What topics/questions do YOU want us to discuss at #NatGat? - Occupy Cafe2024-03-29T13:29:38Zhttp://www.occupycafe.org/forum/topics/what-topics-questions-do-you-want-us-to-discuss-at-natgat?commentId=6451976%3AComment%3A27463&feed=yes&xn_auth=noIf we are serious about impro…tag:www.occupycafe.org,2012-07-03:6451976:Comment:278372012-07-03T16:11:07.967ZCheryl Honeyhttp://www.occupycafe.org/profile/CherylHoney
<p>If we are serious about improving communities, we must be aware of the local community context and the readiness of that context for change. Even the best strategies will not be successful unless the community environment has a culture of acceptance for new ideas. Conversely, if we have a context of readiness then anything we do will have a higher probability of success. The correlation between the probability of success and the readiness of the community cannot be over stressed.</p>
<p>In…</p>
<p>If we are serious about improving communities, we must be aware of the local community context and the readiness of that context for change. Even the best strategies will not be successful unless the community environment has a culture of acceptance for new ideas. Conversely, if we have a context of readiness then anything we do will have a higher probability of success. The correlation between the probability of success and the readiness of the community cannot be over stressed.</p>
<p>In order to access the readiness of a community we must determine its ability to confront the conditions that inhibit growth and development. Are individuals open to the possibilities of change? What is the relational trust within the community between individuals and its institutions? Do people treat each other with dignity and respect? Where are the opportunities for open, safe and civil dialogue? Can we accept each other’s differences and build upon what we share in common? These answers begin to determine the readiness level of the community. Understanding the concept of readiness is the first step in increasing the collective capital of the community.</p>
<p>Before we start we must internalize the importance of why we are entering into this complex area of work? Why must we commit to working together differently? Are things really that much different than in the past? Why can’t we just go our separate ways and still be members of the same community? If can’t write on our hearts the answers to these why questions we will never succeed. Understanding the why is more important than figuring out the how. The need to commit to this effort is paramount to the future of the community.</p>
<p>If we want people and organizations behavior to change then we must change the context and the readiness level of the community. When the contextual culture of the community does not change then nothing really will change. Often we want to implement our ideas and we don’t recognize the level of readiness for the concept. When our ideas fail we are discouraged and lose energy. There was nothing wrong with idea; the community’s level of readiness was not strong enough to support the initiative. As we begin to work together differently we must recognize the present context and correlate or efforts to fit the degree of readiness. You don’t teach a child to run before they can walk. The same building principles apply as we start our collective journey in making our communities better places to live, learn, work, play and pray.</p>
<p> </p> COMMUNITY WEAVING OUR WORLD …tag:www.occupycafe.org,2012-07-03:6451976:Comment:277862012-07-03T13:57:58.968ZCheryl Honeyhttp://www.occupycafe.org/profile/CherylHoney
<p>COMMUNITY WEAVING OUR WORLD <a href="http://www.communityweaving.org">www.communityweaving.org</a></p>
<p>Community Weaving (CW) weaves the fabric of community to create a more caring, just and civil society to save our children's future. We are a network of "Good Neighbors" which is unfettered by bureaucracy, politics, religious doctrine, racism, or socioeconomic status - just neighbors helping neighbors by fearlessly giving and fearlessly receiving deeds of love!</p>
<p>CW members…</p>
<p>COMMUNITY WEAVING OUR WORLD <a href="http://www.communityweaving.org">www.communityweaving.org</a></p>
<p>Community Weaving (CW) weaves the fabric of community to create a more caring, just and civil society to save our children's future. We are a network of "Good Neighbors" which is unfettered by bureaucracy, politics, religious doctrine, racism, or socioeconomic status - just neighbors helping neighbors by fearlessly giving and fearlessly receiving deeds of love!</p>
<p>CW members proactively care for each other by freely giving and receiving in a reciprocal manner - emphasizing the loving relationships developed through mutual exchange. Loving relationships have been proven to decrease fear, anger, alienation, and aggressive behavior; and reciprocal exchange honors both the giver and receiver equally. As a result, ALL participants are empowered. CW embraces a whole-systems approach in which diverse elements and especially their relationships form the structure. All participants are valued, everyone has gifts to give.</p>
