Free Information
Every week, you can pick and choose from an array of free, informative lectures and film screenings offered throughout the Tampa Bay area. Lately (and unsurpris-ingly), many feature topics directly relating to politics and the presidential race. And by now, we should all know that information is power and educated decision-making is extremely important in an election year.Rev. Barry Lynn, ordained minister and executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, presents "Religion-Based Politicking: Why It's Wrong," at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18. Lynn speaks about the perils of turning religious institutions into "partisan political machines" and how you can recognize and counter this disruptive trend in politics. (John F. Germany Library, 900 N. Ashley Drive, downtown Tampa, 813-273-3660.)
Two separate lectures address concerns about the new e-voting system. The University of South Florida offers "E-Voting in an Untrustworthy World" at 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 20. Here, Dr. Rebecca Mercuri, computer scientist and "e-voting expert," discusses the vulnerabilities of electronic voting systems to attacks and fraud in the 2004 election. (USF Marshall Center Ballroom, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa, 813-974-3180.) If you can't make it out to USF, you can head to the St. Petersburg Times Auditorium (490 First Ave. S., downtown St. Petersburg) for a forum on voting technology from 6:30-9:30 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 22. Here, panelists Deborah Clarke, Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections, and Vince Lipsio, computer expert and member of VerifiedVoting.org, answer questions about the voting system and its technology. Additional panelists will be confirmed soon and if you happen to be thinking ahead about questions you want answered at the event, e-mail them to LWVSPA@tampabay.rr.com.
And finally, "From Global Spirituality to Global Ethics: Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr., as Modes for the Postmodern Spiritual Adventure in an Age of Terrorism" takes place at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 22. Dr. Farrell J. Fasching, professor of religious studies at USF, speaks on this topic, which touches on religion, terrorism and non-violent civil disobedience. (Eckerd College, Fox Hall, 4200 54th Ave. S., St. Petersburg, 727-865-7000.)
By the way, if you're interested in the facts but prefer to have them presented to you in a pretty, highly edited package, Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11 shows in the Dendy-McNair Auditorium at Eckerd college at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 17. Next, you can check out Fourth World War at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 19 (Main Library auditorium, 3745 Ninth Ave. N., St. Petersburg, 727-894-6997). Finally, there's Outfoxed — Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism, which can be viewed at 6 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 19, at the Lakewood Church of Christ (2601 54th Ave. S., St. Petersburg, 727-867-7961).
—Leilani Polk
This article appears in Sep 15-21, 2004.
