why OSI/US

[Justin T. Sampson]

Howdy,

I certainly have no objection to the name "OSI/US", and no advocacy to
change the name of the organization, but some thoughts do come to mind that
I feel like sharing.

Tree's eloquent narrative proves that "OSI/US" is a better name than "OSI"
or "OSI/America" -- but I wonder why not "OSI/USA".

I actually prefer "America" over "United States", and here's why: The United
States of America is the ONLY country in the world to have "America" as any
part of its name, so "America" is a reasonable nickname when it's clear that
a country is being referred to.

However, there ARE other countries with "United States" or something similar
in their names -- notably, the United States of Mexico (locally known as
Estados Unidos Mexicanos). So "United States" and "US" are actually
ambiguous nicknames, though of course they're quite common ("US" is the
standard two-letter country code for the United States of America while "MX"
is the standard two-letter country code for the United States of Mexico).

So anyway, I think that if it's okay to refer to the United States of Mexico
as simply "Mexico", it should be okay to refer to the United States of
America as simply "America", and that if we're concerned about "America"
being too broad then we should use the full formal name, not the
even-more-ambiguous "United States".

Cheers,
Justin


On Wed, Nov 25, 2009 at 5:42 PM, Tree Fitzpatrick <
therese.fitzpatrick at gmail.com> wrote:

> Some folks asked why 'OSI/US' . . . the simple answer is that the  correct
> name is Open Space Institute/US.
>
> Now, speaking only for myself, not on behalf of the OSI/US board (I have
> been on the board almost six years). . . there is North America, with
> several countries. There is Central America, with many countries. And there
> is South American, with many more countries. There is also the concept of
> 'Latin America'. It is a misnomer to consider residents of the United States
> of America as Americans, as the 'only' Americans. . . people in North
> America, Central America, South America and, even the more amorpohous, Latin
> America.  There are many American countries.
>
> As a young woman, I lived and studied cultural anthropology in Mexico and
> then in Bogota, Colombia. Thirty+ some years ago, there was a lot of
> anti-U.S. animosity amidst the young college students that I knew.  Young
> South Americans consistently complained to me if I ever made the 'slip' of
> referring to myself as American or my country as America.  I am just one
> person, doing my best to be a good person.  I am not an 'ugly' American.
>
> Sometimes I feel pressure from colleagues in other parts of the world to
> feel apologetic about being a U.S. citizen, or to be apologetic for my
> country.  I have heard plenty of whispers during my decade+ participation in
> the WOSonOS community (yes, I've been around that long, even if you don't
> see me on the list all the time . . I am always present and reading . . and
> have been for a long time) from OS colleagues, who remind me that my country
> is not 'in charge' of OS. . . I have never made such an astonishing
> assumption.  I have never asked colleagues from other countries to remember
> their country's image in the world or hold such colleagues to any kind of
> account for their country's various histories of disappointment -- I won't
> name any names or countries!! . . but sometimes, it feels like an
> unnecessary burden for me to feel that I have to softpedal the inescapable
> fact of my citizenry or my cultural orientation.
>
> I have heard many a whisper of warning that OSI/US ought not to see itself
> as a leader amoung OSI's. . . we absolutely don't see ourselves that way. We
> are, at the moment (whoever shows up are the right people) nine wonderful
> people holding space in the world for Open Space.  I have formed a resolve
> to stop feeling like I have to apologize for being based in the United
> States. . . and reminding the list that our legal name is OSI/US (I am
> trained as an attorney,  after all) is our name. It seems respectful of all
> the other 'kinds' of Americans that dwell in North, Central and South
> America. . .
>
> And, stay tuned -- OSI/US just had its first ever, three-day face-to-face
> board retreat. Our meeting was hugely productive and you will be hearing
> about it as time goes by (soon!!!).
>
> Very truly yours,
>
> Tree Fitzpatrick
>

*
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