Conference examines impact of 9/11 on critical thought

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BY John Umpherson

October 20, 2006

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/911-poster-1.jpg” caption=”McMaster will host the 2006 John Douglas Taylor Conference, ‘Beyond Ground Zero’: 9/11 and the Futures of Critical Thought on Saturday, Oct. 21.”]Months of planning will come to fruition on Saturday, Oct. 21, when the doors of CIBC Hall open to the 2006 John Douglas Taylor Conference, 'Beyond Ground Zero': 9/11 and the Futures of Critical Thought.

Organized by the Department of English and Cultural Studies, the conference is an annual event which brings together prominent thinkers to engage with and discuss issues of world importance. It is generously supported by the Taylor family in memory of John Douglas Taylor.

Organizers Karen Espiritu and Don Moore say this year's conference is garnering unprecedented attention due to its provocative subject matter. 'Beyond Ground Zero': 9/11 and the Futures of Critical Thought has been designed to foster sustained discussion on the ramifications of the attacks of Sept. 11 on critical thought and discourse.

“What we wanted to do in organizing this conference was to be open to interdisciplinary perspectives of what 9/11 as an event has done to critical thought today,” says Espiritu. The organizers' approach aims to encourage conference attendees to question how the attacks of Sept. 11 continue to haunt the ways in which we think of fundamental issues such as democracy, justice, freedom, multiculturalism, tolerance, and diversity.

International response to the conference has been impressive. Submissions of papers and abstracts have flooded the electronic mailbox of organizers in previous months.

In order to facilitate the discussion of these many perspectives, organizers have allotted time for an open discussion session in which all voices are welcome to be heard. The organizers particularly hope for a broad spectrum of participants–not just those with an English or Cultural Studies background.

“We are hoping that students from other disciplines will partake in the conference and engage these issues from various perspectives.”

'Beyond Ground Zero': 9/11 and the Futures of Critical Thought takes place on Saturday, Oct. 21 in CIBC Hall at McMaster University starting at 8.30 a.m. McMaster students can register for free with the presentation of a student card. Registration includes refreshments and a light lunch.