whatever happens...

[John Engle]

Thanks for your response, Arno.

It's so important that translation captures the essence.

In Haiti, the direct translation of the principle uses the same language that has been used in the past by radical groups indicating, "if your car get's blown up, if your windshield or head get's crushed by a rock or a bullet, it's that what happened. We're on the warpath for change. Violence and destruction is likely to happen."

John 

Arno Baltin <arno at tlu.ee> wrote: Dear Gabriela, and others,

In Estonian the printciple is translated so that "what ever happens" is 
understood as something that will happen in future (although we dont 
have grammatical future). At the same time "happens" has in everyday use 
mostly negative connotation. When a child comes to parent with unhappy 
face, the parent will probably ask "what happened?". Or there is a 
saying "we will be friends whatever happens". So when people first time 
hear the principle of "what  ever happens" in OS it sounds a bit like a 
warning that things might go "wrong" but there is still no need to worry 
about it. If in English "happens" and "happy" sounds quite similar (at 
least to foreigners ear) then in Estonian closest association with 
"happens" is "accident".

with best regards,

Arno
 

Gabriela Ender wrote:
> Dear John, and others,
>
> I want to come back to your wonderful thoughts regarding this 
> principle because I like the way you have been experimenting in 
> Haitian Creole and in English with very much: "*What Happens is what 
> happens - learn and move forward."*
>  
> And you have added: "This principle helps us to not lament over 
> should'ves, to not wallow in regrets. We're all responsible for how we 
> use our time and space together during this meeting. Let's assume that 
> responsibility and be prepared to accept what happens and to 
> continually strive to learn and to keep moving forward."
>  
> I totally agree and I like they way you describe it!
>  
> I have a question. Would it be also okay to say: "*What happened is 
> what happened - learn and move forward*." ?  I mean "What happened is 
> what happened" (it is past - so we cannot change it anymore) and 
> "learn and move forward." is present ... with responsibility in my/our 
> "here and now".
> "What happens is what happens" sounds for me (as a foreign English 
> speaking person) like it is the present and for "here and now" we are 
> responsible ... how we use our time. Therefore I think that 
> changing the first part of this principle variant "into past" could 
> express the "when its over its over" in it a bit better and would make 
> a distinction to present and concsious responsibilty.
> I would appreciate your and the opinion from others a lot. Thank you 
> very much!
>
> Warmly,
> Gabriela
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www.johnengle.net Open space facilitation
www.circlesofchange.com Participatory learning and leadership
www.harvesttime.cc Harvesting for justice that all may have enough

telephone Haiti: 509-461-3067

email: john at johnengle.net  
telephone: 202-236-6532 
fax: 202-449-8343 
 
John Engle 
P.O. Box 337 
Hershey, PA 17033

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