[OSList] OLpening Space for Civil Conversation

Mon Nov 28 08:55:39 PST 2016

May this message spread. Spoken with such humility as the mere mortals that
we all are. May we continue to find courage , wisdom and action together to
climb out of our shells, to open more space.

Thank you Harrison for this thoughtful piece of writing.

A great place to be to open some space together is New York in January at
International House. On the timeless topic of peace which goes to the heart
of this message.

Facebook invite: https://m.facebook.com/events/127247154423320/

Official OSI US invitation link:
http://www.osius.org/peace-high-performance-2017

Perhaps this is your time to consider being there.

Suzanne

On Nov 28, 2016 11:31 AM, "Elwin and Joan via OSList" <
oslist at lists.openspacetech.org> wrote:

> Harrison’s ability to help us put our own thoughts in order is a gift!
>
> He and I share much, basically the same “bubble”. I’m a WASP sans prep
> school. I see it as Harrison does but I always place italics and bold print
> on the term *FEAR!!!*
>
> *FEAR* is the product of the absence of Open Space i.e., the collective
> engagement in meeting the needs of all.  Despite our efforts, this world
> shows ever growing evidence of fear.
>
> Trump’s win was not about Trump. It was about “them”, all those living in
> fear of others. They’re a mob unified only by fear.
>
> I am following Harrison’s prescription here in small town America. I’m
> opening space in hopes of restoring trust in our system of governance. It’s
> working!
> Elwin Guild
> Future Development International
> Portland, CT
>
> ------------------------------
> *From:* Harrison Owen via OSList <oslist at lists.openspacetech.org>
> *To:* 'World wide Open Space Technology email list' <
> oslist at lists.openspacetech.org>
> *Sent:* Monday, November 28, 2016 10:24 AM
> *Subject:* [OSList] OLpening Space for Civil Conversation
>
> 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.
>
> ************************************************************
> ***************************
> 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.
>
> Winter Address
> 7808 River Falls Dr.
> Potomac, MD 20854
> 301-365-2093
>
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> Camden, ME 04843
> 207 763-3261
>
> Websites
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>
>
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