<p>Community Weaving (CW) is an innovative social architecture that weaves the fabric of community within groups, social networks, organizations and movements. All participants pool and share human, tangible, and experiential resources. This innovative, participant-driven approach fosters reciprocal relationships between the grassroots and formal systems to break down silos and transform fragmented communities into interdependent functioning whole community systems.</p>
<p>CW provides a process to foster trusting relationships, and supports creative ideas to not only prevent, but to solve grassroots problems; utilizing existing strengths and resources of the people resulting in more resilient and adaptive communities.</p>
<p>The model, when fully implemented, impacts three distinct levels: the Individual, Interpersonal, and Community levels.</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Individual Level</span>. CW does not implement a traditional social service delivery model. Instead, it weaves a social safety-net that includes everyone who agrees to freely give and fearlessly receive deeds of love and abide by the CW Code of Conduct. This is a grassroots effort, utilizing the power of the internet, <a href="http://www.goodneighbors.net">www.goodneighbors.net</a> telephones and direct person-to-person contact for its information and organizational infrastructure. CW is an infrastructure wherein a wide variety of resources are pooled and shared (e.g., minor home repairs, child care, peer counseling, training) and easily accessed by all network members who need resources to help themselves or others. Resources (e.g., meeting rooms, educational materials) and referrals into CW are also garnered from local organizations (e.g., schools, hospitals, traditional human service agencies).</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Interpersonal Level</span>. On a second level, CW functions explicitly to improve the quality of life and self-esteem of those individuals providing services to other individuals within the CW network. In fact, the CW program is premised on the likelihood of positive life outcomes for all participants, both those who provide services and those who are receiving services. In the CW framework, a volunteer’s sharing of their own experience, resources, and expertise with other community members-in-need creates a positive interpersonal connection. This positive interpersonal connection enriches the volunteer’s own life as well as the lives of those who are receiving services. From this perspective, CW is unique. Traditional social service programs, especially those funded through traditional government funding, anticipate positive outcomes only for those receiving services, not for the service providers.</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Community Level</span>. Finally, CW proves that with widespread implementation, CW creates a positive change in community-wide culture. That is, CW fosters a robust and resilient grassroots network, building bridges between community members and between the community’s social capital and its individuals. The result is a network of community members functioning interdependently, resulting in a stronger and more vibrant community system.</p>
<p>. CW lends itself to diverse applications, including the following proposals we have received over the years:</p>
<p>- downsizing U.S. Air Force</p>
<p>- enhancing growth of the Transition Movement</p>
<p>- weaving community in the Occupy Movement</p>
<p>- integrating CW into the city of Chicago’s plans to prevent secondary disasters</p>
<p>Finally, CW’s success and unique design has garnered attention. It was featured in the Change Handbook, 2nd Ed., published by Berrett Koehler in 2006, it was the center-piece of an article on successful transition tools by one of the TransitionUS.org trainers, and it was one of the top 10 finalists in the Change.org search for civic engagement initiatives following the Obama election. </p>
<p>For those who want to connect into the network, we welcome you to register as a Good Neighbor at <a href="http://www.goodneigbhbors.net/gnr.html">www.goodneigbhbors.net/gnr.html</a>. </p>
<p>Email <a href="mailto:Cheryl@communityweaving.org">Cheryl@communityweaving.org</a> or call 206.240.2241 to learn more.</p> there is also the often forgo…tag:www.occupycafe.org,2012-07-03:6451976:Comment:276952012-07-03T07:23:34.780ZMShttp://www.occupycafe.org/profile/MatthewThierrySwitzer
<p>there is also the often forgotten U.S. concept of "nullification by jury." <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jury_nullification" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jury_nullification</a> </p>
<p>"Juries have also refused to convict due to the perceived injustice of a law in general,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-PennsTrial_2-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jury_nullification#cite_note-PennsTrial-2" rel="nofollow">[3]</a></sup> or the perceived…</p>
<p>there is also the often forgotten U.S. concept of "nullification by jury." <a rel="nofollow" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jury_nullification" target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jury_nullification</a> </p>
