OSLIST Digest - 21 Jun 2003 to 22 Jun 2003 (#2003-166)

Sun Jun 22 23:54:02 PDT 2003

Dear OS community,
I have found OS has altered me in a curious way. I now don't hesitate to do slightly unusual things - heretical even - like taking on extra work for no more money. Here's a short exchange in regard to a video I'm currently filming about the science of Neuroscience. The reply is first, then my simple offer below, inspired by thoughts like "How would the OS community respond?"
Please understand I'm not circulating this to bignote myself - just to show a tiny example of the flow-on effect of generosity.
Thanks for the inspiration.
David

The Reply from Marisa:

David,

That's really beautiful and a wonderful idea as far as I'm concerned. 

It never ceases to amaze me when talented people go out of their way for those who really need it. My father just passed away last Saturday after a 2-year battle with cancer. During this course we have encountered many heartless, often harmful individuals but at times, our lives were also touched by people with fine qualities like your own. It is those people that add to "The Bright Light of Hope" in those crucial times when it seems as though it is rapidly dimming. I agree that it is that hope that helps these individuals with their fight. I think your idea is wonderful and although I'm not working as diligently at the moment given my situation, I would like to offer my help to your project in anyway I can. I do have a journalism degree, so perhaps could help you in the interviewing/editing etc processes.

Just let me know how I can assist.

My Original Note:

Dear Marisa,
In the course of filming the Promo Video, I am encountering some truly uplifting human stories of people with terrible afflictions and how the astonishing recent research findings in neurosciences are really opening the possibility of hope not merely for relief from symptoms but of real "cures". In order to get the best short grabs for the promo, I always film quite a bit more material. It would be relatively easy to edit a "Long Version" that could draw out more of this superb material. I'm thinking of a title like "The Bright Light of Hope" - for the patients I've spoken with see hope as the one thing that can really lift their spirits. For some, such as a 23 year old I met who is nearing the end of his life as a muscular dystrophy sufferer, the research breakthroughs will not be available soon enough. For kids born today with MS, there is a very good chance that their condition will be greatly alleviated. This is pretty tear-jerking stuff at times, but it's the real core of why this research is so important. 

So I'd like to suggest a longer video as one story, featuring simple talking-head interviews with perhaps three or four patients.

I know there's no budget for this but I'm prepared to do it for little if nothing (as long as time permits) as a tribute to the courage of all the patient sufferers out there.

Regards,
David

----- Original Message ----- 
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Sent: Monday, June 23, 2003 4:00 PM
Subject: OSLIST Digest - 21 Jun 2003 to 22 Jun 2003 (#2003-166)

