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<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1480274487573_76132">Harrison’s ability to help us put our own thoughts in order
is a gift!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1480274487573_76133"> </span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1480274487573_76134"> </div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1480274487573_76135">He and I share much, basically the same “bubble”. I’m a WASP
sans prep school. I see it as Harrison does but I always place italics and bold
print on the term <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1480274487573_76136"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1480274487573_76137">FEAR!!!</i></b></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1480274487573_76138"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1480274487573_76139"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1480274487573_76140"> </i></b></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1480274487573_76141"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1480274487573_76142"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1480274487573_76143">FEAR</i></b> is the product of the absence of Open Space i.e., the
collective engagement in meeting the needs of all.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1480274487573_76144"> </span>Despite our efforts, this world shows ever
growing evidence of fear. </div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1480274487573_76145"> </div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1480274487573_76146">Trump’s win was not about Trump. It was about “them”, all
those living in fear of others. They’re a mob unified only by fear.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1480274487573_76147"> </span></div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1480274487573_76148"> </div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1480274487573_76149">I am following Harrison’s prescription here in small town
America. I’m opening space in hopes of restoring trust in our system of
governance. It’s working!</div>
<div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1480274487573_76175"><span></span></div><div class="qtdSeparateBR" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1480274487573_76176"><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1480274487573_76207">Elwin Guild</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1480274487573_76212">Future Development International</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1480274487573_76211">Portland, CT<br></div><br></div><div class="yahoo_quoted" style="display: block;"> <div style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <div style="font-family: HelveticaNeue, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <div dir="ltr"> <font size="2" face="Arial"> <hr size="1"> <b><span style="font-weight:bold;">From:</span></b> Harrison Owen via OSList <oslist@lists.openspacetech.org><br> <b><span style="font-weight: bold;">To:</span></b> 'World wide Open Space Technology email list' <oslist@lists.openspacetech.org> <br> <b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sent:</span></b> Monday, November 28, 2016 10:24 AM<br> <b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Subject:</span></b> [OSList] OLpening Space for Civil Conversation<br> </font> </div> <div class="y_msg_container"><br><div id="yiv8517584241"><style><!--
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--></style><div><div class="yiv8517584241WordSection1"><div class="yiv8517584241MsoNormal">The American election occurred almost three weeks ago. Curiously, not a word has been uttered here on OSLIST. Obviously this was an American election, but it seems very much of a global phenomenon. It is also true that over the years we have typically avoided politics of whatever sort. However, I think the case can be made that while politics, nationally and internationally, are very much a part of what is transpiring – The issues are much deeper and more profound. Creating space for useful, civil conversations is critical, and we know something about that. Ho</div><div class="yiv8517584241MsoNormal"> </div><div class="yiv8517584241MsoNormal">Ps – I have offered a few thoughts below.</div><div class="yiv8517584241MsoNormal"> </div><div class="yiv8517584241MsoNormal">***************************************************************************************</div><div class="yiv8517584241MsoNormal">Donald Trump Was Not elected by Martians</div><div class="yiv8517584241MsoNormal"> </div><div class="yiv8517584241MsoNormal">I experienced the election of Donald Trump as a massive shock. That said, it must be affirmed that he won fair and square – albeit with a little help from an arcane institution: The Electoral College. Curiously, there were several million <i>more</i> people voting for Hillary than Donald. But never mind – he won. And Donald Trump was not elected by Martians.