Not until Ray rejoined the list some months ago could Futurework pretend
to have much of a pulse. This was not for a lack of interesting topics
or discussions, but because he openly challenged everyone to reconsider
the very systems to which the list most often kept trying to apply
bandages. He was unique in the fact that he brought an energy to which
people felt compelled to respond. Though some had brought similar ideas
to table, none had manged to address the issues of sustainable economy
with comparable knowledge, experience or imagination. Ray's personality
and compassion are infectious in the most inspirational way.
Many on the list bring gifts of distinction, and I have been duly
inspired, but not typically because of their ideas on how to change a
flawed unsustainable economic system.
That Chris and Ray do not get along is obvious: they both disagree a
lot. The reasons why are not important, but that each believe they are
not being heard or understood. That the flavour of their disagreements
has allegedly taken the form of racism has been, to me, just another
illusory symptom of different personalities clashing. Both could be said
to be men of science, yet both take vastly different approaches to how
the facts come about. Both are a product of their environment and belief
shapes perception. Where Chris finds value in criticism to try to
resolve issues, Ray aims for an exploration of ideas to arrive at
possible solutions. But I have learned greatly from both.
Remarks are often made by list members that pack an injury with as much
force as alleged racism. Insults and put-downs all come from the same
place, taking different forms. Just about everyone on this list has said
something or other that sounds biased or hurtful. Perhaps we could all
pledge to be more sensitive, and conscientious of those who would like
to some day contribute, but have qualms about entering the lions den.
Some have left the list because they thought they couldn't communicate
with those offering religious or spiritual opinions, though as time
progresses we learn that form, again, has much to do with those biases.
Some religious views are acceptable here as wisdom, while others are
not, and again, it comes down to personality and code of behaviour
alliances. Is this so different from work or world politics?
Today there was a posting about Hispanics and African Americans that was
shocking to me, but no one openly objected to the racist remarks,
excepting Ray, I think. Without due care, potential hurt is being cast
towards historically victimized people. Is this any way to invite
cultural diversity? Then again, how many new female list members are
there? So, it really comes down to code of behaviour comfort zone. I
wouldn't want to see anyone removed from the list for the same reasons I
stated last time a similar mini-crisis arose: Everyone has something
good to contribute. Everyone on this list has brought something of
meaning. What's up, though, with the lack of forgiveness for being
human? Code of behaviour may dictate 'shunning', but one has only to
look at the world stage to realize that strategy doesn't work, and we
must learn to overcome our learned behaviour of finding cause for
separation. There is no thing that is separate, and what you do to
others, you also do to yourself.
This very type of member trashing went down a couple of years ago
involving others, and it was the same thing: people complaining to
Arthur, posting ultimatums, people quitting the list only to come back
down the road--even those trying to enlist exclusive contacts doomed to
rehash the banal thoughts of exclusivity, and so on.
Most have come back to Futurework because there's good cause for
discussion, especially because of diverse views. We haven't managed to
arrive at a consensus as to what form that future could take; hence the
on-going disputes and disruptions. Again. So what? Why should we expect
to be above negative emotions or conflict? How can we know how to
describe a functioning system while unable to accept that there is
indeed common ground to build upon?
*Natalia Kuzmyn
*
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