<p>"Juries have also refused to convict due to the perceived injustice of a law in general,<sup id="cite_ref-PennsTrial_2-0" class="reference"><a rel="nofollow" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jury_nullification#cite_note-PennsTrial-2">[3]</a></sup> or the perceived injustice of the way the law is applied in particular cases.<sup id="cite_ref-Ponting1985_3-0" class="reference"><a rel="nofollow" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jury_nullification#cite_note-Ponting1985-3">[4]</a>"</sup></p>
<p>The thing that binds the 1% with the 99% is that they are both participants in the same hierarchical pyramid structure, with the 1% in a better position of course, but both highly engaged in systemic functions. Both are conditioned by its self-propagating and reinforcing propaganda, though arguably the poor have less of a stake in maintaining its existence as the rich thrive--materially, if not spiritually. </p>
<p>Paulo Freire writes about this:</p>
<p>"As the oppressors dehumanize others and violate their rights, they themselves also become dehamanized. As the oppressed, fighting to be human, take away the oppressors power to dominate and suppress, they restore to the oppressors the humanity they had lost in the exercise of oppression." 38 POTO</p>
<p>The point I think is that unless there is a revolution in social relations, the 99%, if they seize power, may fall into the same trap and continue the pattern of exploitation, just with different people in power. On the other hand, systemic change can ensure justice is protected along with freedom, so that both can function as principles of a free society as long as mechanisms are put in place to deal with the ongoing tension arising between them.</p> I'm not a libertarian and I d…tag:www.occupycafe.org,2012-07-02:6451976:Comment:274842012-07-02T03:04:07.276ZMark E. Smithhttp://www.occupycafe.org/profile/MarkESmith
<p>I'm not a libertarian and I don't advocate "freedom" to accumulate as many materialist things as a wealthy individual wants at the expense of doing violence to other people and the planet.</p>
<p>I've written extensively on the difference between a justice system like Venezuela has, and a legal system like the United States has. The Venezuelan Constitution says that courts may and must ignore the laws in cases where doing so is necessary to bring about justice. The US legal system mandates…</p>
<p>I'm not a libertarian and I don't advocate "freedom" to accumulate as many materialist things as a wealthy individual wants at the expense of doing violence to other people and the planet.</p>
<p>I've written extensively on the difference between a justice system like Venezuela has, and a legal system like the United States has. The Venezuelan Constitution says that courts may and must ignore the laws in cases where doing so is necessary to bring about justice. The US legal system mandates that the courts uphold the law, even at the expense of justice, as when the Supreme Court refuses to stay the execution of someone who has been proven to be factually innocent, if they were convicted in accordance with law.</p>
<p>Considering the 1%, that is, those who are in and derive huge fortunes from the genocide-for-profit industry, to be the same as the 99%, is smoke and mirrors that can only continue violence for profit by the 1%.</p>
<p></p> The difference between "freed…tag:www.occupycafe.org,2012-07-02:6451976:Comment:276522012-07-02T01:41:42.821ZMShttp://www.occupycafe.org/profile/MatthewThierrySwitzer
<p>The difference between "freedom" (to be a dick) and justice that extends to all. Ultimately, freedom needs to encompass justice or it will remain the smoke and mirrors needed to continue violence for profit. </p>
<p>The difference between "freedom" (to be a dick) and justice that extends to all. Ultimately, freedom needs to encompass justice or it will remain the smoke and mirrors needed to continue violence for profit. </p> Hi Suzanne,
I think you're ri…tag:www.occupycafe.org,2012-07-01:6451976:Comment:277192012-07-01T22:28:32.583ZMark E. Smithhttp://www.occupycafe.org/profile/MarkESmith
<p>Hi Suzanne,</p>
<p>I think you're right about this topic being primarily for suggestions. However I'm not willing to start topics at this time due to my own personal prior commitments. I'll be happy to start topics when my schedule permits.</p>
<p>I don't think feedback on suggestions is prohibited in this topic, and some feedback might be useful in considering topics and questions for discussion and/or ways in which they could be discussed..</p>
<p>Personally, I think it would be a mistake…</p>
<p>Hi Suzanne,</p>
<p>I think you're right about this topic being primarily for suggestions. However I'm not willing to start topics at this time due to my own personal prior commitments. I'll be happy to start topics when my schedule permits.</p>
<p>I don't think feedback on suggestions is prohibited in this topic, and some feedback might be useful in considering topics and questions for discussion and/or ways in which they could be discussed..</p>
