I appreciate posts as balanced as Walter's below. The level of political bile coming from architects based on, frankly, ignorance and blinders, saddens me greatly. I have seen posts blaming Clinton for apparently single-handedly engineering the repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act, causing the downfall of the financial sector. Regardless of the role you think Glass-Steagall played in all of this pain, we shouldn't forget that this repeal was done through the Gramm-Leach-Bliley act -- three
Republican sponsors. The act was further modified by Democratic congressional input, too. Picking a villain from "the other side" who makes you apoplectic ignores the reality of politics, which most architects have to contend with on a daily basis. Claims from architects that we have nothing to learn from politicians makes me think that these architects are living in an ivory tower and have never had to contend with a city council or planning commission. Politics are part and parcel of what we do.
Then there are those who are dismissive of whatever Clinton might say because of his "personal ethics." Of course, these were the same ethics of Louis Kahn, Frank Lloyd Wright, Martin Luther King, Jr., and innumerable other leaders throughout history. While this doesn't excuse the behavior, the pettiness shown by such holier-than-thou architects (who probably also regularly profess their recognition of human fallibility and commitment to forgiveness on Sundays) is disheartening.
I retired my membership in the AIA due to what I perceived as a lack of relevance. Having Bill Clinton as a convention speaker is making me consider re-joining. (Part of what I am looking for at a convention is inspiration; having a world-renowned architect talk to me about his/her projects which are at a level -- design-wise or scale-wise -- that I will never, ever participate in, now THAT is truly irrelevant.) But after reading some of these posts, I dunno.
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Richard Morrison
Redwood City CA
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Original Message:
Sent: 02-11-2015 17:40
From: Walter Hainsfurther
Subject: AIA Convention
AIA has a relationship with Bill Clinton through their participation in the Clinton Global Initiative, which is what I would assume he would talk about. I have never heard an AIA speaker give a political talk at a convention or other meeting.
It might interest you that Dr. Carson has spoken at Grassroots in the past.
In general, if you look at where the Archipac has spent it's resources, they are almost evenly divided by party.
Personally, I only want to hear from a politician talk about areas where I, as an architect, are concerned. I could see Dr. Carson speaking about the connection between architecture and health. I am sure that President Clinton will talk about how architects can make the world a better place to live, the work of the Clinton Global Initiative (which if you look at who they have had speak to them and in the behalf is totally non-partisan) and the role we can play in bringing their goals to reality. Other politicians, especially those you named, have nothing to add besides strictly partisan rhetoric. I get the fact that one can say "My Party: Good; Other Party: Bad. That's not what I believe will happen here.
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Walter Hainsfurther FAIA
Kurtz Associates Architects
Des Plaines IL
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Original Message:
Sent: 02-10-2015 18:41
From: Robin Miller
Subject: AIA Convention
This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Practice Management Member Conversations and Small Project Practitioners .
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Is anybody else having heartburn over Hillary Clinton's husband and chief campaigner stumping at the AIA Convention? Can we at least offer equal time to Dr. Ben Carson, Scott Walker or Marco Rubio? How blatant can we get?
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Robin Miller AIA
MSH Architects
Sioux Falls SD
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