> There is one message totalling 127 lines in this issue.
> 
> Topics of the day:
> 
>   1. Money's Worth (LONG)
> 
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> OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
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> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Date:    Sun, 22 Jun 2003 08:00:02 -0400
> From:    Harrison Owen <owenhh at mindspring.com>
> Subject: Re: Money's Worth (LONG)
> 
> --=====================_89059600==.ALT
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
> 
> At 10:22 AM 6/22/2003 +0800, Brendan  McKeague wrote:
> 
> 
> >"I can really feel my people's pain during the past two days" said an
> >emotional Field Worker from the Philippines "These tears were not in the
> >script (as she broke down and wept) - I would like my people to experience
> >what I have experienced here these past days - the freedom and the
> >community we have developed - if only we could sort out our conflicts in
> >this way"
> 
> >"We're here together, experiencing democracy in action. I wouldn't have
> >believed this was possible. This is my fourth Regional conference and by
> >far the best yet. The way which ex-patriots and indigenous staff have
> >collaborated here is far-and-away better than I've ever seen."
> >
> >"Usually there is a distance between us and indigenous and overseas staff
> >find it difficult to really get down to deeper communication. This barrier
> >was broken here and we have connected at a deeper level."
> 
> This is a marvelous piece Brendan, and I suspect you will hold the memories
> of that time out of time, caught between tranquility and terror, for a long
> time to come.  At least that has always been my experience. The several
> comments that I copied above struck me particularly, if only because they
> capture what for me is the central gift of Open Space in this time. Call it
> whatever you like -- I call it Peace. It is a gift we give every time we
> enable the opening of space -- although of course it is not our gift, but
> the gift of the people given to themselves. I am sure you told that Field
> Worker from the Philippines that of course her people can experience the
> same thing the moment she chooses to Open Space.
> 
> Words like "mission" and "responsibility" get thrown about with such
> abandon that often they lose their meaning -- But if we have a mission and
> a responsibility, I believe that we are under special obligation to open
> space wherever, however, and about whatever we can -- as often as we can --
> simply so that the critical experience of genuine Peace remains present as
> a beacon in what all too often appears as a darkening world. And when that
> experience disappears, as it has in many places, respect, trust and hope
> also go the way of the dodo Bird. It isn't about "selling Open Space" --
> Just do it.
> 
> Harrison
> 
> PS -- I find that it always works! (smile)
> 
> 
> Harrison Owen
> 7808 River Falls Drive
> Potomac, MD 20854 USA
> phone 301-365-2093
> Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com
> Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org
> Personal website http://mywebpages.comcast.net/hhowen/index.htm
> 
> OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
> view the archives of oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu
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> 
> 
> 
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> ==========================================================
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> To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
> view the archives of oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu,
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> --=====================_89059600==.ALT
> Content-Type: text/html; charset="us-ascii"
> 
> <html>
> <body>
> At 10:22 AM 6/22/2003 +0800,
> <tt><font face="Tempus Sans ITC">Brendan  McKeague</font></tt>
> wrote:<br><br>
> <br>
> <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>"I can really feel my people's pain during the past two days" said an emotional Field Worker from the Philippines "These tears were not in the script (as she broke down and wept) - I would like my people to experience what I have experienced here these past days - the freedom and the community we have developed - if only we could sort out our conflicts in this way"</blockquote><br>
> <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>"We're here together, experiencing democracy in action. I wouldn't have believed this was possible. This is my fourth Regional conference and by far the best yet. The way which ex-patriots and indigenous staff have collaborated here is far-and-away better than I've ever seen."<br><br>
> "Usually there is a distance between us and indigenous and overseas staff find it difficult to really get down to deeper communication. This barrier was broken here and we have connected at a deeper level."</blockquote><br>
> This is a marvelous piece Brendan, and I suspect you will hold the memories of that time out of time, caught between tranquility and terror, for a long time to come.  At least that has always been my experience. The several comments that I copied above struck me particularly, if only because they capture what for me is the central gift of Open Space in this time. Call it whatever you like -- I call it Peace. It is a gift we give every time we enable the opening of space -- although of course it is not our gift, but the gift of the people given to themselves. I am sure you told that Field Worker from the Philippines that of course her people can experience the same thing the moment she chooses to Open Space.<br><br>
> Words like "mission" and "responsibility" get thrown about with such abandon that often they lose their meaning -- But if we have a mission and a responsibility, I believe that we are under special obligation to open space wherever, however, and about whatever we can -- as often as we can -- simply so that the critical experience of genuine Peace remains present as a beacon in what all too often appears as a darkening world. And when that experience disappears, as it has in many places, respect, trust and hope also go the way of the dodo Bird. It isn't about "selling Open Space" -- Just do it. <br><br>
> Harrison<br><br>
> PS -- I find that it always works! (smile) <br><br>
> <x-sigsep><p></x-sigsep>
> <div align="center">Harrison Owen<br>
> 7808 River Falls Drive<br>
> Potomac, MD 20854 USA<br>
> phone 301-365-2093<br>
> Open Space Training <a href="http://www.openspaceworld.com/" eudora="autourl">www.openspaceworld.com</a> <br>
> Open Space Institute <a href="http://www.openspaceworld.org/" eudora="autourl">www.openspaceworld.org</a><br>
> Personal website <a href="http://mywebpages.comcast.net/hhowen/index.htm" eudora="autourl"><font color="#0000FF">http://mywebpages.comcast.net/hhowen/index.htm</a><br><br>
> <u>OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU<br>
> </u></font>To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,<br>
> view the archives of <font color="#0000FF"><u>oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu<br>
> </u></font>Visit: <a href="http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html" eudora="autourl"><font color="#0000FF"><u>http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html</a><br><br>
> <br><br>
> </font></u></div>
> </body>
> </html>
> *
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> ==========================================================
> OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
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> To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
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> ------------------------------
> 
> End of OSLIST Digest - 21 Jun 2003 to 22 Jun 2003 (#2003-166)
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