</div><div class="yiv8517584241MsoNormal"> </div><div class="yiv8517584241MsoNormal">The Donald’s victory is appalling to me for many reasons, which need not be reiterated. But it is a fact. He won. The Donald is also a recognizable American Type, perhaps more in the mold of The Robber Barons or Al Capone, but definitely, “American.” Actually, he is his own Brand, or so he would have you believe.</div><div class="yiv8517584241MsoNormal"> </div><div class="yiv8517584241MsoNormal">More to the point, he was elected by Americans. These Americans are my fellow citizens, a disparate bunch for sure, and some of them are neighbors, relatives, even friends. How could they do this? </div><div class="yiv8517584241MsoNormal"> </div><div class="yiv8517584241MsoNormal">You will not miss the pain and incredulity of my question. However, in the interests of transparency, I have a confession to make. I am an endangered species, one of a vanishing few: a certified WASP. Skin color, definitely light, Anglo-Saxon for sure, and Protestant of the Episcopalian sort. Old Philadelphian, Socially Registered, all the proper schools. In short: WASP</div><div class="yiv8517584241MsoNormal"> </div><div class="yiv8517584241MsoNormal">And I lived in a bubble. It is true that I have traveled the world, living and working on every continent (save Antarctica) – for corporations, governments and very small villages. I have heard much, and seen more – but you never get out of your skin. That bubble goes with you. The election of Donald Trump popped my bubble. I have to thank him for that. </div><div class="yiv8517584241MsoNormal"> </div><div class="yiv8517584241MsoNormal">The revelation experienced has little to do with a sudden perception of the issues involved. Some of those issues were less familiar, but few were strangers. Indeed, I seem to have worked with them all. What I missed (or miss-gauged) was more fundamental: Fear. Deep, existential Fear. The Germans would say <i>Angst</i>.</div><div class="yiv8517584241MsoNormal"> </div><div class="yiv8517584241MsoNormal">The source of all this anxiety? I suspect the culprit is none other than Change. Deep, radical Change... with no end in sight. All 7.5+ billion of us are in the midst of a transformative moment. Every organization, institution, or social structure worldwide is being pushed to the edge of breaking – and beyond. The Pillars of the Earth, the central structures, the things we count on.... are on shaking ground. It is all called CHANGE with a very capitol C. Terrifying – if you stop to think about it. </div><div class="yiv8517584241MsoNormal"> </div><div class="yiv8517584241MsoNormal">Remarking that the world is changing has become a tattered cliché. And curiously, on the American political scene, a leading theme is the <i>need</i> for CHANGE! Both Obama (“Change you can believe in”) and Trump played that card. We seem to be asking for more of our most frightening nightmare.</div><div class="yiv8517584241MsoNormal">The insanity of this paradox resolves once the nature of our desired change is specified. More often than not, the hoped for <i>Change</i> is, “Back to the good old days.” That could be days as they actually were, or more usually, days as we might wish them to have been. The “American Dream” being a good example.</div><div class="yiv8517584241MsoNormal"> </div><div class="yiv8517584241MsoNormal">That there is <i>The Dream</i> is a fact, and it has had the beneficial effect of pushing and sucking us along. But suggesting that The Dream represents an assured reality, guaranteed for life, is a cruel hoax perpetrated by naive dreamers and frauds alike, but for differing reasons. The net effect, however, is the same: Massive disillusion, anger and ultimately – Fear. The world we expected, the world we were “promised” is never going to happen. It could be something better, maybe something different – but definitely not “as promised.”</div><div class="yiv8517584241MsoNormal"> </div><div class="yiv8517584241MsoNormal">You can see the pickle we have created for ourselves. How we got here is the core of the present debate. The virtually universal response is, <i>Somebody did something wrong</i>, followed quickly by strong condemnation, all combined with multiple “sure-fire” fixes. Somewhere there must be The Plan, The Leader, or best of all, The Leader with The Plan... </div><div class="yiv8517584241MsoNormal"> </div><div class="yiv8517584241MsoNormal">In case you hadn’t noticed, we are still waiting... Then again, perhaps we are looking at things in the wrong way?