<p>Personally, I think it would be a mistake to think of ourselves as the 100%. I think it is magical thinking in that it ignores the reality of the 1% who will not come to the table, lack compassion, are not open to discussion or willing to listen, and who meet all nonviolent suggestions with police violence.</p>
<p>I don't think the 1% refuse to come to the table because they are frightened of what the 99% have to say, I think they are making billions of dollars from defense contracts by drone-bombing innocent children and consider any suggestions that they stop to be a form of anti-capitalist, anti-imperialist "terrorism" that could interfere with and diminish the corporate profits they derive from killing innocent children. In other words, to the 1%, drone-bombing innocent children isn't terrorism, it's just business and the children are merely collateral damage, while suggestions that they stop killing innocent children are a form of "terrorism" that could diminish their billions in profits from defense contracts.</p>
<p>Imagine a small village in a remote part of the word that is beset by a large pack of wolves whose natural sources of food have disappeared due to human progress and development, and who, in desperation, have developed a taste for human flesh. Whenever children are playing outside, the wolves will attempt to attack, carry off, kill, and eat a child. If the villagers are empathic and compassionate, they will try to restore alternate sources of food for the wolves so that the wolves don't have to resort to eating children. But thinking that the wolves would be willing to enter a dialogue and merely need to be heard out, is irrational. </p>
<p>Unlike the 1%, wolves will only kill what they need for food--they don't kill for status or wealth, to buy a fourth mansion or a bigger yacht. If the survival needs for food of the wolves are met, they are likely to stop killing children. The 1% already have everything they need and a lot more, and if they are given everything they want, they'll only want more and they will not stop killing children. Their greed has no limits. Empathic, compassionate nonviolent communications has a much better chance of being effective with wolves than with the 1%.</p>
<p>I don't think your strategy would bring up violent reactions from the 99%, but some, like myself, might wish to nonviolently, empathically, and compassionately point out that there are situations when it isn't an effective strategy.</p>
<p></p> Hi Mark,
What comes up for me…tag:www.occupycafe.org,2012-07-01:6451976:Comment:276432012-07-01T21:44:49.141ZSuzanne Joneshttp://www.occupycafe.org/profile/SuzanneJones
<p>Hi Mark,</p>
<p>What comes up for me whhen I read your comments is, first, that I agree that talk about egalitarian status and equal distribution of resources may indeed bring up violent reactions in some people. The strategy I know (and love) is to feedback to them empathically until they feel heard enough to be willing to hear me out. In many people that are calling themselves the 99%, the thought of my strategy might bring up violent reactions.</p>
<p>We're all frightened and angry. We're…</p>
<p>Hi Mark,</p>
<p>What comes up for me whhen I read your comments is, first, that I agree that talk about egalitarian status and equal distribution of resources may indeed bring up violent reactions in some people. The strategy I know (and love) is to feedback to them empathically until they feel heard enough to be willing to hear me out. In many people that are calling themselves the 99%, the thought of my strategy might bring up violent reactions.</p>
<p>We're all frightened and angry. We're all struggling with enemy images. Stimulation happens. Conflict happens. It's how we come to the table that will make the diference. I believe that we need to start thinking of ourselves as the 100% and make a committment to come to the table with compassion and a willingness to listen, no matter how frightened we are of hearing what the other person has to say.</p>
<p>I won't be able to respond often because I'm putting lots of time in on the phone aspect of OC's efforts at the national gathering. Also, and Ben can let me know if this is an inaccurate statement, but I think this thread is mainly for peoople wanting to suggest discussion topics for OC online and at the Interactive Cafe in Philly. This is an interesting topic, though. Would you be willing to start a discussion thread on this topic? I'd love to hear what others also have to say about this. </p> Kasha writes, "We don't just…tag:www.occupycafe.org,2012-07-01:6451976:Comment:274722012-07-01T18:32:26.272ZMark E. Smithhttp://www.occupycafe.org/profile/MarkESmith
<p></p>
<p>Kasha writes, "We don't just say whatever comes out of our loins..."</p>
<p>This may not resonate with you, Kasha, but some of us speak from our hearts and minds rather than from our loins.</p>
<p>At 72, I suppose I could be considered an elder (my avatar is a very old photo of me but the only one I have on my computer), however I personally know elders in their 80s and 90s whose style is even faster and louder than mine.</p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p>Kasha writes, "We don't just say whatever comes out of our loins..."</p>
