MANSFIELD — It often seems people with differing ideas are unable to talk respectfully and constructively — especially in today’s political climate.
But every second Saturday at Mains Street Bookstore, there is proof it’s possible.
“Everyone who comes is already willing to learn — both from the documentary and from the other viewers,” said Llallan Fowler, manager of Main Street Books. “They are all very respectful. The listening aspect of the evening is probably the most important part.”
Keeping Watch: Documentaries for a Just World, meets each month (typically the second Saturday of the month at 5 p.m., unless there is a scheduling conflict) and watches a documentary revolving around various topics. Main Street Books, located at 104 Main St. in Mansfield, is the location.
“It seemed like there could be some good learning and conversation around film,” said Jared Ruari, who helped form the group. “I asked Llallan if she was interested in doing a documentary club and see if there was an interest in that.”
Ruari, a minister at St. John’s United Church of Christ, said the initial idea for the group came when a co-worker recommended he watch Divided We Fall, a documentary about the mistreatment Sikh-Americans experienced after the Twin Tower attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.
“That was the first film we watched,” Ruari said. “They were targeted because people don’t know the difference between Muslims and Sikhs.”
Before he created the event, Ruari said he wanted to figure out his audience.
“One of the things I try to think about as an extension of church work is, is there a wider audience? Is this something where we should share our faith persuasion or is faith needed at all? And a lot of times, if it seems more general interest, I’ll see if I can find a community part,” he said. “For some people, even coming into a church is something they are uncomfortable with.
“(This) seemed like something that had a wide community interest.”
When he asked Fowler to host the event, she said it was a perfect fit.
“Independent bookstores often double as community centers,” she said. “A program that features films about improving our community and community member’s lives seems a natural fit.”
So far, Ruari and his wife, Allison, have selected documentaries about food deserts, digital divides, architectural design as a way to help low-income housing and refugees for the group.
“The thing I like about a well-made documentary is you can learn so much without necessarily having the time commitment,” Ruari said. “I find it really appealing as a medium to explore a topic somewhat deeply and hopefully with a level of expertise. You get a lot from that.
“The thing I’ve realized about doing this kind of learning is if you dig deeply into a topic with compassion and curiosity, you not only come away with a better understanding of that topic, but you are better equipped for the future when it comes time to learn about a new topic. That general curiosity has a way of carrying over.”
The documentary screenings end with a conversation about what was learned, what stood out and what others may know beyond the topics shown.
“I think a lot of times, the phrase “social justice” is seen as left-leaning or a democrat word,” Ruari said. “It’s not my intention to pick topics that would only interest or be related only to people of a certain political point of view.
“One of the pleasant surprises, is there are people with very real differences of opinion. I love any time I get to help people have a good conversation where there can be a difference of opinion without it getting nasty. This is a place where you can explore larger ideas and talk about what are some of the view points and biases in the film. Do you agree with those? What doesn’t the film cover?”
