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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260513T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260513T193000
DTSTAMP:20260628T001950
CREATED:20260426T202652Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260426T202652Z
UID:7865-1778697000-1778700600@piersonlibrary.org
SUMMARY:Democracy in Our Time: Who is Curtis Yarvin?
DESCRIPTION:Curtis Yarvin was once an obscure blogger\, but his profile has moved into the mainstream after U.S. Vice President J. D. Vance expressed interest in his work. Today\, Yarvin is read widely among young conservatives as well as in Silicon Valley\, where he counts figures like Peter Thiel and Marc Andreessen as associates. His vision of governance appears\, to some observers\, to align increasingly with broader political and technological trends in twenty-first–century society. As such\, Yarvin may serve as a bellwether not only of current shifts but also of where we may be heading. For our final session in the Democracy series before a summer pause\, we will discuss a video from The New York Times podcast “The Interview\,” featuring a conversation with Yarvin. In it\, he critiques modern American democracy and outlines his proposal for a transition toward a monarchical or CEO-led system: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcSil8NeQq8
URL:https://piersonlibrary.org/event/democracy-in-our-time-who-is-curtis-yarvin/
CATEGORIES:Democracy In Our Time
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://piersonlibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Curtis-Yarvin-scaled.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260427T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260427T193000
DTSTAMP:20260628T001950
CREATED:20260328T230647Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260328T230815Z
UID:7684-1777314600-1777318200@piersonlibrary.org
SUMMARY:Democracy in Our Time: Mindful Democracy and a Declaration of Interdependence
DESCRIPTION:Democracy is often framed as a contest between political candidates or parties competing for power. But it can also be understood as a shared system of self-governance—one in which everyone has a stake in protecting and sustaining it. In this month’s Democracy in Our Time program\, we’ll listen to and discuss a podcast conversation with Jeremy David Engels about his book\, On Mindful Democracy: A Declaration of Interdependence to Mend a Fractured World. Engels explores the idea of “mindful democracy\,” drawing on democratic theory as well as practices like yoga\, meditation\, and Buddhism. As the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence\, Engels invites us to consider the idea of a “declaration of interdependence” and what it might mean for civic life today. The conversation also touches on different visions of democracy from thinkers such as John Dewey and Walter Lippmann. Listen to the podcast at this link: https://www.democracyworkspodcast.com/episodes/jeremy-david-engels
URL:https://piersonlibrary.org/event/democracy-in-our-time-mindful-democracy-and-a-declaration-of-interdependence/
CATEGORIES:Democracy In Our Time
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://piersonlibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Democracy-In-Our-Time-2-scaled.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260312T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260312T193000
DTSTAMP:20260628T001950
CREATED:20260227T034312Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260227T034312Z
UID:7489-1773340200-1773343800@piersonlibrary.org
SUMMARY:Democracy in Our Time: A Year of Challenge and Change
DESCRIPTION:The past year has tested democratic norms and institutions in significant ways\, both at home and abroad. In this open forum\, we’ll revisit key events\, explore their broader implications\, and discuss what they mean for the future of democracy. What worries you most? What gives you hope? Join us for a thoughtful\, respectful conversation about where democracy stands and where it may be headed.
URL:https://piersonlibrary.org/event/democracy-in-our-time-a-year-of-challenge-and-change/
CATEGORIES:Democracy,Democracy In Our Time
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://piersonlibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Democracy-scaled.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260225T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260225T193000
DTSTAMP:20260628T001950
CREATED:20260130T165250Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260130T165250Z
UID:7379-1772044200-1772047800@piersonlibrary.org
SUMMARY:Democracy in Our Time: A Community Discussion of Orwell’s 1984
DESCRIPTION:Democracy In Our Time is a monthly discussion series that explores timely topics related to democracy\, freedom\, and civic life through books\, ideas\, film screenings\, and speakers. At our February gathering\, we will discuss George Orwell’s classic novel 1984 and its lasting relevance in today’s world. First published in 1949\, 1984 introduced concepts such as Big Brother\, Newspeak\, Doublethink\, and the Thought Police\, ideas that have since become part of our everyday language and our shared understanding of power and control. Orwell’s dystopian vision follows Winston Smith and Julia\, two ordinary people whose desire for truth\, love\, and independent thought becomes an act of rebellion in a society defined by constant surveillance\, historical manipulation\, and totalitarian rule. As we explore the novel together\, we will consider how Orwell’s warnings about censorship\, propaganda\, and the erosion of truth continue to resonate\, and what they can teach us about protecting democratic values today. Copies of the book are available at the first-floor information desk and on our Libby app.
