topics related to cultural appropriation, art repatriation, and the ethics of cultural heritage. He is currently an associate professor at Wellesley College and his first book, "Drawing the Line: What to Do with the Work of Immoral Artists from Museums to the Movies," was released this year.
* Karen Attiah: Washington Post Columnist
Karen Attiah is a Washington Post columnist who writes on issues related to race, international politics, gender, and human rights. As the Post's founding Global Opinions editor, she recruited writers from around the world and won several awards for her work in seeking accountability for the murder of columnist Jamal Khashoggi, including the 2019 George Polk Special Award and the 2019 Journalist of the Year award from the National Association of Black Journalists. She is the author of "Say Your Word, Then Leave" and was a Fulbright Scholar to Ghana.
ABOUT INTELLIGENCE SQUARED U.S. DEBATES (IQ2US)
Intelligence Squared U.S. (IQ2US) was founded to address a fundamental problem in America: the extreme polarization of our nation and our politics. Through its award-winning live debates and associated programming, the nonprofit company serves as a model for responsible media in a new age - fair, intelligent, nonpartisan - while restoring critical thinking, facts, reason, and civility to public discourse. Recently recognized as "Best Podcast Event of 2020" by Adweek, Intelligence Squared U.S. reaches millions through multi-platform distribution, including public radio (the show airs in all top 25 markets that carry specials), podcasts, video live streaming, newsletters, interactive digital content, and on-demand apps including Roku and Apple TV. With over 190 Oxford-style debates and counting, plus additional podcast and video content, IQ2US has encouraged the public to "think twice" on a wide range of provocative topics for over a decade. Author and ABC News correspondent John Donvan has moderated since 2008.
Go here for photos, links and more info: http://shorefire.com/client/intelligence-squared-us
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