[OSList] OLpening Space for Civil Conversation

Mon Nov 28 07:24:56 PST 2016

The American election occurred almost three weeks ago. Curiously, not a word
has been uttered here on OSLIST. Obviously this was an American election,
but it seems very much of a global phenomenon. It is also true that over the
years we have typically avoided politics of whatever sort. However, I think
the case can be made that while politics, nationally and internationally,
are very much a part of what is transpiring – The issues are much deeper and
more profound. Creating space for useful, civil conversations is critical,
and we know something about that.  Ho

Ps – I have offered a few thoughts below.

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Donald Trump Was Not elected by Martians

I experienced the election of Donald Trump as a massive shock. That said, it
must be affirmed that he won fair and square – albeit with a little help
from an arcane institution: The Electoral College. Curiously, there were
several million more people voting for Hillary than Donald. But never mind –
he won. And Donald Trump was not elected by Martians.

The Donald’s victory is appalling to me for many reasons, which need not be
reiterated. But it is a fact. He won. The Donald is also a recognizable
American Type, perhaps more in the mold of The Robber Barons or Al Capone,
but definitely, “American.” Actually, he is his own Brand, or so he would
have you believe.

More to the point, he was elected by Americans. These Americans are my
fellow citizens, a disparate bunch for sure, and some of them are neighbors,
relatives, even friends. How could they do this? 

You will not miss the pain and incredulity of my question. However, in the
interests of transparency,  I have a confession to make. I am an endangered
species, one of a vanishing few: a certified WASP. Skin color, definitely
light, Anglo-Saxon for sure, and Protestant of the Episcopalian sort. Old
Philadelphian, Socially Registered, all the proper schools. In short: WASP

And I lived in a bubble. It is true that I have traveled the world, living
and working on every continent (save Antarctica) – for corporations,
governments and very small villages. I have heard much, and seen more – but
you never get out of your skin. That bubble goes with you. The election of
Donald Trump popped my bubble.  I have to thank him for that. 

The revelation experienced has little to do with a sudden perception of the
issues involved. Some of those issues were less familiar, but few were
strangers. Indeed, I seem to have worked with them all. What I missed (or
miss-gauged) was more fundamental: Fear. Deep, existential Fear. The Germans
would say Angst.

The source of all this anxiety? I suspect the culprit is none other than
Change. Deep, radical Change... with no end in sight. All 7.5+ billion of us
are in the midst of a transformative moment. Every organization,
institution, or social structure worldwide is being pushed to the edge of
breaking –  and beyond. The Pillars of the Earth, the central structures,
the things we count on.... are on shaking ground. It is all called CHANGE
with a very capitol C. Terrifying – if you stop to think about it. 

Remarking that the world is changing has become a tattered cliché. And
curiously, on the American political scene, a leading theme is the need for
CHANGE! Both Obama (“Change you can believe in”) and Trump played that card.
We seem to be asking for more of our most frightening nightmare.

The insanity of this paradox resolves once the nature of our desired change
is specified. More often than not, the hoped for Change is, “Back to the
good old days.” That could be days as they actually were, or more usually,
days as we might wish them to have been. The “American Dream” being a good
example.

That there is The Dream is a fact, and it has had the beneficial effect of
pushing and sucking us along. But suggesting that The Dream represents an
assured reality, guaranteed for life, is a cruel hoax perpetrated by naive
dreamers and frauds alike, but for differing reasons. The net effect,
however, is the same: Massive disillusion, anger and ultimately –  Fear. The
world we expected, the world we were “promised”  is never going to happen.
It could be something better, maybe something different – but definitely not
“as promised.”

You can see the pickle we have created for ourselves. How we got here is the
core of the present debate. The virtually universal response is, Somebody
did something wrong, followed quickly by strong condemnation, all combined
with multiple “sure-fire” fixes. Somewhere there must be The Plan, The
Leader, or best of all, The Leader with The Plan... 

In case you hadn’t noticed, we are still waiting... Then again, perhaps we
are looking at things in the wrong way?

What we take to be error, chaos and confusion, the ending and dissolution of
life... may be quite different. What we are experiencing could be a critical
aspect of life’s ongoing, natural process. Like crustaceans (crabs, for
example), we create a comfortable shelter (shells) in which we happily grow.
I might also say, bubble. We are protected until that inevitable day when we
are just too much “crab” for our accommodations. A serious choice has to be
made. Shed the shell or die! Of course, shedding the shell makes one totally
vulnerable to any passing critter searching for a tender, tasty meal.
Terrifying!

Following this analogy, we have created many shells called “Political
Systems,” “Scientific Theories,” “Social Mores,” “Cultures” – each one
providing a momentary safe space for a few lucky inhabitants. We have done
this again and again, in parallel and sequentially. For better than a
million years, we as a species (Homo sapiens), have evolved – engaging,
surpassing, and on occasion, eliminating, our cousins (Homo whatever), and
other fellow travelers on Planet Earth. As a species, we have done quite
well (so far), albeit with some collateral damage. 

For those protected by new and emerging “shells,” this is known as Progress.
For all other creatures, there are different names. The weakest version may
be “Change,” but stronger varieties include: pain, deceit, catastrophe,
calamity. Viewed from the point of view of the evolution of our species, we
simply couldn’t be what we are, had we not been what we’ve been, and overall
we haven’t done that badly. Other species will take a less charitable view.

Simply put – our present, evolved position is a direct result of our moving
from shell to shell (bubble to bubble).  For all those questioning the
positive nature of this evolution, I suggest an immediate re-location in any
handy cave – presuming you find one unoccupied by a Saber-tooth or other
nasty creature.

Now to the point: The Donald represents another Shell/Bubble. Not a very
good one, I submit, but never the less, a covering space for those who
think, hope, believe –  that he can somehow give them shelter in the storm.
As with pudding, the test will be in the eating. Should the shell prove
effective, it will last for whatever time. Then it too will pass.

There are those who hope and expect the Trumpian Shell to endure. Adolph
Schicklgruber was promising a 1000 years, but fortunately life moved on and
change came sooner. How long we will be stuck with The Donald is anybody’s
guess. In the mean time, we might just as well get on with life – for surely
life is getting on with us. As usual. 

And we can help. Our plottings, plans, and procedures are interesting of
course, but perhaps more important is doing what we can to keep a little
space open so that Life has room to grow. Who knows what wonder and majesty
will emerge all by itself.

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Websites

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