</div><div class="yiv8517584241MsoNormal"> </div><div class="yiv8517584241MsoNormal">What we take to be error, chaos and confusion, the ending and dissolution of life... may be quite different. What we are experiencing could be a critical aspect of life’s ongoing, natural process. Like crustaceans (crabs, for example), we create a comfortable shelter (shells) in which we happily grow. I might also say, <i>bubble</i>. We are protected until that inevitable day when we are just too much “crab” for our accommodations. A serious choice has to be made. Shed the shell or die! Of course, shedding the shell makes one totally vulnerable to any passing critter searching for a tender, tasty meal. Terrifying!</div><div class="yiv8517584241MsoNormal"> </div><div class="yiv8517584241MsoNormal">Following this analogy, we have created many shells called “Political Systems,” “Scientific Theories,” “Social Mores,” “Cultures” – each one providing a momentary safe space for a few lucky inhabitants. We have done this again and again, in parallel and sequentially. For better than a million years, we as a species (<i>Homo sapiens),</i> have evolved – engaging, surpassing, and on occasion, eliminating, our cousins (<i>Homo whatever</i>), and other fellow travelers on Planet Earth. As a species, we have done quite well (so far), albeit with some collateral damage. </div><div class="yiv8517584241MsoNormal"> </div><div class="yiv8517584241MsoNormal">For those protected by new and emerging “shells,” this is known as Progress. For all other creatures, there are different names. The weakest version may be “Change,” but stronger varieties include: pain, deceit, catastrophe, calamity. Viewed from the point of view of the evolution of our species, we simply couldn’t be what we are, had we not been what we’ve been, and overall we haven’t done that badly. Other species will take a less charitable view.</div><div class="yiv8517584241MsoNormal"> </div><div class="yiv8517584241MsoNormal">Simply put – our present, evolved position is a direct result of our moving from shell to shell (bubble to bubble). For all those questioning the positive nature of this evolution, I suggest an immediate re-location in any handy cave – presuming you find one unoccupied by a Saber-tooth or other nasty creature.</div><div class="yiv8517584241MsoNormal"> </div><div class="yiv8517584241MsoNormal">Now to the point: The Donald represents another Shell/Bubble. Not a very good one, I submit, but never the less, a covering space for those who think, hope, believe – that he can somehow give them shelter in the storm. As with pudding, the test will be in the eating. Should the shell prove effective, it will last for whatever time. Then it too will pass.</div><div class="yiv8517584241MsoNormal"> </div><div class="yiv8517584241MsoNormal">There are those who hope and expect the Trumpian Shell to endure. Adolph Schicklgruber was promising a 1000 years, but fortunately life moved on and change came sooner. How long we will be stuck with The Donald is anybody’s guess. In the mean time, we might just as well get on with life – for surely life is getting on with us. As usual. </div><div class="yiv8517584241MsoNormal"> </div><div class="yiv8517584241MsoNormal">And we can help. Our plottings, plans, and procedures are interesting of course, but perhaps more important is doing what we can to keep a little space open so that Life has room to grow. Who knows what wonder and majesty will emerge all by itself.</div><div class="yiv8517584241MsoNormal"> </div><div class="yiv8517584241MsoNormal">Winter Address</div><div class="yiv8517584241MsoNormal">7808 River Falls Dr.</div><div class="yiv8517584241MsoNormal">Potomac, MD 20854</div><div class="yiv8517584241MsoNormal">301-365-2093</div><div class="yiv8517584241MsoNormal"> </div><div class="yiv8517584241MsoNormal">Summer Address</div><div class="yiv8517584241MsoNormal">189 Beaucauire Ave</div><div class="yiv8517584241MsoNormal">Camden, ME 04843</div><div class="yiv8517584241MsoNormal">207 763-3261</div><div class="yiv8517584241MsoNormal"> </div><div class="yiv8517584241MsoNormal">Websites</div><div class="yiv8517584241MsoNormal">www.openspaceworld.com</div><div class="yiv8517584241MsoNormal">www.ho-image.com</div><div class="yiv8517584241MsoNormal"> </div></div></div></div><br>_______________________________________________<br>OSList mailing list<br>To post send emails to <a ymailto="mailto:OSList@lists.openspacetech.org" href="mailto:OSList@lists.openspacetech.org">OSList@lists.openspacetech.org</a><br>To unsubscribe send an email to <a ymailto="mailto:OSList-leave@lists.openspacetech.org" href="mailto:OSList-leave@lists.openspacetech.org">OSList-leave@lists.openspacetech.org</a><br>To subscribe or manage your subscription click below:<br><a href="http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org" target="_blank">http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org</a><br>Past archives can be viewed here: <a href="http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org" target="_blank">http://www.mail-archive.com/oslist@lists.openspacetech.org</a><br><br></div> </div> </div> </div></div></body></html>