Look at the rapt attention on the face of the man in the photo. He's a delegate listening to a speech during the Democratic National Convention. His concentration is typical of most people late in the evening of a convention; that's when marquee speeches are delivered.
What's not visible in the photo is a luxury suite located nearby. There, guests stood in clusters, shooting the breeze and nibbling on food. Their din of conversation and laughter got so loud that delegates in the normal seats glanced their way with disapproval.
The luxury suite people were clueless of the distraction they were creating. What explained their insensitivity? Was liquor being dispensed? Was it the free food and party atmosphere? Was it the physical barrier separating them from the normal seats?
There was a time when arena seating joined together people from all economic groupings. This mingling of rich and poor was good for our society. Nowadays at ballparks and arenas, wealthy people and businesses buy their way out of mingling with lower classes.
The segregation of luxury suites represents a step backward, not forward.
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