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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Maybe the question is " can we open more space in
our hearts for conflict and respect those who are in
conflict?"</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Lisa's and Harrison's reactions reminded me
the difference between male& female dealing with conflict.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I am new to OS and am not as experienced
as many of you but I am still writing my opinions wishing that I
</FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2>can also share my </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>OS experiences in a near
future. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>greetings from İstanbul, a very beautifull,chaotic
city, full of conflict.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Funda</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A href="mailto:hhowen@comcast.net" title=hhowen@comcast.net>Harrison Owen</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
href="mailto:OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU"
title=OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Sunday, August 22, 2004 3:58
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: Unintend Consequences,
Collateral Damage and Truth Telling</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Doug -- I am not so sure that this is really a
fork in the road -- somehow that image is just too linear, suggesting that
there is a single road. It feels to me rather more like a deepening of the
experience, or maybe broadening and deepening. An image I would feel more
comfortable with is "an expansion of the circle." So it is nothing new -- but
rather more and deeper. That may be splitting hairs, but it enables me to deal
with your coments about "the secret tool bag." I don't think there are any
secrets, it is just that we have never noticed before. I think we have all
noticed that in Open Space, conflict of all sorts is dealt with in usefuol and
productive fashions. Indeed, I have never encountered a situation where it was
necessary to intervene and resolve (mediate) the conflict. The group has
always been able to handle the situation, and usually learns from it PROVIDED
they have plenty of space/time to work in. So our function (my function) -- is
to open space, and keep it open. And when it appears that the space is too
small (clostrophobia is imanent) -- the answer is quite simple -- open
more space. And on rare occasions that means opening a LOT more space. I
think this is what I did. In the case of the Israelis and Palestinians, my
action was purely intuitive. I suppose I could have given some explanation at
the time, but truthfully, I would have been grasping at straws. I honestly
didn't KNOW what to do, as in knowing a particular technique or approach. And
I definitely found myself in the space Toke speaks of (<FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>"- meaning that I connect to this detached place
in me where I do not need to look good, be popular, be responsible for
the agreed outcome or pleasing peoples and my own fears - and I let go to it
somehow....."). </FONT></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3><FONT face=Arial size=2>From a personal point of
view, this was definitely a growth moment -- and while I certainly benefited
from it, it is not something that I would look forward to every day. In
the second situation I described (with the non-profit), I did have some idea
of what to do, but I must confess that my anxiety level was right up there. In
fact the night before I found sleep a sometime thing, but as Toke points out
the object of real concern was not (in the first instance) them, but me. It
took me most of the night to find that detached place -- that centered space
from which I could open a whole mess of space for others.
</FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Last thought. I don't think I was describing a
new way to conclude and Open Space. If anything it was more about kick
starting the whole operation with a radical re-opening of Space. It was also
about giving everybody the clear opportunity to make their own choices in a
way that placed the responsibility for that choice totally on them. Did they
choose to go on -- or drop out? No blame either way, but the choice was
theirs. It is true that I left the circle, but I promised to come back in one
hour (seemed like a reasonable time). All those who chose to do so could come
back. And anybody who found something else to do would be missed, but not
judged. I have to say that hour (in both situations) felt like almost an
eternity. However, I never felt like I was leaving the space, only the circle,
which I think is important. If anything I sensed a deeper connection with the
participants.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Harrison</FONT><FONT size=+0></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><BR><FONT size=2></FONT></FONT></DIV></FONT>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A href="mailto:76066.515@compuserve.com"
title=76066.515@compuserve.com>Douglas D. Germann, Sr.</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
href="mailto:OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU"
title=OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, August 21, 2004 11:53
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Unintend Consequences,
Collateral Damage and Truth Telling</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>Harrison--<BR><BR>It seems to me you have invented a
different way to conclude OST. I think<BR>there are 3 ways that are talked
about here on the list:<BR><BR>1. Convergence (the first way).<BR><BR>2.
Reopening the space for action planning (Chris Corrigan's way).<BR><BR>3.
Opening breathing room (for times of shock).<BR><BR>So we have a fork in the
OST road, and (no) surprise--we have choices!<BR><BR>It seems to me that
opening space is something everybody should be able to<BR>do--and indeed we
all do it all the time. In other words, there are no<BR>experts keeping the
secrets to themselves. Yet this last one seems to be in<BR>the secret tool
bag of the practitioner. Is it not known to all of us that<BR>when there is
a fire in the circle, we must stop what we are doing and<BR>evacuate the
room? (Or something on that order?)<BR><BR>So, how do we, when do we, tell
our people about it, share it with the<BR>world? This one needs to be
explored further, and the learning shared,
yes?<BR><BR>
:-Doug.<BR>
Seeking people making
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