<p>This may not resonate with you, Kasha, but some of us speak from our hearts and minds rather than from our loins.</p>
<p>At 72, I suppose I could be considered an elder (my avatar is a very old photo of me but the only one I have on my computer), however I personally know elders in their 80s and 90s whose style is even faster and louder than mine.</p>
<p></p> relationships/respect for eld…tag:www.occupycafe.org,2012-07-01:6451976:Comment:274632012-07-01T17:28:48.966ZKasha Baxterhttp://www.occupycafe.org/profile/KashaBaxter
<p>relationships/respect for elders & realization that there is wisdom at all ages, but it is different</p>
<p>as one gains experience & has much to offer even though in a slower quieter style..please take that as reasoned</p>
<p>choice of words. We don't just say whatever comes out of our loins.. we can b consistent--appreciate that.</p>
<p></p>
<p>relationships/respect for elders & realization that there is wisdom at all ages, but it is different</p>
<p>as one gains experience & has much to offer even though in a slower quieter style..please take that as reasoned</p>
<p>choice of words. We don't just say whatever comes out of our loins.. we can b consistent--appreciate that.</p>
<p></p> Thank you everyone for your t…tag:www.occupycafe.org,2012-07-01:6451976:Comment:273982012-07-01T09:14:29.069ZBen Robertshttp://www.occupycafe.org/profile/BenRoberts
<p>Thank you everyone for your thoughts thus far! As we head into Day 2 of #NatGat, I have a wonderful experience of this time and place (in both the physical and energetic senses) being a fractal of everything that we wish to work with in the wider world. the opportunities for building transformational community are all around us. Individual "<a href="http://www.sacredcenters.com/files/IMAGINAL_CELLS.html" target="_blank">imaginal cells</a>" are clustering, and clusters are linking…</p>
<p>Thank you everyone for your thoughts thus far! As we head into Day 2 of #NatGat, I have a wonderful experience of this time and place (in both the physical and energetic senses) being a fractal of everything that we wish to work with in the wider world. the opportunities for building transformational community are all around us. Individual "<a href="http://www.sacredcenters.com/files/IMAGINAL_CELLS.html" target="_blank">imaginal cells</a>" are clustering, and clusters are linking together. Meanwhile the immune system of the status quo is attacking these cells, both in an external form of constraint from "the authorities," and in our own inner reactions to claiming personal authority and showing/accepting leadership in dynamic new ways based on "power with" versus "power over." </p>
<p>As Peter Block says in <em>Community: the Strucrture of Belonging</em> (a book that has inspired me and provided many of the core insights that led to the creation of Occupy Cafe) "leadership" in this new paradigm "is <strong><em>convening.</em></strong>" In the World Cafe, this is called "hosting." It's a huge responsibility and an honor to be in this position, and I am grateful for your trust thus far. I would note that "facilitation," as opposed to "hosting," is a term with patriarchal overtones for many, as it suggests a role of guidance and thus subtle control.</p>
<p>One of the roles of this new kind of leader is to frame the conversation so that it opens us to new possibilities and collective intelligence, as opposed to keeping us within the context of the old paradigm. Many questions/conversations are "interesting," especially when they are about our "problems." Conversations that are not just interesting, but also "powerful," focus on possibility and invite shared ownership by asking us to look at our part in things. Peter Block's suggestion is to frame them around questions that are personal, ambiguous, and evoking of anxiety.</p>
<p>I hope that the questions we are choosing for our conversations can provide openings for transformational energy. Your thinking here is extremely valuable in supporting our ability to do so. Here are our questions for Sunday (which can be discussed on <a href="http://www.occupycafe.org/forum/topics/sunday-july-1-conversation" target="_blank">our forum thread for this day's #NatGat dialogue here</a>):</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="font-size-4"><strong><span>Hour 1:</span></strong> What are the challenges and opportunities you see in the quality of the personal relationships relationships we are developing in the Occupy context and beyond?</span> </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span class="font-size-4"><strong><span>Hour 2:</span></strong> What assumptions do we need to test or challenge in thinking about tension between "reformers" and "revolutionaries" that has emerged via the Occupy movement?</span> </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span class="font-size-4"><strong><span>Hour 3:</span></strong> What did we learn from the experience of the encampments that can inform a new iteration of community building that has the power to transform our world?</span></li>
</ul>