dear open space and genuine contact friends (aka spaceniki and, perhaps,
"wheelies")-
Tonight marked the spirited kick-off for Occupy San Diego, one of the many
local initiatives around the world taking place in solidarity with Occupy Wall
Street. Speaking as a process artist (OST facilitator and Genuine Contact
Program certified trainer) and a charmingly flawed co-human with a heart who is
planning on camping out (occupy?!) on site for while, I wanted to share some
thoughts and observations and also extend an invitation.
First off, taking part in all of this- tonight's march or attending the General
Assembly (I was at last night's assembly- 130 people were there!)- really
stretches me. I can't align with any of the adversarial language and expression
here. So, as we marched today I was just silent, holding my multi-colored sign
which read, "What does a wise, compassionate and glocal response to massive
economic injustice look like?" Heck, even calling it "Occupy" make me
shudder!!!
It is physically just very challenging to be in the presence of all of that
energy. That said, from the the *moment* I heard of Occupy Wall Street, I had
an *immediate* intuitive hit that this is something different, that this is
something that I have to support. And at the very least this initiative could
be supported by bearing witness-- and the simplest way I could do that is just
camp there, just sleep there. That's it.
Perhaps the act of sleeping in a public space can be a way of claiming *and*
opening space, a way of dreaming the New Story into being?
Also, I'm amazed to see how many different people locally have heard of the
local Occupy San Diego initiative and how many different people I know showed
up tonight! It's almost as if somewhere deep down there was a part of us that
knew this is something we need to support.
One of the things that encouraged me while attending General Assembly last
night was the readiness and willingness of people from disparate points of view
to hear each other out. What I'm seeing is messy, imperfect, and I know and
imagine that ball has been dropped. But overall, it's a rather encouraging
picture. It's also encouraging to see meditation part of the picture, too. A
20+ minute flash mob still silent sitting meditation took place after the march
tonight
And indeed it has a lot of open space feeling to it. The general assembly and
committees had been meeting at Children's Park (high play and high learning
anyone??) here downtown. The park is made up of large circular patches of grass
bordered with concrete. Each committee met in a different patch - marked with
the name of the committee. And you just went to the committee you wanted. And
from what i could see, if you wanted to create a new committee, you could do
that, too! (apparently, there is a process committee here, too).
I'm curious if there are other process artists out there on or off these lists
who are also supporting Occupy... where you are. I'd love to enter into
conversation (skype call anyone??) on or offlist to explore the ways we as
process artists can support this initiative. Drop me a line!
much warmth from the pacific coast,
raffi
p.s. to catch some of the flavor of our local "Occupation," see
http://www.flickr.com/photos/occupysd/
http://www.livestream.com/occupysd
p.p.s. I look forward to circulating widely this piece by zen teacher and
peacemaker, Bernie Glassman
http://www.elephantjournal.com/2011/10/we-are-the-100/
p.p.p.s. to borrow a turn of phrase from a fellow spacenik who lives
DownUnder-- "What can happen?"
powered by ubuntu 10.4
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