URL:https://piersonlibrary.org/event/democracy-in-our-time-a-community-discussion-of-orwells-1984/
CATEGORIES:Democracy,Democracy In Our Time
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://piersonlibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/1984-1-scaled.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260127T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260127T200000
DTSTAMP:20260628T001950
CREATED:20260101T164724Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260101T164724Z
UID:7258-1769538600-1769544000@piersonlibrary.org
SUMMARY:Democracy in Our Time: A Screening of The Librarians
DESCRIPTION:Join us for a special screening of the documentary The Librarians\, which follows librarians as unlikely first responders in the fight for democracy and the First Amendment. The film reveals how control over ideas can become control over communities\, and how librarians are pushed to the front lines of that struggle. In Texas\, the so-called Krause List targets more than 850 books centered on race and LGBTQIA+ stories\, setting off a wave of book bans that has spread across the United States at an unprecedented pace. As tensions rise\, librarians from across the country draw connections between heated school and library board meetings\, exposing the extremist forces driving today’s censorship campaigns. Facing harassment\, threats\, and laws designed to criminalize their work\, these librarians stand firm in their defense of the freedom to read. Their story serves as a powerful and chilling warning about what’s at stake. A short group discussion will follow the screening to explore the role of intellectual freedom in a healthy democracy. \n 
URL:https://piersonlibrary.org/event/democracy-in-our-time-a-screening-of-the-librarians/
CATEGORIES:Democracy,Democracy In Our Time
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://piersonlibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Newsletter-Header_The-Librarians.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251215T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251215T193000
DTSTAMP:20260628T001950
CREATED:20251124T042401Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251124T042423Z
UID:7125-1765823400-1765827000@piersonlibrary.org
SUMMARY:Democracy in Our Time: Laughtivism & Dilemma Actions
DESCRIPTION:Humor is a powerful tool of nonviolent protest that can create lose-lose situations for authoritarians. Join us as we discuss political humor in 2025\, learn about dilemma actions\, and discuss news from the past month.
URL:https://piersonlibrary.org/event/democracy-in-our-time-laughtivism-dilemma-actions/
CATEGORIES:Democracy,Democracy In Our Time
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://piersonlibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Laughtivism-scaled.jpg
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251124T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251124T193000
DTSTAMP:20260628T001950
CREATED:20251031T164905Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251031T171313Z
UID:7040-1764009000-1764012600@piersonlibrary.org
SUMMARY:Democracy in Our Time: A Community Discussion of How to Stand Up to a Dictator
DESCRIPTION:Join us for a community discussion of How to Stand Up to a Dictator by Nobel Peace Prize–winning journalist Maria Ressa. A fearless defender of press freedom and democracy\, Ressa chronicles her decades-long fight against corruption\, disinformation\, and authoritarian power in the Philippines and the growing global threat these forces pose to democratic societies everywhere. Part memoir\, part urgent warning\, How to Stand Up to a Dictator connects the rise of strongmen leaders from Manila to Moscow to Washington\, revealing the global consequences of unchecked digital manipulation. With courage and clarity\, Ressa challenges readers to recognize the fragility of democracy and to ask\, as she does each day: What are you willing to sacrifice for the truth? Copies of the book are available for checkout at the first-floor information desk.
URL:https://piersonlibrary.org/event/democracy-in-our-time-a-community-discussion-of-how-to-stand-up-to-a-dictator/
CATEGORIES:Democracy In Our Time
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://piersonlibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/How-to-Stand-Up-to-a-Dictator-scaled.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251028T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251028T193000
DTSTAMP:20260628T001950
CREATED:20250922T031854Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250922T031854Z
UID:6868-1761676200-1761679800@piersonlibrary.org
SUMMARY:Democracy in Our Time: A Discussion of Twilight of Democracy: The Seductive Lure of Authoritarianism
DESCRIPTION:Join us for a community discussion of Twilight of Democracy: The Seductive Lure of Authoritarianism by Pulitzer Prize–winning historian Anne Applebaum. A national bestseller praised for its sharp insight\, this timely work explores why democracies around the world are faltering and why many political elites are embracing authoritarianism. Drawing from her experience as a journalist and historian\, Applebaum examines the rise of nationalism and the erosion of democratic norms in countries from the U.S. and U.K. to Hungary and Poland. With urgency and clarity\, she reveals how authoritarian movements gain ground through loyalty networks\, cultural nostalgia\, and media manipulation. Both a political analysis and a personal reflection\, Twilight of Democracy offers a compelling look at the fragility of democratic institutions\, and what it will take to restore them. Copies of the book are available for checkout at the first-floor information desk.
URL:https://piersonlibrary.org/event/democracy-in-our-time-a-discussion-of-twilight-of-democracy-the-seductive-lure-of-authoritarianism/
CATEGORIES:Democracy,Democracy In Our Time
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://piersonlibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Democracy-in-Our-Time-1-scaled.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250916T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250916T193000
DTSTAMP:20260628T001950
CREATED:20250824T010734Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250824T013543Z
UID:6717-1758047400-1758051000@piersonlibrary.org
SUMMARY:Democracy in Our Time: A Discussion of Democracy Awakening
DESCRIPTION:This month\, we’ll discuss Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America by acclaimed historian Heather Cox Richardson. A New York Times bestseller and widely praised for its clarity and insight\, this work explores the historical roots of America’s current political climate and the growing threats to democratic institutions. Drawing on over 150 years of U.S. history from the Founding Fathers to the January 6 insurrection\, Richardson traces how political rhetoric\, misinformation\, and power struggles have shaped the nation’s trajectory. With the same accessible style that brings millions of readers to her newsletter Letters from an American\, she lays out where we’ve been\, how we got here\, and what’s at stake today. Copies of the book are available at the first-floor information desk. Please join us for this important conversation.
