“I would rather have a mind opened by wonder than one closed by belief.”
Gerry Spence.
‘To be absolutely certain about something, one must know everything or nothing about it.’
Olin Miller
Every Sunday, from 2pm until 5pm, people gather in Sydney’s beautiful Domain park to discuss matters. The ones standing on ladders are ‘the speakers’, and they believe it’s their job to educate their ‘grasshoppers’ or ‘groundlings’. The ones sitting in chairs believe it’s their job to point out why the speaker is wrong, and to heckle. Both parties are kept busy.
This sums up the relationship between the speakers and the hecklers.
‘It’s good to have an open mind, but not so open that your brains fall out.’
Carl Sagan
Find past posts on our Archives site.
The Speakers and Hecklers.
Steve Maxwell, historian and political commentator.
Steve Maxwell is the world authority on Speakers’ Corners and soapbox speakers. He has written a book on the subject, travelled to many Speakers’ Corners throughout the world (and participated), he is the author of ‘Steve Maxwell’s Passing Parade‘, and Steve’s Domain Diary, and he has spoken at Sydney’s Speakers’ Corner for yonks. We are very fortunate to have him.
In various personas, but always engaging, Steve talks about religion, Australian history and politics. Click here for highlights. To see more videos of Steve, go to the archives site. From his book, ‘Soapbox Oratory‘ Steve writes: ‘In a modern city, there must be a place where strangers can meet and discuss the issues of the day without fear of persecution; where the right to retain one’s individuality is allowed.‘
Vladimir
Vladimir has a wide range of contemporary topics, such as the dangers of cancel-culture and the expansion of the ‘nanny state’. He says both are inhibiting free speech and eroding our civil liberties. He also sinks his boot into companies like Facebook. Further, he examines the ways we meet one another and treat one another. Do we speak openly and honestly, or so vaguely that people have to guess what we are saying? Is our society condoning misandry?
Each week it is a new topic. His material is interesting, well presented, and relevant to current affairs. Come along and hear what he has to say, and if you disagree with him, tell him!
Mr Bashful, epiphany specialist.
Epiphany specialist Mr Bashful claims he is the spiritual advisor to the Dalai Lama, though that is yet to be verified. He calls his listeners his ‘grasshoppers’ and his foes ‘garden gnomes’. His favourite topic is his evolutionary approach to happiness and resilience, but he ends up talking about almost anything else. (He has more than 300 topics.) He presented a talk on the Ockham’s Razor program on ABC Radio National, won Radio National’s ‘Now Hear This!‘ competition, and believes we should burn the Mona Lisa.
One thing he isn’t, is bashful.
He has been accused of being Yours Truly, this blog’s scribe. However, both of us emphatically deny that.
To learn more about him click here.
Helmut Cerncic, metaphysicist (occasional speaker)
Helmut once beat Arnold Schwartzenegger in a body building contest and in Sydney worked as the professional wrestler, Helmut Rommel.
More importantly, Helmut knows a lot about metaphysics, and is happy to explain why Isaac Newton was an ignoramus.
Helmut calls his listeners his ‘groundlings’. Here are some highlights.
For more videos of Helmut, go to the archives site and to his own site, ‘Is Science the New Religion?’.
“Curious Steve”
Steve has unorthodox ideas – exactly what you would want from a speaker at Speakers’ Corner. His signs give an indication of his topics. When asked what he thought of his passers-by he said, “I wish they were more intelligent.” So, if you are going to debate with him, have your wits about you!
Steve
David (occasional speaker)
David
David is a natural speaker, who, during the Covid lockdowns, railed against the inhumane restrictions imposed upon us. And, having recently become a Christian, he also speaks passionately about the Christian go.
John August (occasional speaker)
John speaks earnestly on a wide range of subjects, and hosts his own show on Radio Skid Row, 88.9 FM every Tuesday, from noon until 2pm.
John is an active member of the Pirate Party, which is a serious political party devoted to making Australia more democratic. He and other pirates speak at the Domain now and then about their policies and other topical matters. (That’s ‘topical’, not ‘tropical’.)
To see videos of John performing at Speakers’ Corner go to his Youtube channel.
John also has a website in which he comments upon current affairs, both here and abroad.
He is a busy man.
Speakers' Corner, Sydney. 