OPEN MIND FORUM

OPEN MIND FORUM

Placing People Before Politics

Introduction

OPEN MIND FORUM welcomes you to a space dedicated to exploring the world through a progressive lens. This blog may be thought of as eclectic. Here, we reflect on the important issues shaping our lives today, from politics and religion to the environment, health care, late-stage capitalism, and much more.

Our goal is to engage readers in thoughtful, in-depth conversations about the complex and ever-changing world we live in. We wish to exchange ideas with people of all political and cultural understanding of the world we live in and share with one another. All that we ask is that you remain civil in your comments. Threats and violence will result in your being banned from this site. Civility in the exchange of ideas is hardly easy in today’s overarching focus on division. Yet, it is only through mutual understanding that we will survive as a nation with humility and empathy toward our fellow humans, no matter what they believe.

The reason that there are menus in restaurants is recognition that not everyone likes the same thing, that variety is appealing, much like diversity in society. At Open Mind Forum, we do not expect to change the minds of our readers. To the contrary, Our goal is to share ideas, argue our positions and part as friends. It is not hard to do but it does require commitment and practice.

ROGER PASSMAN-FISCHEL, HOST of OPEN MIND FORUM

OPEN MIND FORUM is hosted by Dr. Roger Passman-Fischel, a retired teacher and university professor with a deep passion for understanding and discussing the challenges of our time. Dr. Passman-Fischel believes that despite the divisions that have developed in recent years, Americans are, at their core, decent people—people who are willing to test their ideas, engage with differing viewpoints, and work together to uphold our national values of freedom and courage.

At OPEN MIND FORUM, we invite you to join the conversation. We welcome comments and even spirited debates—it’s through these exchanges that we grow and learn from one another. However, we ask that all discussions remain respectful. Abusive or threatening language will not be tolerated, and anyone who crosses that line will be blocked from the site. Disagreement is natural, but it must be handled with civility.

A short Disclaimer and Statement of Purpose from OPEN MIND FORUM

The content I publish may be controversial, and I acknowledge that some readers may find it offensive. However, this discomfort is intentional. My goal is to reach out to those who think differently, inviting them to engage in meaningful, civil dialogue. By challenging our assumptions—my own included—we might uncover the ways in which we are all mired in misunderstanding, opening the door to deeper insights. I encourage open, respectful exploration of these ideas, even when they push us out of our comfort zones. We also use images created by Wonder AI. They are not real-life representations and should not be interpreted as such. Their sole purpose is to offer a visual means of exploring the topics discussed in this post.

What’s Planned for our Future Publications

At OPEN MIND FORUM we have big plans. Our goal is to add both hard copy PDF subscriptions of articles we do not post on the site

We’re here to foster a community of thinkers who are curious, open-minded, and ready to explore what it means to live in this complicated world. Together, we can navigate the pressing issues of our time with insight and compassion. Below is a list of projects we are working on, at least one of which will be available online before the end of 2024.

Here’s a list of the services we intend to create as we grow our audience

Planned Services

1. Subscriber-Only Articles
   – We will offer exclusive subscription articles that won’t be published online. Instead, subscribers will receive new PDF files 3 to 4 times a month. This will be a Subscriber service.
2. Subscription-Only Podcast
   – We will launch a password-protected podcast, available online, with the added feature of delivering an MP3 file to subscribers. Like the articles, this will also be a Subscriber service.
3. Topical books– Our intention is to create book length essays on specific topics. Books are not part of our Subscription services. As such must be purchased separately. Books published will be priced at $12.00 however for our subscribers, we offer a 20% discount or $9.60 (All prices are US Dollar) Shipping is included. We are currently working on our first book focusing on The Rising American Oligarchy: Origins and Consequences. Our scheduled release date of our first book is tentatively set for Mid January 2025.

These services are designed to build a deeper connection with our audience and provide premium, subscriber-only content or discounted access to our book offerings.

Thank you for being part of the journey!

Revised: 14 November 2024