wherever it happens is the right place...
Greetings from Berlin
mmp
On 08.10.2011 06:35, Raffi Aftandelian wrote:
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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++49-30-772 8000
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