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<DIV><FONT size=2>Peg,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>I don't believe it's the structure that brings out the "best
of the emergent human spirit." It's the purpose for which the structure is
used, and the values of the people who are drawn by the purpose and
who bring value-based passion fueled by the purpose (framing question;
theme; etc) that will determine the relative goodness or badness of the emergent
OS spirit. There are certainly studies supporting a belief that street
gangs demonstrate principles that, in another context, would be welcome in
general society (loyalty, concern for the welfare of others, camaraderie,
leadership, discipline, business acumen, etc). As I began to rattle off
historical context for other organizations (religious, social and political)
which can be characterized with the same (or worse) stigma that we assign to
street gangs, I had to stop and erase most of what I had written. I guess
I've had too many good philosophical discussions with the enquiring Jesuit mind
before.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>warm regards...</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Doc</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
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<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=pholman@msn.com href="mailto:pholman@msn.com">Peggy Holman</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
title=OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
href="mailto:OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU">OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, November 28, 2000 12:25
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> OS for "bad" purposes</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Harrison did a talk this morning at an Executive
Leadership Program alumnus breakfast at Seattle University. This is a
very traditional (actually a Jesuit) school and most of the attendees were new
to OS. One person asked a question that really intrigued me, so I
thought I'd bring it here.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>What would be the implications of convening an OS
for purposes generally considered to be for the ill of the community?
For example, what if a street gang convened an OS on on doing a better job of
taking over a neighborhood?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Would it still lead to the best of the human
spirit emerging, as I always experience in OS? </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Peggy</FONT></DIV>
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