[OSList] occupy Open Space?!

Michael M Pannwitz mmpanne at boscop.org
Sat Oct 8 04:58:00 PDT 2011


wherever it happens is the right place...
Greetings from Berlin
mmp

On 08.10.2011 06:35, 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?"
>
> powered by ubuntu 10.4
>
>
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-- 
Michael M Pannwitz, boscop eg
Draisweg 1, 12209 Berlin, Germany
++49-30-772 8000
mmpanne at boscop.org	www.boscop.org


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