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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>This is an interesting discussion. Here's my two
cents worth...</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>A few years ago i took a class called: The
Philosophy of Medicine. It was essentially a medical ethics. The book of case
studies was more than 60% about who actually has the right to decide what
happens to your body (including whether it should live or die), you or the
physician.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>As much as i enjoyed the class, i was disturbed by
the mere existence of that question. It is my body! </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I still feel that way, but the interesting thing is
that in a few of the discussions about various case studies, i saw the "truth"
in the physician overriding the choice of the body's "owner".</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The essence of this is that as Funda said, ethics
are about why we choose something, not what we choose. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Harrison said, "I don't really believe that the
space is ours to give or withhold." I agree with this. My time and my energy,
however, are mine to give or withhold.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>From an ethical point of view, authenticity and
integrity are mine alone to hold. I cannot be responsible for those things in
others.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>My world view is that in each act (and thinking and
feeling are acts) that i take, i have the choice about who that act serves.
Either it serves the world (all) or it serves self at the expense of
others.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>One tool of philosophy is that if you are in doubt
about the significance of an act, take it to the extreme. So, if you have a
company that is ethically questionable. (i am going to choose an arbitrary
example, not to offend any individual views.) Let's say you have a manufacturer
of firearms ammunition. And they want you to hold Open Space for them so that
they can become more effective in their marketing of bullets. Do you do it? Not
so clear. But let's say you have a troup of militia who want you to Open Space
for them so they can become more effective in their recruiting and training
process. Do you do it? Again, not perfectly clear but becoming more so. So,
let's say you have a team of assassins who want you to Open Space so they can
become more efficient in their missions. Do you do it? Say, a racist
organization with a history of brutality, torture and murder of minorities comes
along...</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>In each of these cases, i could argue either side.
At the very least, i could say that if i Open Space for the assassins or racist
group, that they could use that experience to come to a more harmonius, a more
caring way of living. But that would be me wanting to impose on them my view of
the world. That would not be an authentic expression of me serving those groups.
Rather, it would be attempting to serve myself, my views.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>If i were to take on the job strictly for the
revenue, then it is clearly not authentically me. (unless i am all about just
making money and don't care about where that comes from).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I do feel that who we choose to Open Space for
is an ethical question. It is a reflection of our own authenticity and integrity
in doing our work. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>So, would i Open Space for a company who's ethical
standpoint in the world i disagree with? It depends on why. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>And i also agree with Harrison that my being closed
would be a show stopper as the space wouldn't truly be open.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>duff</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
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