URL:https://piersonlibrary.org/event/democracy-in-our-time-democracy-awakening/
CATEGORIES:Book Discussion,Democracy,Democracy In Our Time
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://piersonlibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Democracy-Awakening-scaled.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250828T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250828T193000
DTSTAMP:20260628T001950
CREATED:20250801T172137Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250801T172137Z
UID:6567-1756405800-1756409400@piersonlibrary.org
SUMMARY:Democracy in Our Time: A Discussion of It Can't Happen Here
DESCRIPTION:As part of our Democracy in Our Time series\, we invite you to join us for a discussion of Sinclair Lewis’s novel It Can’t Happen Here. Written in 1935 during the rise of fascism abroad and economic despair at home\, Lewis’s work remains relevant today. Blending sharp political satire with a chillingly realistic scenario\, the novel imagines how authoritarianism could take root in the United States under the guise of populism and moral reform. Described upon release as “a message to thinking Americans\,” It Can’t Happen Here explores the fragility of democratic institutions and the ease with which fear\, misinformation\, and charismatic leadership can undermine them. In an era where democratic norms continue to be tested\, this book offers a powerful starting point for conversation. Copies of the book are available at the first-floor information desk. 
URL:https://piersonlibrary.org/event/democracy-in-our-time-a-discussion-of-it-cant-happen-here/
CATEGORIES:Democracy,Democracy In Our Time
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://piersonlibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Democracy-in-Our-Time-It-Cant-Happen-here-scaled.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250712T103000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250712T113000
DTSTAMP:20260628T001950
CREATED:20250627T144925Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250627T144925Z
UID:6428-1752316200-1752319800@piersonlibrary.org
SUMMARY:Democracy in Our Time: The Art of Protest
DESCRIPTION:Did you know that your right to protest is protected by the Constitution? Join us for a dynamic workshop where we’ll explore the history of protest movements\, discuss the power of visual messaging\, and design and create your own protest sign for a cause you care about. This program is open to teens and adults.
URL:https://piersonlibrary.org/event/democracy-in-our-time-the-art-of-protest/
CATEGORIES:Democracy,Democracy In Our Time
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://piersonlibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/The-Art-of-Protest-1-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250616T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250616T203000
DTSTAMP:20260628T001950
CREATED:20250602T124041Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250602T124041Z
UID:6309-1750098600-1750105800@piersonlibrary.org
SUMMARY:Democracy in Our Time: A Screening of Free For All: The Public Library
DESCRIPTION:Join us for the debut screening in our new series Democracy in Our Time\, featuring the powerful documentary Free for All: The Public Library. This film explores the vital role public libraries have played in shaping American democracy past and present. From the visionary women of the “Free Library Movement” to today’s librarians navigating the challenges of book bans and funding threats\, Free for All celebrates the enduring power of libraries as civic institutions: free\, accessible\, and open to all. Following the screening\, we invite you to stay for a brief community conversation about the importance of public spaces\, intellectual freedom\, and the evolving role of libraries in supporting democracy today.
URL:https://piersonlibrary.org/event/democracy-in-our-time-a-screening-of-free-for-all-the-public-library/
CATEGORIES:Democracy In Our Time,Documentary Screenings
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://piersonlibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/FREE-FOR-ALL-THE-PUBLIC-LIBRARY-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250522T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250522T193000
DTSTAMP:20260628T001950
CREATED:20250423T212512Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250423T212512Z
UID:6209-1747938600-1747942200@piersonlibrary.org
SUMMARY:Democracy in Our Time: A Community Discussion of On Tyranny
DESCRIPTION:Join us for a new monthly series that explores democracy. For our inaugural session\, we’ll host a community discussion of the book On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century by historian Timothy Snyder. In this powerful bestseller\, Snyder draws on the lessons of 20th-century history to offer urgent\, practical guidance for recognizing and resisting the threats to democracy in our modern world. This nonpartisan\, guided conversation will explore the book’s twenty concise lessons\, from defending institutions and valuing truth to resisting one-party rule and standing out\, while creating space for participants to share thoughts\, questions\, and personal reflections. Copies of the book are available at the first-floor circulation desk.
URL:https://piersonlibrary.org/event/democracy-in-our-time-a-community-discussion-of-on-tyranny/
CATEGORIES:Book Discussion,Democracy,Democracy In Our Time
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://piersonlibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Democracy-In-Our-Time-Event-Calendar-1-scaled.jpg
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