Comments on: Maybe That’s What It Takes

By: Building SOUL » Blog Archive » The Great Turning - Joanna Macy speaks

Building SOUL » Blog Archive » The Great Turning - Joanna Macy speaks — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 15:11:46 +0000

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By: Tree Bressen

Tree Bressen — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:08:21 +0000

You criticize chaining ourselves to tractors, liberating farmed animals, and changing buying behaviors as ineffective at best and PR stunts at worst. Yet what they are depends on the context in which they take place, and their results may not be known until long after the action takes place. As part of a strategic campaign to make a difference on a particular issue, any of these can be important and effective. I agree with your sense of urgency, i agree we have not yet succeeded or come anywhere near the world we want to birth. Of course. But my suggestion, dear one, is that you drop criticizing how other activists haven’t done it right until you have (a) done some “appreciative inquiry” to learn a lot more about successful social change efforts of the past, and (b) gotten your hands dirty and your feet in the trenches. And frankly, while it might not be a risk you personally choose to invite (to the extent you have control, which in some circumstances is limited), changing the power structure is likely to include someone–a lot of someones–getting arrested. I agree with you that that should happen thoughtfully, not haphazardly, so that the sacrifice and risk are maximally useful to the cause.

By: David Parkinson

David Parkinson — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:53:22 +0000

I agree with much of what Christopher says above. Work on yourself; work on the big issues (if you must, knowing how tough that will be); but don’t forget to make a meaningful impact on your immediate surroundings, those closest to you, your chosen circle, town, region, whatever it might be. Ripple outward, don’t explode!Anyway, it’s not like you’re not thinking about this pretty methodically. You probably do know what you’re doing — what look like pitfalls to me might be attractors to you.

By: Christopher vanDyck

Christopher vanDyck — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 06:25:20 +0000

I hope you strike a good balance between trying to “save the world” – and building a good lifestyle for yourself.However, I kind of think that there’s something in the middle that you’re missing? I see a dichotomy here in what you are describing – between solitary pursuits on the one hand, and changing the world on the other. Where is the middle ground? Where is the focus on your own people? It’s wonderful to see that you have this sense of civic responsibility. I admire your passion. I wonder, however, how constructive it is to focus on changing the actions of other people, and society at large. Personally, I think it’s better to find a place to live where we feel at peace with how people approach life – and with the vision they have for their community and their world. I think a person with the kind of insights and intellect you have would be wise to use it to build up a community of people – to nurture and mentor young people, to make a bubble of a better lifestyle for yourself and your peers. Create the change you want to see by living it.What you’re describing in the second half of your post reminds me of a poem by the author “Denise Levertov” called “Red Snow.” I put this on my website here:http://www.christophervandyck.com/o/ideas/teachinginvainI have seen this tendency in myself in past years as well – to want to “save the world.” The problem that I see, as a person who lives in the States, is the one described by this popular internet meme:http://www.sunonline.ca/files/penticton/images/sand.jpgThere are too many people out there who will immediately tear down anything you or I want to build, if we choose to build it on the public beach. I really think it’s better to focus on bettering our own lot in life – working to help others who are like minded, finding synergy with them as we create the kind of future we want for ourselves.And then our example can be an inspiration to others.The TED conference is an example of a group of folks, who I see are doing this with their meetings:http://www.ted.comNow, certainly, there is a place for seeking to right wrongs that we see happening around us. And the technique will differ depending on the general zeitgeist of the country in which we live. I think the way forward here, is to work on building consensuses about the need for a change. I’m not sure how I would do that in Canada. But the first step, I think, would be to try to encourage people to take an interest in public affairs. Canadians seem very insular. In the Usa, I’ve tried a different tack for a few years by trying to infuse new ideas and get people to question old paradigms through raising consensuses on weblink sharing sites. It’s thankless work, because folks in the Usa can be very acerbic. It takes a lot of patience. But I have seen some success in getting folks to reassess certain paradigms about the world that they have held for a long time.