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<br>Harrison Owen wrote:
<blockquote TYPE=CITE> At 09:24 PM 9/23/01 -0400, you wrote:
<p>The capacity to take a stand, regardless of consequences -- I mean really
take a stand is core for me. But I think it is important to note that The
Way of the Warrior in not only found in the military -- although the military
without the Warrior Spirit is a sad thing, I think. Having worked with
a number of elite military units, I came to the surprising understanding
that even though I have never fired a gun in anger, or been under (serious
and sustained) fire we shared much. Anyhow, Angie and I might quibble on
the details -- but not on the essentials. The are Four Ways. And one of
them is <b>Warrior</b>. No matter how you spell it.</blockquote>
think this is a critical distinction, between warrior and war. i
heard these blurred in your first message, harrison. still a bit
blurred here. perhaps intentionally, though i'm not sure what purpose
that would have, except to invite this conversation. this begins
to poke at something of the art that you don't talk much about... this
blurry vagueness that creates a meaning vaccuum, open space, that invites
us into conversation. hidden intention or mysterious gift?
a practice or possibility?
<blockquote TYPE=CITE>
<br>I'm not so sure. How about "I do not bring peace, but a sword" Serious
commitment and radical encounter always raise the stakes. It is never comfortable.
So --"whoever saves his life will loose it, but whoever looses his life
for my sake will save it.." I think the message may be that dying in not
the worst thing. But Dying without meaning is.</blockquote>
...and physical dying while fighting in a military sort of war is but one
sort of dying... makes me wonder if we wage military war because we are
willing to die or because we are unwilling to let our worldviews, expectations
and preferences die... are we fighting for a new world or for the
return of the old... how can we win a military war against fear?
...as in the beatings will continue until morale improves. wish the
public debate was more open about dying, in its many possible, fruitful
forms just now, but there is still time...
<br>
<blockquote TYPE=CITE>As for the flood, and all other such inconveniences
-- I am reminded of The Perfect Storm. Knocked the hell out of the East
Coast, and blew away the Sword Fleet -- but it was just doing what a storm
does -- perfectly. And if the storms of our world did not carve out the
sandy beaches, we would have no place to go on a sunny day. Somewhere along
the line Homo sapiens got the swelled ego such that he/she/we come to the
mistaken conclusion that this planet is organized for our convenience.
I don't think so.</blockquote>
seems people and politics are storms as well, but harder to accept
without storming back ourselves...
<blockquote TYPE=CITE>I would certainly agree -- and for sure War, even
for Warriors (particularly for Warriors) is the ultimate last resort. That
great treatise "The Art of War" seems to me to be more about how to avoid
it (war). But if and when it comes, I want Warriors with Warrior Spirit.
Folks who manifest-
<p><b>The Power of Presence</b>--Charisma and magnetism.
<br><b>The Power of Communication</b>
<br><b>The Willingness to take a stand</b> --to stand up for oneself--to
know what it is we can stand up for.</blockquote>
<p><br>as you've taught us harrison, story is so important in shaping our
world. i think i watched the planes and buildings come down on tuesday
and didn't *really* dismay until i heard cnn and others label the whole
thing "attack on america"... attack seems to demand counterattack.
and so we'll probably have one and another and another... until we find
a different story, like 'world trade collapse' or 'shattered peace (day/week/decade)'
that invites an opposite/balancing response that can be other than attack
and more helpful to working and living together.
<p>so i understand that what is done is done and named is named.
i'm still looking for leadership in the world that can take a direct, powerful
stand for a story different from attack, in a way different from attack...
people warrior enough to do battle with our willingness to attack and all
the chaos that comes from not defending an economic/political/military
order whose time maybe nearing over. as you say, it still takes all
four voices... and i think we must *really* pay attention and notice what
is *most* important now (healer) and must speak *very* clearly and truthfully
(visionary) about that which we are standing up for (warrior) and that
which we must now be letting go (wisdom).
<p>seems the yogurt has never been deeper in my lifetime and the need for
really open space never greater. at the same time, the space is always
wide open and the world has rarely if ever been more aware of and energized
by a single global reality of uncertainty. if this space is already
open, what is our theme? the vastness of spirit and space are ever
real AND so is the inescapability of our limits and the pressure to compress
it all into a single physical, human, real-world theme, story and response.
this, for me is what the warrior does, makes a choice, takes a stand, acts.
in the absence of the other three voices, i understand how warrior becomes
war. in concert with the others however, as you mention about the
'art of war,' warrior can choose to attack war... integrating, focusing,
directing, applying the powerful, pressurized flow of spirit into higher
human forms.
<p>it's my sense that it is the job of warriors is to change the *shape*
of the space. this happens when they push forward in battle and move
national borders, when they 'choose their battles', when they stand up
and choose one story and allegiance from among many, and when they *look*
and *speak* and *move* between outer and inner, war and peace. they
change the shape of reality, not just their own shape in reallity.
<p>if we live in open space, then we are *all* warriors. my hope
is that we can use the tremendous attention, truth and movement that's
been released in this collapse of humanity, to do more than choose *in*
this space, but to choose to move *as* this space into a bigger, better,
more powerful shape *as* this space... to fight our way out of our national/economic/military
space and into something more.
<p>i want the next world to *hatch* and i'm finding this to be a
very different sort of fight. breaking through by bringing together.
changing the world by changing myself. speaking loudest by listening.
on that note, i think i'd better sit down. <grin>
<p>thanks to harrison, winston all here, michael
<br>
<p>--
<p>Michael Herman
<br>300 West North Avenue #1105
<br>Chicago IL 60610
<br>312-280-7838 voice
<br>312-280-7837 fax
<p><A HREF="http://www.michaelherman.com">http://www.michaelherman.com</A>
<br>a personal/professional portal to
<br>consulting, open space, evolution,
<br>invitation resources, michael's
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<br>GlobalChicago...
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