<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=koi8-r">
<META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1458" name=GENERATOR>
<STYLE></STYLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=#f0ffff>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>It strikes me that Raffi's list is less about OS
than personal preference. We certainly all have to make our choices, but
personally I would not have any problem opening space for the
folks mentioned. Indeed, I think I already have, and in fact I have done
the same with organizations that might seem infinitely worse. My reasons are
several fold. First, it has been my experience that in Open Space the strangest
sorts of people begin to treat each other with respect, find that integrity and
authenticity are not only useful, but actually feel good (despite any
immediate pain), begin to experience their world as an infinitely connected
place -- and not their private domain. And much more. From where I sit,
these sorts of learnings are invaluable if we are to have a less toxic, fearful
and destructive world. Most important, these are "experiences of" and not "words
about" -- and experience beats words/precepts/admonitions every day of the week.
A second reason I would not hesitate to open space for such folks is that I
don't really believe that the space is ours to give or withhold. It belongs to
everybody already. I know that folks have and will thank me for a gift -- but in
truth it is a gift they already possess, and if I have done anything, it is only
to remind them of that fact. In a word, I can't really think of any situation
where I would not open space given the opportunity. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The oppportunity to open space for some group is
for me a profound honor and privilege. But not all opportunities are appropriate
for me. If I find that my personal space is closed as far as that group or
organization is concerned -- for whatever reason -- I can't really do the job.
And continuing under those circumstances would be, in my judgement, a major
violation of principle, not mention ethics! Reduced to its simplest terms, the
fundamental question for me is -- Is the space really open? And if not, is there
a reasonable possibility to Space might be opened. If my space is closed, I am
obviously not the person for the job , although somebody else might be. And if
the space is closed in an organization by official dictate uttered by the
superior Control Freak -- there is not too much room to work in. And worse yet,
if it becomes clear that the interest in Open Space is just another word for
control -- well. . . </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Harrison</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=raffi@pochtamt.ru href="mailto:raffi@pochtamt.ru">Raffi
Aftandelian</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, August 31, 2004 2:03
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: ethics and OST</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Arial Cyr"></FONT><FONT size=2>I am reposting this message
because it seems like it didn't go thru...</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">
<DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A
title=raffi@pochtamt.ru href="mailto:raffi@pochtamt.ru">Raffi Aftandelian</A>
</DIV>
<DIV><B>To:</B> <A title=OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
href="mailto:OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU">OSLIST</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Sent:</B> Monday, August 30, 2004 9:39 PM</DIV>
<DIV><B>Subject:</B> re: ethics and OST</DIV></DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Arial Cyr" size=2>I did a cursory search of the OS list
archives, and the impression I have is the ethics question has only been
somewhat "plumbed".</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Arial Cyr" size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Arial Cyr" size=2>Phil, you ask what are some ways OST can be
destructive?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Examples:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>-Building more McDonald's restaurants- how we can sustain
expansion of this chain?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>-Conducting OS with any corporation which has had a history
of discrimination, crowding out small business, etc.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>-Would you agree to conduct (if you were in the US) an OS to
explore how to mobilize volunteers to help elect Bush? Or any candidate with
whom you don't agree?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>I have never taken a course in ethics or anything along
those lines. Maybe there are folks on-list who might have a framework the
guides them on the ethics issue.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Maybe the examples I have listed as "destructive" are not
necessarily destructive?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Still ponderously,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Raffi</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>* *
==========================================================
OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU ------------------------------ To subscribe,
unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of
oslist@listserv.boisestate.edu:
http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about
OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
</BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>
*
*
==========================================================
OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
------------------------------
To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
view the archives of oslist@listserv.boisestate.edu:
http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs:
http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist