imafuturist (
imafuturist) wrote in
fandomhigh2020-10-01 08:40 am
Functioning Governments, Thursday
Today's class had a television set up in front of the desks and an exuberant corgi sniffing everything and occasionally bonking into Tony and Steve's legs. "Well," Steve began, "we watched the Presidential debates that happened across the causeway and in good conscience couldn't subject you to something so traumatizing, so we're going for something more historic. We're going to watch the first Kennedy-Nixon debate: the first one that were ever televised."
It saved them from having to have alcohol in their coffee while teaching, to be honest. "This debate is important because of the difference in how it was perceived by people who watched and people who listened to it on the radio," Tony said. "The viewers believed Kennedy won one based on how he looked versus how Nixon looked. Kennedy was young and photogenic while Nixon, who had been the favored winner before this, appeared tired and sick comparatively."
"Nixon answered questions more comprehensively," Steve said, "but Kennedy seemed more presidential. We could also get into a breakdown of demographics regarding who at the time could afford to have a television and what that said about voters, or start to lament the fall of the American people into a style over substance debate that still rages today, but first you have to watch the debate. Listen to the questions, and more importantly, notice the base of knowledge they assumed people watching already had."
Patriot bonked into Steve's legs again. "Oh. And this is Patriot."
Of course it was.
"He's here to say hi."
"He also likes being cuddled," Tony added as Patriot bonked past him next to investigate a dust ball.
"So watch the debate, say hello to Patriot if you'd like, and we'll chat afterwards," Steve said.
It saved them from having to have alcohol in their coffee while teaching, to be honest. "This debate is important because of the difference in how it was perceived by people who watched and people who listened to it on the radio," Tony said. "The viewers believed Kennedy won one based on how he looked versus how Nixon looked. Kennedy was young and photogenic while Nixon, who had been the favored winner before this, appeared tired and sick comparatively."
"Nixon answered questions more comprehensively," Steve said, "but Kennedy seemed more presidential. We could also get into a breakdown of demographics regarding who at the time could afford to have a television and what that said about voters, or start to lament the fall of the American people into a style over substance debate that still rages today, but first you have to watch the debate. Listen to the questions, and more importantly, notice the base of knowledge they assumed people watching already had."
Patriot bonked into Steve's legs again. "Oh. And this is Patriot."
Of course it was.
"He's here to say hi."
"He also likes being cuddled," Tony added as Patriot bonked past him next to investigate a dust ball.
"So watch the debate, say hello to Patriot if you'd like, and we'll chat afterwards," Steve said.

Watch the Debate
Re: Watch the Debate
Hi, have you met Wayne?
Re: Watch the Debate
Was she, like Wayne, maybe paying more attention to the dog than the video? Also yes.
Re: Watch the Debate
She had the impression that if the political scene back home had been anything like the one on the other side of the causeway, her sister and Connor might have let the whole 'replace the government with a magical dictatorship' thing go ahead.