[OSList] occupy Open Space?!

Sun Oct 9 10:19:34 PDT 2011

Raffi,

My wife and I heard about an Occupy Wall Street event in Missoula, 
Montana on Friday evening, we showed up Saturday morning for the general 
assembly, and ended up marching with them and eventually camping out on 
the county courthouse square with about 20 of them.

This most certainly is the 5th principle in action - wherever it happens 
is the right place.

It was really fascinating to watch the facilitators working at consensus 
and a group of 3-400 people in a small city coming to a decision to 
something that was essentially illegal, camping out on a courthouse, but 
doing it in a non-violent respectful way - which even made it attractive 
and possible for a city council member to be part of the committees that 
were formed and to give the Mayor a call and get the ok so no one was 
harassed by the local police, and a permit is in process.

There's most certainly a lot of pent up anger and frustration that is 
getting vented through this movement. But there's also a deep curiosity 
and an openness to emergence despite many strong feelings and 
conflicting agendas. That consensus was reached at all was amazing among 
this rag tag band of anti-capitalists, catholic punks[sic], anarchists, 
anti-corporatist Ron Paul conservatives, Obama fans, Obama detractors, 
libertarians, communists, socialists, artists, organizers, 
revolutionaries, and just the disenfranchised unemployed/underemployed. 
One of my favorite interactions last night was hearing from homeless 
native american college graduates very depressed and unable to find jobs 
getting a hearing, singing traditional songs, and with teary eyes 
telling the frustration of following the white man's recommendations 
about getting a degree and that still not being enough, and then 
apologizing for being angry at white people.

I've been recommending they can take advantage of open space technology 
- and several of the participants had experienced open space in the past 
through the Missoula BarCamp (including the council member who called 
the Mayor!). OST is a part of this change movement - even if somewhat 
subliminally. I would love for it to be more consciously employed. A 
Skype meeting between Occupy Missoula and Occupy San Diego might be 
possible - let's get in touch today. Anyone else interested?

     Harold

On 10/7/11 10:35 PM, Raffi Aftandelian wrote:
> dear open space and genuine contact friends (aka spaceniki and, 
> perhaps, "wheelies")-
>
> Tonight marked the spirited kick-off for Occupy San Diego, one of the 
> many local initiatives around the world taking place in solidarity 
> with Occupy Wall Street. Speaking as a process artist (OST facilitator 
> and Genuine Contact Program certified trainer) and a charmingly flawed 
> co-human with a heart who is planning on camping out (occupy?!) on 
> site for  while, I wanted to share some thoughts and observations and 
> also extend an invitation.
>
> First off, taking part in all of this- tonight's march or attending 
> the General Assembly (I was at last night's assembly- 130 people were 
> there!)- really stretches me. I can't align with any of the 
> adversarial language and expression here. So, as we marched today I 
> was just silent, holding my multi-colored sign which read, "What does 
> a wise, compassionate and glocal response to massive economic 
> injustice look like?"  Heck, even calling it "Occupy" make me shudder!!!
>
> It is physically just very challenging to be in the presence of all of 
> that energy. That said, from the the *moment* I heard of Occupy Wall 
> Street, I had an *immediate* intuitive hit that this is something 
> different, that this is something that I have to support. And at the 
> very least this initiative could be supported by bearing witness-- and 
> the simplest way I could do that is just camp there, just sleep there. 
> That's it.
>
> Perhaps the act of sleeping in a public space can be a way of claiming 
> *and* opening space, a way of dreaming the New Story into being?
>
> Also, I'm amazed to see how many different people locally have heard 
> of the local Occupy San Diego initiative and how many different people 
> I know showed up tonight! It's almost as if somewhere deep down there 
> was a part of us that knew this is something we need to support.
>
> One of the things that encouraged me while attending General Assembly 
> last night was the readiness and willingness of people from disparate 
> points of view to hear each other out. What I'm seeing is messy, 
> imperfect, and I know and imagine that ball has been dropped. But 
> overall, it's a rather encouraging picture. It's also encouraging to 
> see meditation part of the picture, too. A 20+ minute flash mob still 
> silent sitting meditation took place after the march tonight
>
> And indeed it has a lot of open space feeling to it. The general 
> assembly and committees had been meeting at Children's Park (high play 
> and high learning anyone??) here downtown. The park is made up of 
> large circular patches of grass bordered with concrete. Each committee 
> met in a different patch - marked with the name of the committee. And 
> you just went to the committee you wanted. And from what i could see, 
> if you wanted to create a new committee, you could do that, too! 
> (apparently, there is a process committee here, too).
>
> I'm curious if there are other process artists out there on or off 
> these lists who are also supporting Occupy... where you are. I'd love 
> to enter into conversation (skype call anyone??) on or offlist to 
> explore the ways we as process artists can support this initiative. 
> Drop me a line!
>
>
> much warmth from the pacific coast,
> raffi
>
> p.s. to catch some of the flavor of our local "Occupation," see
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/occupysd/
> http://www.livestream.com/occupysd
>
> p.p.s. I look forward to circulating widely this piece by zen teacher 
> and peacemaker, Bernie Glassman
> http://www.elephantjournal.com/2011/10/we-are-the-100/
>
> p.p.p.s. to borrow a turn of phrase from a fellow spacenik who lives 
> DownUnder-- "What can happen?"
>
>

-- 
Harold Shinsato
harold at shinsato.com <mailto:harold at shinsato.com>
http://shinsato.com
twitter: @hajush <http://twitter.com/hajush>
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